· Making his second-career NASCAR XFINITY Series start, James Davison climbed behind the wheel of the No. 20 Sport Clips Toyota Camry for the Mid-Ohio Challenge at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. Davison qualified in the 11th position and ran as high as second before crossing the finish line in the fourth position for his first-career top-five finish in the series.
· With the race underway, it was quickly slowed on lap two for fluid on the track. Having made the most of the opening laps, Davison was scored in the sixth position during the caution period and when the race returned to green on lap seven.
· Working his way in to the top five, Davison was running fourth when the caution waved on lap 15 for a single-car incident and the red flag was displayed one lap later on lap 16. Reporting to crew chief Chris Gabehart his Sport Clips Camry was loose on entry and free in the rear, Davison pitted on lap 17 after the red flag was lifted. The No. 20 team changed four tires, added fuel and made a round of adjustments to help with the handling of the Sport Clips Camry. As teams opted for various strategies under the caution, Davison restarted the race on lap 18 from the 22nd position.
· The caution waved on lap 20 to end Stage 1 with the 20 team opting to stay out under the caution.
· The race resumed for Stage 2 on lap 23 with Davison in the sixth position. Moving up to third on lap 25, Davison remained in the top five and was scored in the third position on lap 40 when the caution flag waved to end the stage.
· Under the caution, Davison reported to the team he was having trouble with second gear, but the balance of the Sport Clips Camry was good with the rear still a little loose. Gabehart called Davison to pit road for four tires, fuel and another round of adjustments. Dropping a few positions on pit road, Davison restarted the race from fifth on lap 44 for the final stage of the race.
· The race was again slowed on lap 48 for a full-course caution. The team opted to leave Davison on track and he restarted from fourth when the race restarted with 25 laps to go.
· One lap after the restart, the caution flew again for a multi-car accident in turn five. Davison stayed out and restarted the race from fourth on lap 57. Another quick caution on lap 58 for a two-car incident slowed the field. The race resumed on lap 60 with Davison quickly taking over third before battling with eventual race winner Sam Hornish, Jr. for second on lap 61.
· Running in the second position on lap 65, contact from a competitor sent Davison off the course and through the grass, dropping the 20 team to seventh.
· The caution waved again on lap 68 with the red flag quickly being displayed.
· When the race returned to green, Davison restarted from the sixth position and was able to battle his way up to fourth when the checkered flag waved.
· Davison returns to the No. 20 Toyota Camry in two weeks at Road America for his second and final start of the season for Joe Gibbs Racing.
· The NASCAR XFINITY Series returns to Bristol Motor Speedway next weekend for the Food City 300 on Friday, August 19, 2017, at 7:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN with Daniel Suarez in the driver’s seat of the No. 20 Toyota Camry.
Post-Race Thoughts: James Davison
How did you wind up with a fourth-place finish at Mid-Ohio?
“I’m happy with a top-five, not satisfied. We fought some adversity with second gear half way through. I was really struggling to consistently get it into gear which led to a car getting into me down in (turn) four. We lost second position and dropped to seventh. To bring it home fourth in the end is a good result for what we had to deal with. I am grateful for this opportunity with Joe Gibbs Racing, Sport Clips, TRD (Toyota Racing Development). NASCAR is is absolutely where I want to be racing. Fortunately we have Road America to regroup and try to get it done.”