DAYTONA BEACH, Fla.: Finally, something good happened to Stefan Parsons.
Targeted as one of the most talented drivers in the garage without a full-time ride because of the lack of funding, Parsons entered Friday night’s Fresh From Florida 250 at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway looking to impress in his Henderson Motorsports debut.
The season-opening NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series race certainly provided its fair share of excitement and drama. Still, Parsons overcame his 27th-place qualifying position and found himself in contention to challenge for the win at the “World Center of Racing.”
Cleverly utilizing a fast No. 75 Ball Park Chevrolet Silverado to his advantage in the draft, Parsons had worked his way to a race-high third before being collected in a Lap 79 incident exiting Turn 4.
Parsons’ truck suffered significant damage to the right front of his truck, but adequate repairs by the Henderson Motorsports team kept their driver on the lead lap and in a position to contend for a strong finish.
Over the final 21 laps of the race, Parsons brilliantly executed his way back through the field even with a damaged race truck and escaped a massive last-lap crash on the backstretch to claim a sixth-place finish and his first career Truck Series top-10.
“It was an eventful night for sure,” Parsons told CATCHFENCE.com. “(We) didn’t have the single truck speed that we had expected, but obviously everyone on this Henderson Motorsports team did a great job preparing the truck and getting it ready.”
After their midpack starting position, Parsons said the team’s game plan shifted slightly. While the goal was always to find themselves in a position to attack near the end of the race, the Cornelius, N.C. native had to exercise a little more patience, and he methodically had to work through the field on a night where carnage rippled throughout the field during the 101-lap race.
“Our plan was to ride the first stage and put us in a position to capitalize in the end; I felt like we did that,” explained Parsons. “Unfortunate circumstances near the end of the race put us in a little bit of a hole, but I feel like the team still put us in a good position even after the damage.”
Parsons said his No. 75 Henderson Motorsports Chevrolet handled differently after the repairs, but it still carried the speed it had showcased earlier, allowing him to recover nicely.
“(We) definitely had some aero damage, especially to the right front,” Parsons explained. “It was a little harder to lead, but we did a good job. The truck still sucked up and drafted well. Just wasn’t able to lead as well.
“We never gave up, and we were able to get to sixth. I’m just so proud of everyone on this Henderson Motorsports team and grateful to Food Country USA, the Henderson family, Ballpark Buns & Rolls, Pop RVs, RIFID Systems, and everyone who makes this happen.”
Even with his first top-10 finish in his 12th career start, Parsons still had mixed feelings about his finish, knowing what potentially could have been.
“It’s weird to be bummed about sixth place,” sounded Parsons. “It’s a great night for us, our team and partners. I felt like we had a truck capable of winning. I felt like we were in a position to do that when we got to third, but then things happened. (I’m) happy and bummed at the same time.”
Parsons won’t have too long to fret over what could have been in his first of a limited Truck Series schedule with the Tennessee-based team.
Henderson Motorsports will skip the series’ second race of the season next weekend at Atlanta (Ga.) Motor Speedway but return at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway on Sat., March 16.
“One (Bristol) of my favorite tracks and the place where I made my first start and got my first top-10,” Parsons added. “To be able to have a great run in Food Country USA’s backyard would be an awesome day for us!”
Follow Chris Knight on Twitter @Knighter01 or email at [email protected].
