This came at an unfortunate time for the team, as they were just in the process of getting to know one another and learn how to best work together. Scott Graves will be his new crew chief, the man who led Daniel to the Xfinity championship last year. It is helpful that he has some history working with Daniel, even if it was in a different series. Even so, it will probably take some time for the team to adjust to this change. You can read more about it here:
That inauspicious start to the race week carried over to the racetrack. During the first practice, Daniel put the car into the wall when the brakes gave him some trouble, sending the team to the hauler to pull out the backup car. The lap times run before the crash put them 32nd in that first practice session.
Then qualifying was cancelled due to lightning and rain in the area, so the starting grid was set by owners' points, putting the Arris Camry in the 19th spot. But because the backup car never completed a practice lap, he hac to fall to the back of the field before the race began. During the remaining practice sessions, he was 34th fastest and 25th fastest. In ten-lap averages, he was 31st and 18th.
So as the field circled the track preparing for the green flag to start the race, Daniel guided his Toyota to the back of the field, beginning the race in 37th place. The flat paperclip track continued to be challenging. He was only able to advance 3 or 4 positions before being put a lap down on lap 37.
The cautions were spaced far enough apart that the team needed to change tires, refuel, and make adjustments rather than take the wave around to get a lap back. In spite of that, Daniel did fight to advance his position in an attempt to put himself in the lucky dog spot. He made it up to 30th when the green and white checkered flag flew at the end of stage 1 on lap 130.
A quick caution finally gave the 19 team the opportunity to stay out when others pitted. When the race resumed on lap 141, Daniel was in 28th place. But just when things were looking up, his car made contact with another car during the restart, resulting in damage to the nose and left front and a tire rub. Scott Graves brought him back down pit road for repairs. They were able to make the necessary repairs within the five minute time limit and get the car up to race speed. But they found themselves in 36th place, 3 laps down. They would not be able to dig themselves out of this hole.
Daniel spent the rest of the race between 30th and 35th place, loosing a few more laps along the way. When stage 2 ended on lap 260, he was in 30th place, 4 laps down. And as if things could not possibly get worse, he was caught up in an incident on lap 289. His car received significant damage. I was surprised when the crew was able to make adequate repairs to keep him in the race, but of course they went more laps down as a result of the work on pit road.
When the race ended, Daniel was scored in 32nd place, 11 laps down. Of the five rookies, he had the worst finishing position. He earned 5 points, dropping him two spots in the drivers' standings to 21st. Although he lost ground to the top rookie, Erik Larson, now 37 points ahead of Daniel, he managed to stayed ahead of the rest of the group.
But separate from the points standings that rank all drivers, there are points calculated just for the rookies. The points are only based on the finishing positions of the rookies in the field. Daniel's brilliant driving in the previous races gave him enough of a lead that he continues to hold the top spot even following his unfortunate luck in Martinsville. Here are the rookie points as they stand:
- Daniel Suarez -- 66
- Erik Jones -- 64
- Ty Dillon -- 56
- Corey LaJoie -- 50
- Gray Gaulding -- 38
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