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Piquet Jr. Battles for Top-15 Finish at Phoenix International Raceway
Avondale, ARIZ. (March 3, 2013) - After a great start to his 2013 Sunoco Rookie of the Year campaign, Brazilin driver Nelson Piquet Jr. headed out west to take on the one-mile tri-oval at Phoenix International Raceway (PIR). After spending the majority of the 200 lap event flirting with a top-10 running position, Piquet Jr. was able to learn valuable lessons throughout the day and bring the No. 30 WORX Chevrolet Camaro home in the 15th position.
Piquet Jr. started the Dollar General 200 in the 23rd position, but quickly jumped into the top-15 during the opening segment of the race. Trying to learn the different style of racing the NASCAR Nationwide Series (NNS) has to offer, Piquet Jr. received encouragement and advice from his crew as he worked towards the top-10 multiple times during the Dollar General 200.
On lap 49, Piquet Jr. radioed to the crew that he had come into contact with another competitor. During this contact, the No.30 WORX Camaro received slight damage to the driver's side door; however, this damage was not enough to bring it to the pits for the crew to repair. Throughout a race marked with long green-flag runs, Piquet Jr. continued to hit his marks on the track while his Turner Scott Motorsports team gained multiple positions in the pits every time their driver brought the car in for service.
During the last caution period with just under 25 laps to go, while running in the 12th position, Piquet Jr. radioed to the crew that he was thinking big picture and was hoping to bring the car home safely but with hopes to at least finish inside the top-15. Piquet Jr. accomplished his goal, and the No. 30 WORX Camaro came home in the 15th finishing position.
"Overall today was a good day for the WORX team," said Turner Scott Motorsports driver Nelson Piquet Jr. "I am happy that we were able to run close to the top-10 most of the day. My pit crew was great all day giving me great stops and helping us move forward. We were able to learn a lot and I think we will be better for the next time we come back in the fall."