Disappointment at Greenville

Greenville, SC (Sep-10) In the days leading up to the rescheduled 'Kevin Whitaker Chevrolet 140' at Greenville Pickens Speedway, the feeling amongst the entire Reed Motoesorts team as a whole in Lavonia, GA was upbeat and positive. After all, in April, Greenville was the sight of driver Brandon Haley's 2nd Top 10 in just three outings in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series. In addition, in the week that had passed since the rains of a week ago, Brandon and team owner Wayne Reed traveled to Earnhardt Technolgies Group at DEI in Mooresville, NC on Thursady where the #51 Ocean Lakes Family Campground Ford spent nearly eight hours on a pull down rig.

"We couldn't afford NOT to do this" said Reed while at DEI. "Greenville has been a good track for us. We've tested there on a couple of occasions and it's a track Brandon understands obviously as a result of how strong we were there in April. With sponsorship for next year an uncertainty at this point, we're hoping Greenville will be be a break out race for us"

On Saturday, unlike most NASCAR K&N Pro Series events that see the green flag in the evening, the "Kevin Whitaker 140" would take the green flag at 5 PM; the hottest part of the day.

All NASCAR K&N Pro Series East events are impound races - where cars are impounded after qualifying. With the green flag going into the air at 5 PM, the challenge for race teams here would be to find the balance between speed for qualifying and a good race set up in terms of the chassis.
This was apparent in both practice sessions earlier in the day when all 28 race teams saw a dramatic drop off in lap times after just 3 or 4 laps in both sessions.
                         
Brandon reviews NASCAR Timing & Scoring practice results in the Reed Motorsports hauler after the first of two practice sessions 

In an effort to get a feel for how the #51 would handle long into a run, Brandon recorded more laps in both practice session than just about any other team. His approach was simple - the only way to see how far the tires would fall off was to turn as many laps as possible so as not to "guess at long run race conditions"

Prior to qualifying, Brandon felt reasonably confident the #51 Ocean Lakes Family Campground Ford was good enough to wind up 10th or 11th in Pole Qualifying.
           
Almost customary at each K&N Pro Series event, Brandon & Chase Elliott
always manage to catch up with one another at some point during the day; today, it's prior to Pole Qualifying.

         
Brandon dives into Turn 1 on the first of two qualifying laps   

Brandon would go out 26th (of 28) in qualifying. Prior to his qualifying attempt, it was apparent to Brandon hundreths or even thousanths of a second could be the difference maker as the difference between so many of the compeitors was that small. At the conclusion of pole qualifying, Brandon found himself 16th quickest; clearly not the result he was looking for. Looking over qualifying results, Brandon said "I knew qualifying would be close, but I don't know that anyone knew it would be this close"   

The difference between Brandon's best lap and the 11th place starter was 5/one hundreths of a second. Furthermore, the difference between the 12th place starter and Brandon's #51 was 3/one thousanths of a second.

Prior to the start of the 'Kevin Whitaker Chevrolet 140', Brandon felt as though the Ocean Lakes Family Campgoune Ford would "race" pretty well although he was concerned about starting on the outside. "I hope everyone around us remembers it's a 140 lap race and not a heat race"

It wasn't long after the green flag fell that Brandon's biggest concern prior to the start of the event had been realized. 

With just 7 Laps in on the scoreboard, most of the field seemed to be exercising patience in the early going. There was some side by side racing, but everyone seemed to be giving each other plenty of room - until midway through Lap 8 of the scheduled 140

As the field exited Turn 2 running nose to tail, two cars attempted to get around Brandon - one on the high side and the other on the low side. As the field headed down the back stretch, all three cars touched (Brandon was in the middle).

Just over half way down the backstretch, Brandon slowed dramatically and as he entered Turn 3, the #51 Ocean Lakes Family Campground Ford spun bringing out the events first caution flag the result of cut down tire from the contact just seconds before.

