MARTINSVILLE, Va. – Just days after parting ways with NTS Motorsports, NASCAR Next driver Gray Gaulding still managed to find himself on track at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway Friday.
Gaulding, the 17-year old rising star is in a third entry for Red Horse Racing (RHR) alongside teammates Timothy Peters and Ben Kennedy. While Gaulding’s age caps him from competing in more truck races, it’s never been more important for the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East driver to make the best of the new opportunity.
While his short tenure with NTS Motorsports produced a noteworthy fourth place finish last year at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, Gaulding is determined to prove that his lone top-five finish wasn’t a fluke and can perform with any team.
“I enjoyed working with the Red Horse Racing guys,” said Gaulding who timed in eighth fastest overall in the lone practice session Friday afternoon. “Butch (Hylton, crew chief) made some great changes to the truck to get it where it needs to be. I’m looking forward to the race and going after a clock.”
The staple trophy of the 0.526-mile short track is a grandfather clock. Made locally by Ridgeway Clock, the nod to the community’s famous furniture industry is valued at approximately $10,000.00.
The good news for the Colonial Heights, Virginia native is Red Horse Racing is a two-time winner at the legendary paperclip track – and now Gaulding looks to add his name alongside former driver David Starr and Peters to the team’s impressive winning platform.
“Compared to last year, my Red Horse Racing truck has good bite off (the corner), so I think that could be pivotal towards the end of the race,” added Gaulding who was fastest of the RHR trio Friday. “It’s important for us to have a good race, so we can keep Krispy Kreme’s name out there and lay out my truck plans for the remainder of the season.”
Currently a one-race deal with the Mooresville, North Carolina-based team, the former NASCAR K&N Pro Series West winner hopes a strong run in the Kroger 250 will amount to more, a lot more.
“Everything happens for a reason,” Gaulding added. “I know I’m in good hands at Red Horse Racing. It’s an honor to represent Mr. DeLoach and fly the Krispy Kreme colors with them.”
Gaulding has two prior NASCAR Camping World Truck Series starts at Martinsville both occurring last year with NTS Motorsports. The October race proved to be the better outcome of the two with a 14th place finish after starting sixth.
More importantly, Gaulding, the driver of the No. 7 Krispy Kreme Doughnuts Toyota Tundra is gung-ho about reuniting his relationship with Toyota.
“Without Krispy Kreme, I wouldn’t be back with Toyota,” added Gaulding. “It feels good to be back at home.”
Red Horse Racing has often been labeled as one of the most esteemed organizations on the tour and while Gaulding’s semi-aggressive driving style is refreshing, the teenager finds himself on a different pedestal now and it’s up to him to channel his emotions, play his cards right and make a permanent home with DeLoach’s well-built empire.
Despite launching his 2015 NASCAR K&N Pro Series East season with NTS Motorsports, Gaulding will finish off the year driving for Precision Motorsports Performance and the Gdovic family. That series resumes competition from Greenville-Pickens (S.C.) Speedway on April 4.
Follow Chris Knight on Twitter @Knighter01.
