Editor’s notice: Cody Ware, driver of the No. 51 Ford Mustang for Rick Ware Racing, is writing a , giving a peek into the NASCAR life throughout Speedweek. That is Friday’s entry.
After I left the storage , was a mangled mess. After I walked into the storage the , it had all new entrance bodywork, new entrance wheel assemblies and a brand new rear bumper. However most significantly, we had been in a position to preserve the thumping Ford FR9 from Roush-Yates Engines bolted in and able to go.
There was nonetheless numerous work to be accomplished, however numerous work had already been completed by my Rick Ware Racing crew. It was spectacular to see, and it helped reduce the nervousness and stress I felt within the rapid aftermath of .
The No. 51 Jacob Development/Components Plus/Pronto Auto Service Heart Ford Mustang Darkish Horse that felt so good in Daytona’s opening apply session on Wednesday morning was properly on its option to getting its mojo again. We’ll run it in closing apply on Saturday afternoon to make sure it’s the place it must be and that each one the brand new components and items are proper and tight.
With no automotive to drive on Friday, what’s a driver to do? In our sport, there’s all the time one thing to do. For me, that meant spending time with our sponsors at Rick Ware Racing. We’ve obtained numerous them right here at Daytona, and it’s necessary that we offer worth to them past what we do on the observe. Components Plus has an enormous activation happening this week, and we’ve obtained massive teams from Jacob Development, Arrowhead Brass and Schluter Methods. The is our , and it’s why everybody needs to be right here. As drivers, we have to ship, each out and in of the racecar.
Despite the fact that I didn’t have my foot on the fuel contained in the automotive in the present day, I used to be nonetheless full throttle when it got here to my preparation for Sunday. Staying hydrated, consuming proper, understanding and getting an excellent evening’s sleep is paramount. While you’re asking every thing of your automotive and your crew, you’ll want to be asking every thing of your self. You could be ready come raceday, and that preparation began lengthy earlier than we landed right here in Daytona.
It has been a bit bizarre being on the racetrack, however not in my racecar. As a driver, that’s just about what we’re right here to do. However our eyes are on Saturday. That closing apply can be necessary.
Ideally, we’ll do some drafting with our teammate, Corey LaJoie, and the RFK vehicles of , Chris Buescher and Ryan Preece. We have now a technical alliance with RFK (Roush Fenway Keselowski), and dealing along with them is one thing we do properly.
For me, I wish to be sure that, aerodynamically, the automotive nonetheless feels pretty much as good because it did within the Duel, and that we’re in a position to get the underbody and the bodywork the place we’d like it to be to maintain the automotive balanced. I wish to draft with some good vehicles to be sure that we are able to nonetheless pull up within the draft and race in addition to we did on Thursday. I’m not fearful about our solo velocity and even our lap time. I simply wish to be sure the automotive’s dealing with properly, we’ve obtained the engine operating easily and, general, the aero steadiness is the place we’d like it.
If all goes proper, Saturday is a run-of-the-mill sort of day with no surprises. We would like a clear slate for Sunday, the place we are able to put the aftereffects of Thursday’s Duel behind us. I’ll let you know the way it goes.
