NASCAR Camping World Truck Series debut cut short for Dominique Van Wieringen

NASCAR Camping World Truck Series debut cut short for Dominique Van Wieringen

Topics: Dominique Van Wieringen, Lucas Oil 150

NASCAR Camping World Truck Series debut cut short for Dominique Van Wieringen

Chris Knight
Young's Motorsports
12 November 2016

Dominique Van Wieringen, No. 02 Durobyte Ford F-150
NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS)
Phoenix International Raceway – Lucas Oil 150
Post Race Report

Race No. 22 of 23

Stats:

Started: 24th

Finished: 31st

Laps: 26 / 150

Status: Accident

Driver Points: N/A

Owner Points: 18th (Tied)

AVONDALE, Ariz. – On the heels of a successful NASCAR K&N Pro Series East rookie season, Dominique Van Wieringen had high hopes for her NASCAR Camping World Truck Series debut at Phoenix (Ariz.) International Raceway aboard the No. 02 Durobyte Ford for Young's Motorsports.

Unfortunately, a solid showing in the early stages of Friday night’s Lucas Oil 150 came to an abrupt halt following a Lap 26 restart.

Quickly adapting to her learning curve from K&N Pro Series East to trucks throughout two practice sessions Friday at the 1.0-mile oval, Van Wieringen qualified 24th making it through Round 2 of knockout qualifying to put her Young’s Motorsports team working in a collaborative with Rette Jones Racing in a solid position for the upcoming 150 lap race.

Early in the penultimate race of the season, Van Wieringen didn’t waste any time negotiating herself through the field. Escaping an incident ahead of her on the opening lap sent the Amherstburg, Ontario native easily climbed inside the top-20.

Minding her matters, Van Wieringen would continue to maneuver herself through the field only to be stopped for several early race cautions.

Following an incident between Austin Cindric and Noah Gragson on Lap 22, Van Wieringen lined up inside the top-20 for a Lap 26 restart with her focus out the windshield.

As the trucks dived into Turn 1 on the Lap 26 restart, Van Wieringen’s No. 02 Durobyte Ford was hit from behind from another competitor sending her into another driver and causing significant damage to both trucks involved.

While able to drive her truck back to the garage, the damage was deemed too severe to continue ending her NASCAR National Series debut with a disappointing 31st place finish.

Dominique Van Wieringen Quote:

“I’m really disappointed, because we had a pretty good No. 02 Durobyte Ford. We were just biding our time trying to survive the rash of early cautions and we were taken out. I hate that.

“I also hate that Tommy (Joe Martins) got collected in the mess too. He didn’t deserve to have his night ended early like ours was. While I’m disappointed, I didn’t get to finish the race and see the checkered flag, I’m extremely thankful for the opportunity with Young’s Motorsports and Rette Jones Racing.

“This was certainly an experience I’ll never forget despite the result. I had a lot of fun, I learned a ton and I felt like we were going to have a good showing. We worked on the truck all day and it was adapting to the track when we needed it most.

“Hopefully, I’ll get another opportunity down the road to have the chance to run in trucks again, because it was a blast and everyone treated me great. I’m sorry to Durobyte, Tyler (Young, truck owner), Mark (Rette, team manager) and the guys on the team that we didn’t get a better finish – but it surely wasn’t from a lack of effort.”

Event Notes:

Dominique Van Wieringen finished 31st in the Lucas Oil 150, her first career NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race driving the No. 02 Durobyte Ford F-150 for Young’s Motorsports.

Daniel Suarez won the 22nd annual Lucas Oil 150 followed by Johnny Sauter (second), Matt Crafton (third), Cameron Hayley (fourth) and Timothy Peters (fifth).

Next Race: Ford EcoBoost 200 at Homestead-Miami Speedway on Fri., Nov. 18.

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CONTACT:

Kim Castoniga

YoungsMspts@aol.com / kim.castongia@gmail.com