NASCAR Cup

Phoenix: David Gilliland race report

Gilliland Brings American Monster Chevy Home in 33rd at Phoenix Avondale, Arizona (April 18, 2009) - David Gilliland, drove the No. 71 American Monster Chevrolet Impala SS to a 33rd place finish in this evening's running of the NASCAR Sprint Cup ...

Published: Jun 19, 2009, 7:51 PM

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Gilliland Brings American Monster Chevy Home in 33rd at Phoenix

Avondale, Arizona (April 18, 2009) - David Gilliland, drove the No. 71 American Monster Chevrolet Impala SS to a 33rd place finish in this evening's running of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Subway Fresh Fit 500 at Phoenix International Raceway.

phoenix fin Starting from the 14th row Gilliland was able to maneuver within the top 30 for the first half of the race. On lap 218 he reported a right front going down, just 10 laps shy of the team's planned pit stop. Four laps later the California native was forced to pit under green sending him back in the order. What was looking like a potential top 20 finish turned to a 33rd at the checker.

"The car kept getting tighter as the race went on," Gilliland said. "We fought the tightness and we were gaining on it and then we got a flat right front tire under a green flag. We had to pit. The tire was going flat for so long I think that really threw us off on our adjustments and we fell behind. It is tough. We were running pretty good early. A flat tire got us again."

Flat tires have been the story of the year for this team so far.

"We haven't been the only team having flat tires. It is really nothing we are doing set-up wise, it's just tough luck. Hopefully we can get it behind us now and get moving forward."

TRG Motorsports team principal, Kevin Buckler, was hoping for a better introduction to NASCAR Sprint Cup racing for team sponsor American Monster, but remains very optimistic about the run and the future.

"We started the race feeling pretty good about the car," Buckler said. "As the race went on and the temperatures cooled the car ran strong and we were looking for a top 20 finish. We then got the flat and had to pit under green, which really ruined our day. Most teams would be thrilled to have qualified our way in again and been running competitively with most of the field even though we got the flat, but we are all just so darn competitive that we want more. That is at the core of the American Monster philosophy! We are after it."

The next race on the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series schedule is the Aaron's 499 to be run at Talladega Superspeedway on Sunday, April 26.

-credit: trgm

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