Brad Keselowski Racing: World Crown 300
Austin Theriault Gresham Motorsports Park Preview
THE STORY
FORT KENT, Maine – Brad Keselowski Racing development driver Austin Theriault returns to Gresham Motorsports Park in Jefferson, Ga., for a holiday edition of the 29th annual World Crown 300 on Wednesday, July 4. It will be Theriault’s second appearance in the BKR No. 29 Checkered Flag Foundation Dodge at the high-banked half-mile after having made his BKR debut in the World Crown 300 last fall, where he qualified impressively before being collected in an accident in front of him during the main event.
THE FACTS
WHO: Austin Theriault, Fort Kent, Maine
TEAM: Brad Keselowski Racing No. 29 Checkered Flag Foundation Dodge
CREW CHIEF: Gary Crooks, Mooresville, N.C.
BEST CAREER WORLD CROWN 300 FINISH: 28th (November 2011)
LAST CAREER WORLD CROWN 300 FINISH: 28th (November 2011)
WHAT: 29th annual World Crown 300
WHERE: Gresham Motorsports Park, Jefferson, Ga. (.500-mile banked oval)
WHEN: Practice – 4 p.m., Tuesday, July 3, 12 noon, Wednesday, July 4; Qualifying – 4:45 p.m., Wednesday, July 4; Race – 7:30 p.m.; Wednesday, July 4
DID YOU KNOW?
Austin Theriault has three Top-10 finishes in five Super Late Model starts in 2012, including a career-best finish of fifth in the Papa John’s 100 at Five Flags Speedway in Pensacola, Fla., in April.
Austin Theriault qualified 19th for the World Crown 300 in 2011, his first time in a Brad Keselowski Racing car.
Austin Theriault is currently fourth in the ACT Late Model Tour standings, the only driver in the series to post a Top-10 finish in all five races this season.
WHAT THEY ARE SAYING
AUSTIN THERIAULT, Driver of the BKR No. 29 Checkered Flag Foundation Dodge, On returning to Gresham Motorsports Park this week: “Going back to a track for a second go-round, I think it allows you to work on the car more, because you’re not spending as much time trying to get comfortable and trying to find that ‘line.’ That’s pretty much the biggest positive to going back to a track you’ve raced on before.
“We’re pretty confident everywhere we’ve gone before. Coming back to Gresham, we had a good car last time. We had some bad luck before, but I think knowing what I know – and knowing what we’ve learned together the last six or seven races we’ve been together – we should be very good.”
On racing at Gresham Motorsports Park: “Every track is different. There’s certain things I like about it – it has a lot of grip, and there will probably be two lines there once the race gets going. It’s just all about being quick and being around at the end. Last time we weren’t around to race (at the end), and if we had been, I think we would have contended for a Top-10 finish.
“Our goals have been changing as we’ve been going along. At first, it was about getting comfortable and getting qualified. Now it’s about running in the Top-10, the Top-5, or possibly contending for wins if everything goes right, but we’ve still had the same approach going into each race.”
On how the track will be different in the summer heat versus how it was back in November: “The track has a lot of grip, and I don’t think it’s a track that changes a lot. It definitely will be different, but it’s not like a Thunder Road or something like that that’s lost a lot of grip over time.
“It’s going to be hot down here, so it’s going to be important for me to stay on top of my game and important for the crew and all that to do the same, as well. You can lose yourself in the heat. I’ve seen guys do that.
“It’s going to be all about saving your equipment, being around at the end, and saving a little bit of tire.”
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