PASS North Series: Austin Theriault
Oxford Plains Speedway Race Report
OXFORD, Maine – Brad Keselowski Racing development driver Austin Theriault of Fort Kent, Maine, returned to his family-owned team for the first time this season and rallied to finish ninth in the PASS North Series Ripley & Fletcher Ford 150 at Oxford Plains Speedway in Oxford, Maine, on Sunday, April 21. Theriault fought the track position game all day long on the flat .375-mile oval – starting shotgun on the field in his first-round qualifying heat – and lost a lap in the first half of the main event. But Theriault got back on the lead lap with under 60 laps remaining, and he fought back over multiple late-race restarts in the AT Racing No. 57 Pelletier Ford Ford Fusion to score his sixth straight Top-10 finish in PASS-sanctioned events, dating back to August of 2012.
WHO: Austin Theriault, Fort Kent, Maine
TEAM: AT Racing No. 57 Pelletier Ford Ford Fusion
CREW CHIEF: Mickey Green, South Paris, Maine
WHAT: PASS North Series Ripley & Fletcher Ford 150
WHERE: Oxford Plains Speedway, Oxford, Maine (.375-mile oval)
STARTED: 26th
FINISHED: 9th
NEXT RACE: May 4, Southern Maine Chrysler Dodge Jeep 150, Beech Ridge Motor Speedway, Scarborough, Maine (.333-mile oval)
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AUSTIN, YOU SEEMED TO FIGHT THE CAR’S HANDLING ALL DAY.
It was definitely a struggle all day. The race definitely didn’t go in our favor – we didn’t qualify in our heat, and I had to race the consi. We were able to get two right side tires for the race, but it’s tough when you don’t get to scuff the tire and size them up or figure out the stagger.
We kind of went into the race not knowing exactly how the car was going to be or how the tire situation was going to work out.
WHAT WAS THE GAME PLAN IN THE FEATURE?
The first 100 laps, I figured I was going to just ride around, but I wasn’t able to do that. The car wasn’t handling right from the green flag. It was loose the first 75 laps until that first caution came out, and then it got tight after that. We were definitely all over the spectrum.
I felt like without tire situation, we would have salvaged a Top-5 finish. I felt like the car was good. It was good in practice both days, and we kept working at it to make the car turn better. But it’s the first race of the year up north, and we’ve got five more to try and win one this year.
DID YOU ENJOY THE WEEKEND BEING BACK AT HOME?
The guys worked hard. The AT Racing crew really did a good job today. I’ve got to thank Pelletier Ford for coming on board with us again, and we’ll see if we can go get another one at Beech Ridge (in two weeks).