Daytona NXS Race Report
Saturday, Aug. 28, 2021
Race 23 of 33: Wawa 250
Track: Daytona International Speedway
Buford’s Finish: 28th
Jade Buford and the No. 48 Big Machine Vodka Spiked Coolers team ran inside the top 20 for much of Saturday’s NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Daytona International Speedway, however Buford got caught up in a multi-car incident in the final stage. The No. 48 Camaro suffered damage to the right side, but Buford battled through it to take the checkered flag in the 28th position.
The 100-lap race was originally scheduled for Friday night, but rain showers forced the race to be postponed to Saturday after just 19 laps complete. Buford rolled off the grid on Friday from the 10th position and dropped to the back before the green flag was displayed as he turned his first laps on Daytona’s oval. The team called him to pit road under the lap-15 competition caution for fuel and a piece of tape for the nose of the Big Machine Vodka Spiked Coolers Camaro. Before the race could get back underway, rain enveloped the track and the red flag was displayed. After another rain shower hit while track drying was in process, NASCAR was forced to push the remainder of the race to Saturday.
Buford lined up for the restart on Saturday from the 29th position, but it wasn’t long before the caution flag waved once again for a wreck in the final laps of the first stage. They were unable to get the race back under way before the green-and-white checkered flag waved. Under the stage-ending caution, crew chief Patrick Donahue radioed for Buford to come to pit road for fresh tires and fuel. The team sent him back out to start the second stage from the 19th position.
Feeling more confident with more laps under his belt, Buford took the opportunity to battle more toward the front of the field. Racing up inside the top 15 in the final laps of the stage, the 33-year-old driver took the green-and-white checked flag in 14th. With the No. 48 shifting more toward the tight side in the second stage, the team decided to make a chassis adjustment during the pit stop for four tires and fuel.
Buford restarted just outside the top 20 for the race’s final stage. He was running 16th when a caution flag came out on lap 72. Restarting in 15th, he raced his way up to 12th before he got hung out of the draft. After losing several positions, Buford was waiting for the right time to make his move back toward the front, but before he had the opportunity a car ahead of him got into the wall, triggering a multi-car incident. Another car made contact with Buford’s Camaro, and he went sliding through the infield, causing damage to the No. 48 Chevy.
The team was able to make some repairs under the caution but ran out of time to complete everything before the race was back under way. They sent him back out on the track and Buford battled as hard as he could with his damaged car in the closing laps, ultimately finishing the 100-lap race 28th.
Jade Buford, driver of the No. 48 Big Machine Vodka Spiked Coolers Chevrolet:
“We were so close to getting through that wreck. Our Big Machine Vodka Spiked Coolers Camaro was really good. We didn’t have much help in the draft, but we were holding our own. The result doesn’t match where we could have finished if we didn’t have a damaged car at the end there. That’s how racing at these superspeedways goes sometimes though. We definitely learned some things for Talladega coming up soon. Our team keeps getting stronger every week. I’m looking forwarding to seeing what we can do at Darlington.”
Next Up:
The NASCAR Xfinity Series heads to Darlington Raceway for the Sport Clips VFW Help A Hero 200 on Saturday, Sept. 4. Tune in to NBCSN at 3:30 p.m. ET.