TEAM REPORTS (DAYTONA, FLA) - SCOTT LAGASSE LOOKS IMPRESSIVE IN DAYTONA DEBUT FOR JTG RACING

After rolling off the starting grid from the 33rd spot in Friday night’s NCTS 250 at Daytona International Speedway, Scott Lagasse drove a conservative and competitive race in the No. 20 Nicholson Group Ford F-150. As it would turn out, he’d have plenty of action to deal with over the 100-lap event that was, at times, wild and out of control.

Following the first caution flag of the night on lap 11 for a single truck accident, crew chief Gary Cogswell brought Lagasse down pit road for tires and a small adjustment. As he was coming down pit lane in the outside groove, he had an extremely close call with the No. 33 truck of Ron Hornaday, who was pulling out of his pit stall. Lagasse was alert and climbed on the brakes, avoiding any contact. Lagasse restarted the race from the 25th spot on the lap 14 restart.

Just four laps later, the biggest incident of the night occurred on the backstretch as Kyle Busch seemed to touch off a major crash by coming down the banking and into the path of Mike Skinner. Before the smoke cleared, eight trucks were involved—many with heavy damage that knocked them out of the race. Lagasse managed to get his No. 20 Nicholson Group Ford F-150 slowed in time to pick through the wreckage and drive off—safe for the moment.

The race had to be red-flagged for a 20-minute clean up period. The teams got going again on a lap 23 restart, but the trucks didn’t complete an entire lap before trouble broke out again coming out of turn four and involving five trucks. Although it was certain Lagasse didn’t have his eyes closed, it was either blind luck or masterful skill that he was able to thread the needle between spinning and damaged trucks all around him. As a result, he inherited 10th place on the grid as he pitted on lap 29 of the 100-lap event.

His over-the-wall pit crew was able to pick him up two spots on the four-tire change and Lagasse restarted from the eighth position on the lap 34. Under green flag conditions, the No. 51 truck of Kyle Busch was stalking Lagasse, lined up just on his back bumper and looking for a way around. Busch nearly lost the handle on his truck as he pulled outside to pass going into turn one. Lagasse held off the charge for another four straight laps as the No. 20 Nicholson Group Ford F-150 showed superior handling in the draft.

However, on lap 41, Lagasse was pinned down low on the track and with no drafting help, was passed by three trucks lined up on the outside. By lap 45, he was still running just outside the top-10 running order in 11th overall. By the halfway point of the race at lap 50, he was back one more spot in 12th, but settled in nicely with the lead draft of trucks.

Unfortunately, just four laps later, Lagasse’s right front tire blew, sending the No. 20 Nicholson Group Ford into the outside wall, where the impact severely damaged the front end suspension. Crew chief Gary Cogswell and the team had Lagasse bring the truck behind the wall for repairs, but had to retire from the event.

Lagasse still found the silver lining in the way that the team had performed during their first trial of the year. The team was credited with a 26th place finish overall.

WHAT THE TEAM HAS TO SAY: Scott Lagasse, Driver of the No. 20 JTG Racing Ford: "We cut a right front tire--I'm sure after all the debris that is out there. I'm sure we ran over something. My crew did an awesome job. We had a game plan when we came here and that was to race good. We were racing well. Gary [Cogswell, crew chief] and the guys put together a heck of a truck. I don't know about a victory, but we were going to run in the top 10. We were just biding our time there. That's racing and you hate it [a damaged truck] because these guys here work so hard and the guys back at the shop, too. We're going to get as many points as we can and we're going to go to California. As a group we made huge gains here this weekend. For the first time working together, I am extremely excited about this year because we had a truck capable of running in the top 10. These Roush Yates motors are awesome. I've got to thank those guys for making such great equipment."

Gary Cogswell, Crew Chief of the No. 20 JTG Racing Ford: “I hate that we have a DNF to start off the year, but I’ve still got a lot to smile about. Our truck was able to perform, we ran in the top-10 tonight and our pit crew had a pretty awesome night of their own. I think it was a great first outing for everyone here and if the way we worked together is a sign of things to come, this should be a great year.”

FAST & FUN FACTS: -Scott Lagasse, Jr. drove the No. 20 Nicholson Group Ford to a 26th place finish in the NCTS 250 at the season-opening Daytona International Speedway. -Scott Lagasse ranks 26th in both driver and owner points after the first of 25 events in 2008. -Lagasse earned 85 points and won $14,935 for his finish at Daytona.

NEXT EVENT NEWS:

WHERE: California Speedway, Ontario, CA WHAT: San Bernardino County 200 WHEN: February 23rd, 2008; 3 p.m. EST NETWORK: FOX Television; MRN Radio Network