Chad Finchum Notches First Top-20 Since 2021
- Dominic Konareski
- 11 minutes ago
- 2 min read
DISCLAIMER: The author of this article is one of the sponsors of a team/driver in the article.
It took a bad block from Austin Hill to stop another RCR win and Corey Day may have turned into Chick Hicks. Through all the chaos, fans saw an absolute thriller in what was an O'Reilly Series gem. I mean tonight was just a cinematic showing with the Truck Series putting on a race-shortened performance for a Kyle Busch win in what was glory in itself.
For Chad Finchum tonight, this race meant something more.
Marking his return to the series since the 2024 Food City 300. The Knoxville, Tennessee, native was announced mid-week as the driver of the Joey Gase Motorsports No. 55 Chevrolet. Gase, an owner-driver, has been Finchum’s teammate on multiple occasions. Overall, this was the second time that Finchum raced for JGM.
Coming on to sponsor Chad Finchum and the Joey Gase Motorsports No.55 entry was Alkamind, Ballers and the New York Sports Show, which came as a returning sponsor after previously sponsoring Chad in the Cup Series clash.
With 39 cars contending for 38 spots on race day, no practice meant Finchum would have to race his way in on a track configuration he’s never driven at. Getting on the track second in the qualifying order, Finchum would briefly hold provisional pole with a time of 33.000 seconds flat. Chad would qualify for the Bennett Transportation & Logistics 250 in 37th place, with Dawson Cram not making the show.
Finchum would go into the Saturday night race with crew chief Brian Keselowski coming on board in what was a reunion of the two.
Stage 1 would see Finchum lapped in the closing laps and finished p29, but he would receive the lucky dog moments later. Stage 2 had Chad remain on the lead lap the entire 45, but owner-teammate Joey Gase would be officially ruled out with engine problems, making Finchum by himself teammate-wise. Nonetheless, he would gain and finish in 28th.
The 75 lap sprint in the final stage was chaotic, multiple wrecks would see the field deplete with running cars. Going into the closing laps, Finchum’s New York Sports Show Chevrolet would deal with a water cooling issue, which led to multiple pit road visits in effort to cool-off. Multiple late-race yellows would help Finchum keep the temperature at bay for a p17 finish.
From 37th to 17th. A gain of 20 positions.
This 17th place finish would mark the best finish for Finchum at Atlanta (previously 26th), and his first top-20 in the Series since May 2021 at Charlotte.
As of now Finchum’s next race, whether with JGM or another team, is yet to be announced.
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