      
 
After righting the car, Brandon went to pit road where the Reed Motorsports crew quickly changed the flat tire and straighten out bent sheet metal over the left front tire. The nature of the overaggresive contact in Turn 2 was such that the bright yellow "Good Year" painted on the left front tire had been rubbed off. In addition, the right rear tire was cut as well but because the tire was holding air, changing the tire was not permitted.

Brandon soldiered on for 127 laps with a 3 1/2' long chunk of rubber 1 inch wide flapping around uncertain as to whether the right rear was going to last.

The Ocean Lakes Family Campground Ford would finish 23rd.

With a smile Brandon would say later, "I know rubbin is racin, but on the 8th lap of a 140 lap race?"

Unable to change the tire, the chunk of rubber shown in the inset was flapping up against the right rear quarter panel for 127 laps. A scary proposition at 60 mph on the highway. Imagine 120 mph on the straight-aways, & sliding through the turns with most of the weight on the right rear.   

    -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Nothing could better describe Brandon's disappointment after the Greenville race better than this photo (taken just minutes after the checkered flag fell)





                                         
                 Complete Race Day Schedule - Greenville              
                   
                     Haulers were permitted to begin entering the infiels at 6:30 AM

6:30 AM - Haulers enter
7:00 AM - Registration Opens
7:30 AM - Garage Area opens - Nascar Inspection opens
7:45 AM - Mandatory Crew Chief meeting
9:00 AM - Mandatory Rookie&Spotter meeting
9:15 AM - Safety Communications meeting
9:30 AM - Track Services meeting
10:30 AM - 11:15 AM - Practice
11:45 AM - 12:30 PM - Final Practice
12:45 PM - Pre Qualifying NASCAR inspection opens
  2:30 PM - Mandatory Driver & Crew Chief meeting
  3:00 PM - Qualifying (Two Laps - cars impounded)
  3:45 PM - Trackside Autograph Session w/cars - Frontstretch
  5:00 PM - Kevin Whitaker Chevrolet 140   






     
This was the scene throughout the day Monday for the Reed Motorsports Ocean Lakes Family Campground Ford race team
 
   Weather forces Greenville event to be rescheduled

Greenville, SC (Sep-5) Persistent rain, the bi-product of the remnants
of Tropical Storm Lee that has blanketed the southeastern US in recent days claimed another victim, the "Kevin Whitaker Chevrolet 140" NASCAR K&N Pro Series East event at Greenville Pickens Speedway in Greenville SC.

As is the case in both the Cup & Nationwide Series, NASCAR K&N Pro Series officials are equipped with National Weather Service radar. While a small window opened that might allow an opportunity to "get  the race in" series officials felt that such a move would akin to "rolling the nice" and would not be fair to race fans.

Subsequently, the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East 'Kevin Whitaker 140' has been rescheduled for Saturday September 10. The green flag is set to wave at 5 pm

                                     Race Day Schedule
  We will post the complete race day schedule when it becomes available

  

 Ocean Lakes Family Campground on board at Greenville

Lavonia, Ga (Sep-2) Reed Motorsports has announced that Ocean Lakes Family Campround in Myrtle Beach SC will serve as primary sponsor on the Brandon Haley piloted Reed Motorsports entry in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East 'Kevin Whitaker Chevrolet 140' at Greenville Pickens Speedway in Greenville, SC on Laboe Day, Monday September 5.

OceanLakes has supported Brandon throughout the entire 2011 campaign primarily as an associate sponsor but has incresed it's participation for the Greenville event on Labor Day. 

