Logan Ruffin and his No. 31 Turner Motorsports Chevrolet team entered Motor Mile (Va.) Speedway ready to continue their string of three top-five efforts, prior to the month long break in the USARacing Pro Cup Series schedule. But the day at the Radford, Virginia short track wouldn’t be easy for the 16-year-old. After unloading, motor issues hindered the team and allowed Ruffin to only complete one full-speed lap on the track during two separate practice sessions.
The Turner Motorsports team worked feverishly to repair the issues before qualifying. Ruffin laid down a solid lap during Saturday afternoon’s time trials, placing the No. 31 Impala in the 15th starting position for the Heritage Truck Centers 250. Unfortunately due to unapproved adjustments that needed to be made, Ruffin had to start the 250-lap event from the rear of the field.
Starting from the last row on the grid, Ruffin began working his way through the field as the leaders quickly caught up to the young gun. On lap 44, Ruffin went a lap down to the leaders, but the second caution waved on lap 56, allowing the teenager to receive the free pass award. Ruffin restarted on lap 66 from 10th-place on the lead lap.
Ruffin made his first pit stop of the night on lap 86 for fuel only. After making his stop under the night’s second caution, Ruffin remained in the 10th position. By lap 142, the Tennessee native had fallen one lap down to the leaders, while running in ninth-place. The caution was displayed once again on lap 181, as Ruffin was scored in the eighth position and continued to overcome his issues. Ruffin was awarded the free pass award once again, but the Turner Motorsports team declined as Ruffin came to pit road for four fresh tires.
By lap 200, Ruffin was still one lap down to the leaders but was the first car in line to receive the free pass award when the next caution slowed the pace. That needed caution came on lap 229 for debris, with Ruffin scored in the seventh position.
Ruffin restarted on lap 235 from fifth-place and over the final 15 laps, the youngster held his ground to capture another top-five finish. This was Ruffin’s third consecutive top-five finish, dating back to Langley Speedway in May and fourth overall top-five finish of the 2010 season.
Clay Rogers won the Heritage Truck Centers 250. Brandon Ward, AJ Frank, Mark McFarland, and Ruffin rounded out the top-five finishing positions.
FAST FACTS:
· Ruffin was also the highest finishing Raybestos Rookie for the fourth time this year, helping to extend his lead in the Rookie of the Year point standings. · Ruffin now finds himself second in the Championship Point Standings, behind leader Clay Rogers. · Also, Ruffin was the Hard Charger Award winner for the fourth time this season. · Ruffin and his Turner Motorsports team will take a one-week break before returning to racing action at Iowa Speedway on Friday, July 30th.
LOGAN RUFFIN QUOTE:
“We had problems since we unloaded this weekend and still aren’t completely sure what was causing the issues. My Turner Motorsports team worked really hard all day and gave me a good Chevrolet. The race had a lot of ups and downs but we will head back to the shop and figure out what happened this weekend. I’m excited to head back to Iowa in two weeks and hopefully we can continue our run of top-five finishes.”
-TMS-
