ELKHART LAKE, WI — June 25, 2011 —Two-time NASCAR Canadian Tire Series Champion Andrew Ranger finished sixth, while competing in the NASCAR Nationwide Bucyrus 200 held at Road American in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin.
Ranger, in his first NASCAR Nationwide start this year, qualified the No. 53 Waste Management Recycling Corporation NDS Motorsports twenty-first out of the forty-two competitors who attempted to qualify for the 50-lap, 202.4-mile race. "We didn't get the qualifying position I would have liked" said Ranger, "I had a car capable of a much better qualifying time. We clocked the 6th fastest time in the second practice which is more indicative of how fast we were. We ended up 21st. There was no way we could overcome the handicap of going out first, right after the sports car race" he added.
When all other drivers rolled for first practice, all Ranger could do, was watch as the NASCAR Officials inspect the brand new car the team took to Road America. "The inspection process was long. Because we had a new car, they took much longer and they didn't get done until after the first practice was over" said Ranger. Since the order in which cars would go out for qualifying was determined based on the first practice times and Andrew did not register any time, he was the first car out on the track for qualifying.
In the race, the Roxton Pond, Quebec driver registered the third fastest lap time of the race. "Considering the car was new, we never got a chance to shake it down before the event, that not a spring or a shock was changed, the car was fast and handled great right off the truck. It’s a true testament to how strong and hard working the whole NDS Motorsports team is" said Ranger.
Ranger wheeled his car as high as fourth place and seemed en route to a great finish. A penalty for speeding on pit road and later a 30 seconds green flag pit stop were very costly, relegating Ranger to 18th place after everything had cycled.
It was decided before the event to use the regular over-the-wall crew which normally services the No. 53 Waste Management Recycling NDS Motorsports race car in the K&N Series for the Nationwide Series race. "I expected a longer pit stop going in. In the K&N Series, we are limited in what we can do in a single stop. To do a four-tire change and gas, as we did during the race, means three visits down pit road. Before the race I explained to every one of the crew members that doing the work slower was in fact going to be faster and keep us in the game. We should not take any chances. And that's what we did" said team manager Steve Hibbard.
The race needed three green-white-checkered-flag attempts to determine a winner. It was just what Ranger needed to improve his finish. "We got ourselves a bit behind with the penalty and the long pit stop. The late restarts bunched the cars back up, some wrecked and I was able to drive around them without being involved, not once, but three times. For once, luck worked in our favor and we get a result which is in line with our performance and expectations" declared Ranger. The No. 53 Waste Management Recycling NDS Motorsports crossed the stripe in the sixth position.
Andrew Ranger will return behind the wheel of the No. 35 Waste Management Recycling race car on July 15, when the NASCAR K&N East Series will be racing at the 1.058 miles New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon, New Hampshire.
From NDS Motorsports // Steve Hibbard / Marc Patrick Roy
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