Derek Ramstrom: PASS South Series
North Wilkesboro Speedway Race Report
Derek Ramstrom of West Boylston, Mass., finished seventh in the PASS South Series Labor Day Classic 200 at North Wilkesboro Speedway in North Wilkesboro, N.C. After starting 18th, Ramstrom made several changes to his race car before rallying to finish inside the Top-10 in the first race held at the historic speedway since 1996. He was one of only eight cars to finish on the lead lap. In the 25-car starting field, Ramstrom advanced the most positions from his starting spot of any driver in the field and was the highest finishing PASS North Series driver in the event.
WHO: Derek Ramstrom, W. Boylston, Mass.
TEAM: No. 35 Charter Communications/Matthews Truck Service and Towing Chevrolet
WHAT: PASS South Series Labor Day Classic 200
WHERE: North Wilkesboro Speedway, North Wilkesboro, N.C. (.625-mile oval)
STARTED: 18th
FINISHED: 7th
LED: 0 time for 0 laps
NEXT RACE: Thursday, September 9, NASCAR Whelen All-American Series, Thompson International Speedway, Thompson, Conn.
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DEREK, TALK ABOUT YOUR DAY.
I didn’t time trial well at all, and that really hurt us. We couldn’t get any forward bite (during qualifying); I just couldn’t get any traction. I pitted early to make a couple of adjustments and free the car up. It was pretty tight.
We ran probably 70 laps all green, and the car still wasn[‘t working all that well. We pitted again, threw a couple spring rubbers on it, but by then the tires were really hurting. I was beating the car up trying not to lose too much ground to the leaders.
On Lap 135, we pitted with the field for tires and pulled one of the rubbers out. We were pretty damn fast. We were still down a lap, but I passed a bunch of cars — and we got a caution with 20 to go and that’s when I got the Lucky Dog and got back on the lead lap.
At that point, I was pretty much just hanging on. I was trying hard not to get lapped. I couldn’t have gained any ground (on the leaders). I just couldn’t get there.
Overall, I’m glad we came down here. It was a pretty good race. I just needed to be faster in the beginning so we didn’t get lapped. But we ended up pretty good, so I’m happy.
WHAT WERE YOUR IMPRESSIONS OF NORTH WILKESBORO?
It was awesome. Fast. Big, sweeping turns. It’s faster than Thompson, and a really cool place.
Andy Loden’s (qualifying time) was faster than when the Cup cars used to run here. These guys down here, they time trial fast. They’re really good at that. I need to work on that. I’m a little rusty with that.
DID YOU LEARN ANYTHING IN PREPARATION FOR NEXT SPRING’S 300-LAP PASS RACE AT THE TRACK?
We did learn some things. Whether we work with (crew chief Dale Quarterley) again at North Wilkesboro or even somewhere else, now we know each other a little better. I know how Dale operates, and he knows how I drive.
The crew worked extremely hard on the live pit stops, and I’d never ridden on Hoosier rubber before. So, like I said, we definitely learned a lot.