Tayler Malsam
No. 25 EXIDE Toyota Tundra
Phoenix International Raceway – Lucas Oil 150
November 12, 2010
The No. 25 Randy Moss Motorsports team returned to the track with the EXIDE colors decorating their Toyota Tundra this weekend at Phoenix International Raceway. With Tayler Malsam behind the wheel, the team worked through damage from mid-race contact to come home with a top-20 finish at the one-mile oval in the Arizona desert.
After struggling with a tight truck during both practice sessions and qualifying, the 21-year-old from the Pacific Northwest recorded a 28.205-second lap to start the 150-mile race in the 23rd position.
Throughout the first three runs of the evening, Malsam continued to struggle with a tight race truck. The No. 25 EXIDE crew made a series of adjustments to help the handling of their Toyota Tundra and Malsam started to climb through the field.
By lap 60, Malsam had finally gained a foothold inside the top-20 and was about to test the adjustments that the Randy Moss Motorsports crew had made to the EXIDE Tundra during the latest pit stop. While running 17th on lap 62, Malsam was caught up in a multi-truck pile-up when two other competitors made contact in turn two.
The EXIDE Toyota Tundra crew worked quickly gathering all of the parts and pieces they needed for the repair, and sent the No. 25 machine back to the track on the lead lap of competition. After three stops assessing and repairing the damage to his Toyota Tundra the Sammamish, Wash., native returned to green-flag competition.
With just over 50 laps to go, Malsam restarted the race on older tires than the rest of the field, and struggled to keep up with the leaders before eventually being lapped. However, the fifth and final caution of the day on lap 115 gave the sophomore driver the opportunity to collect the “Lucky Dog” award, return to the lead lap of competition and benefit from a better opportunity to make up lost ground on fresh tires.
Following 150 grueling miles at Phoenix International Raceway, Malsam crossed the finish line in the 18th position.
“I’m disappointed with how tonight turned out,” commented Tayler Malsam after the race. “I was hoping that we’d put on a great show for EXIDE, but just as we got our truck dialed in closer to where we needed it, we got caught up in the accident and got damage to the nose of our truck. The guys never gave up and we were able to make it back on the lead lap and race for position, so that was a good thing. We have a great piece for the race at Homestead [Miami Speedway]; I’m really looking forward to getting back on track there.”
The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series will race into Homestead, Fla., for the 2010 season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway on Friday, November 19. The Ford 200 will be broadcast live on SPEED, MRN Radio and Sirius XM Channel 128 beginning at 7:30 p.m. EST. Qualifying for the 200-mile event will take place just hours before the scheduled green flag and will appear on SPEED at 5:00 p.m. EST.