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Camping World Trucks - Paludo Race Report


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HOMESTEAD, November 26, 2011: Miguel Paludo hoped to end the 2011 season with his first career Truck Series win. Rain delayed the first and only practice session for the Truck Series and cancelled qualifying leaving NASCAR to set the starting line-up based on the rule book and practice times. Paludo started the 134-lap race from the 19th position. The first caution flag waved on lap three and Paludo reported the truck was good. The team chose to leave Paludo on the track as it was too early to come down pit road. On lap 15, Paludo reported that the truck was getting too tight from the middle of the corner off.

NASCAR threw a competition caution on lap 20, due to the fact that teams had only had limited practice time and were racing on a green race track due to the large amount of rain the track had experienced throughout the course of the afternoon. Under the caution period, Paludo brought the No. 7 Duroline Brakes and Components Toyota Tundra down pit road for four tires, fuel and an air-pressure adjustment. Paludo restarted from the 19th position on lap 23. The field only completed six green flag laps before the third caution of the day flew on lap 29 for a spin on the front stretch.

Under the caution Paludo reported to the team that he had a problem. Paludo's spotter and Red Horse Racing Director of Competition, Terry Cook, saw the truck was leaving a trail of something. Smoke from the tailpipes indicated that the No. 7 Toyota Tundra had an internal issue. Paludo took the truck to the garage area where an internal mechanical issue was discovered. The damage was determined to be terminal and Paludo retired from the race early, relegating him to a 32nd-place finish in the final race of 2011.