Ray Black Jr. Search for Redemption Cut Short at Pocono Raceway

Posted on: Sunday, August 2nd 2015

NCWTS Rookie Driver Focused on Next Race After 24th Place Finish

LONG POND, Pa. (August 2, 2015) – Ray Black Jr.’s search for redemption at Pocono Raceway was cut short on Saturday afternoon when the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) rookie had to avert another competitor on the track and spun the No. 07 in the process. The driver of the No. 07 ScubaLife.com Chevrolet had spent the day driving up through the field but was unable to return to the track after the incident and was scored in 24th position.

Early on, Black was on his way to clinching another Top-15 finish. After starting the race in 31st, he made quick work of the rest of the field, racing his way into the Top-20 by Lap 10. He would go on to race as high as third during the 60-lap event.

“I had a lot of fun driving up from the back!” said Black. “I was able to learn a lot by seeing what other drivers were doing. We had some momentum going there and were on our way to a great finish. The handling was really coming to me towards the end. I was sure we were going to get at least a Top-15 finish, maybe even a little more than that with how it was going.”

With six laps to go, Black saw the No. 94 of Wendell Chavous spinning low across the track. Thinking the truck wouldn’t spin back across the track, he went high to avoid any damage. Unfortunately, Black ran into a little bit of bad luck, as the No. 94 did come back.

“I really didn’t think it would come back across the track. Then it did and I had to react. Everything got locked up when I tried to avoid it, and I was sent spinning,” said Black. “That was a long one. I felt like I was spinning forever.”

With the impact from the inside wall, the transmission in the No. 07 ScubaLife.com Chevrolet locked up, preventing Black from being able to finish the race and relegating him to a 24th place finish. He remains in 11th place in the championship standings, 24 points behind 10th.

“I’m ready to move on from it. It’s just a little bit of a bummer. We were having a great rebound from our starting spot,” said Black. “We’ll just pick up from where we left off at Michigan and try for another Top-15 finish.”