Dover NXS Race Report
Race 10 of 33: Drydene 200
Location: Dover International Speedway (1-mile oval)
Format: 200 laps / 200 miles
Buford’s Finish: 33rd
Jade Buford and the No. 48 Big Machine Vodka Spiked Coolers team had a strong run going in Saturday’s NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Dover International Speedway. They battled as high as 17thin the final stage of the race, but ultimately a mechanical issue forced an early end to their day and Buford was relegated to a 33rd-place finish.
After placing ninth in the ARCA race the day before, Buford started the 200-lap NXS event from the 34th position and steadily worked his way forward. He was running in 29th when the competition caution came out on lap 20. During the caution the team called him in for four tires and a chassis adjustment to help improve the Big Machine Vodka Spiked Coolers Camaro’s handling. Throughout the remainder of the first stage, Buford continued to run impressive lap times as he settled into the race. By time the green-and-white checkered flag waved on lap 45 he had battled his way to 25th.
Under the stage-ending caution, the team called Buford in for a four-tire pit stop, however issues with the jack caused them to lose several positions on pit road. Buford lined up in 30th for the start of the second stage and was up to 28th before a multi-car incident brought out the caution and subsequently the red flag. The remainder of the stage continued to be plagued with cautions, but Buford did a masterful job navigating the melee to end Stage Two in the 25th position.
After a fast four-tire pit stop that gained the team four positions on pit road, Buford took the green flag for the final stage in 20th on lap 96 and quickly maneuvered his way to 17th. Not long after, the Nashville, Tenn. native began losing positions and he relayed that the car was stumbling like there might be a motor or fuel problem.
The Big Machine Racing driver tried to fight through the issue to make it to the end of the race, but as the condition worsened the team called him to the garage on lap 155. It was determined that the No. 48 Big Machine Vodka Spiked Coolers Chevrolet had a failed fuel pump and the team’s day was done. Buford was scored with a 33rd-place finish.
Jade Buford, driver of the No. 48 Big Machine Vodka Spiked Coolers Chevrolet:
“Up until the fuel pressure issues, things had been going really great. Everything worked out the way we hoped it would with getting to run the ARCA race and getting some extra laps. It looked like it was going to pay off and be a good day, but sometimes things don’t go your way and that’s just racing. We’re all really looking forward to getting to COTA and seeing what we can do there to turn things around.”