Noah Gragson is looking for an opportunity to ‘crunch some teeth’ later
Back in July, Noah Gragson got into the rear bumper of Riley Herbst early in the NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Texas Motor Speedway. Herbst chased it up the banking and into the wall, pretty much ending his day.
Fast forward to today, the NXS Playoffs are currently underway on the Charlotte ROVAL. 12 drivers remain in the playoffs, four are set to be eliminated today.
Playoff driver Noah Gragson started from the pole and was dominating the event. Then, rain dropped on the race track. Teams bolted on tread tires for some rain racing.
Gragson held the lead when the race resumed. On lap 14, Gragson spun on his own through the puddles of water. However, he picked up next to no damage.
When the race restarted, Gragson quickly reclaimed the race lead. Kaz Grala took the stage one win away from him with a clean pass on the final lap in stage one.
When stage two began, Gragson jumped back into the lead. Riley Herbst went into pursuit.
On lap 27, Herbst cooked turn three and ran into the rear bumper of Gragson. Herbst took the lead as Gragson mangled the nose against the tire barrier.
Following the crash, the rain fell harder and the red flag was deployed. The race remains under red flag and the drivers had the opportunity to comment.
Riley Herbst on Noah Gragson
Herbst was asked if Texas was on his mind when racing Noah Gragson.
“Yeah, I don’t really know,” Riley Herbst said during the red flag.
“I know I’m a hundred million points out of the Playoff bubble. We’re here to win.”
“I hope we can all put on our driving shoes and go out driving. Right now, there are the prefect racing conditions,”Haley says sarcastically.
He added, “I’m having a blast.”
Noah Gragson comments on Riley Herbst
“That’s just racing, I guess,” Gragson said when asked about the contact during the red flag due to rain.
“I don’t get really mad, I get even. So, it will be alright. Maybe one day, down the road.”
“It’s so much fun racing in the rain here. I feel like it’s different every lap, like a dirt track.”
“We’re in the back of the pack but the car looks really good. I think we can come back and win this thing.”
Gragson concluded, “We’re only 30 laps in. I’m excited to go for the win today and maybe crunch some teeth later.”
The race is set to resume as the rain has slowed and the jet dryers have cleared most of the standing water.
Noah Gragson vs Riley Herbst
Texas Motor Speedway
July 18, 2020
Links
Riley Herbst | Noah Gragson | Charlotte Motor Speedway | NASCAR
