Tayler Malsam
No. 25 EXIDE Batteries Toyota Tundra
Las Vegas Motor Speedway – Smith’s Food & Drug Stores 350
September 25, 2010
Tayler Malsam returned to the team where he competed throughout his rookie season this weekend at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. The second Randy Moss Motorsports entry was sporting a familiar Exide Batteries paint scheme, but utilized a new number for the team—No. 25. The weekend gave the 21-year-old Washington native the unique chance to return to a team and compete with the same crew chief and several of the same team members that he raced with during his rookie season. Malsam raced inside the top-10 for several laps throughout the mid-portion of the event, but struggled with the handling late in the 146-lap competition to finish 13th.
During the two practice sessions at the 1.5-mile Nevada oval, Malsam worked with crew chief Doug Wolcott to fine-tune the No. 25 Exide Batteries Toyota Tundra allowing it to cruise through the corners. By the end of final practice Malsam was ranked 11th on the leader board, and the Exide Batteries crew was able to determine what they needed for a fast qualifying lap. A 31.337-second lap during time trials allowed Malsam to line up right behind teammate Mike Skinner for the Smith’s Food & Drug Stores 350 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
After the 36-truck field took the green flag, Malsam immediately began working through the field and was scored seventh within the opening 20 laps. The team first stopped on pit road during the lap 23 caution period when crew chief Doug Wolcott called for a slight trackbar adjustment to help Malsam’s tight Toyota Tundra. A four-tire stop left Malsam restarting deep in the field and racing his way back through the field. The young driver proved to be up to the challenge as he raced back into the top-10.
Malsam made two other pit stops, first taking another slight trackbar adjustment and later a wedge adjustment to help the handling of his No. 25 Exide Batteries Toyota Tundra. By the final run of the 146-lap race, Malsam was struggling to keep speed through the corners. His Toyota Tundra has become too tight and the young driver struggled to pass other trucks on the 1.5-mile oval. After nearly two hours of NASCAR Camping World Truck Series action from Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Malsam crossed the finish line in the 13th position.
“It was really great to race with my old team tonight,” said Malsam after the race. “The guys prepared a great truck and we came really close to finishing inside the top-10. We just kind of picked up right where we left off. It was cool to have Exide Batteries on our Toyota Tundra; they’re a great sponsor and I appreciate them jumping on board to sponsor our team this weekend.”
With just five races left in the 2010 season, the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series will return to Martinsville Speedway next month. The Kroger 200 will be broadcast live on SPEED, MRN Radio and Sirius XM Channel 128 beginning at 12:30 EST on Saturday, October 23.