Reed Motorsports owner Wayne Reed said "we're so happy to have Ocean Lakes with us. They've been our biggest supporter all year and their support has been invaluable" 

"It's reassuring to know Ocean Lakes shares our belief in Brandon who without question, is one of the most gifted drivers in the country. The transition to NASCAR from the dirt tracks is not an easy one in this day and age. Fortunately, Brandon's inspiring work ethic, dedication and commitment has gotten this team this far. Brandon has won in everything he's ever been in proir to our NASCAR effort and before all is said and done, we're confident Brandon will succeed at this level as well. The fact that Ocean Lakes shares our vision is humbling" 

"We're 100% committed to this effort" Reed points out, "Our game plan at the beginning of the year was to compete with the elite teams in the series through the first four or five events then roll out the new car and over the course of the next three events, concentrate on learning the new car"

"We were pretty happy with the progress we made in the first four events. Brandon was solidly in the Top 10 in the points amongst the Cup backed teams and he was a serious contender for the 2011 Rookie of the Year"

"As a result of how well we were doing after the first four events, it was very tempting to discard the stradegy we employed at the beginning of the year; in fact there was a lot of discussion about it at the shop. In the end though, we felt it best to stick to the original game plan. Hopefully, the effort and hard work Brandon has put forth will pay off at Greenville on Labor Day and lay the foundation for securing backing in 2012, carrying two complete cars to the race track and run the entire schedule" 

"Last week in testing at Greenville Pickens Speedway, Brandon felt real good about the car. In fact Brandon had a lot of bounce in his step as the day went on and that's usaully a good sign. Hopefully, that'll translate into the Ocean Lakes Ford Fusion making it's presence known in the front half of the field Monday afternoon"

SPEED Channel will be taping the race for nationwide broadcast tentavely slated to air on September 15. "We're hoping Brandon and the #51 Ocean Lakes Family Campground Ford will be well represented in the broadcast when it airs" Reed added. 

Ocean Lakes Family Campground was built by Mary Emily and Nelson Jackson in 1970. Ocean Lakes opened with 30 campsites and one bathhouse on July 2, 1971. “People were lined up outside the gate by the hundreds and we were clearing spots for their campers as fast as they could park them ‘em,”

Today, Ocean Lakes features 893 campsites and 2,554 annual lease sites on 310 oceanfront acres with nearly one mile of beachfront, four bathhouses, and more than 360 employees in the height of the camping season. It is the largest campground on the east coast and one of the largest in the United States. On an average seasonal day, Ocean Lakes has 25,000 - 35,000 guests enjoying the countless amenities that have made it a local favorite and a national vacation destination.

In an interview prior to his passing in February of 2010, Jackson noted “We could do a lot of things with 310 oceanfront acres in Myrtle Beach, and we’ve had many lucrative offers, but we believe that everyone - the butcher, the baker and the candlestick maker - should have the privilege of enjoying God’s beautiful ocean”

To learn more about Ocean Lakes, please visit;
www.oceanlakes.com

or call

877.510.1413  or 800.845.2229


 

    

      Brandon hopes to turn things around at Langley
  Crew Chief Mark Tutor feels team is making ground figuring out new car

Hampton, VA (Jun-18) Going into this weekends 'Visit Hampton VA 175' at Langley Speedway in Hampton, VA, Reed Motorsports driver Brandon Haley and Crew Chief Mark Tutor feel as though they are closer to figuring out the recently aquired 2010Roush-Fenway built Carl Edwards Nationwide Series car.

'We've essentially had to toss most of our notes from the other car Tutor says. "The cars are so drastically different. The other car was nearly five years old and much has changed. We've made progress on how to better get the car closer to Brandon's liking" Tutor adds. "Brandon is a 'feel' driver which is a good thing this early in his NASCAR career"

"Unfortunately we lost a lot of time this week" says Brandon. When the 32 slammed into the back of us last week at Gresham, we lost three days in the shop because the car had to be repaired in North Carolina. This is a tough sport to be a part of without a marketing partner helping our program. Outfitting the shop with the kind of equipment we need isn't something we can do rigt now, so the car had to go to Kannapolis'

"Our original plan this week was to take down the front end of the car and really learn everything we could and better establish a baseline set up. I think we're half way there. Because of the Gresham repairs, we didn't quite get everything done we wanted to accomplish but I think we'll be a lot better. I don't think I've ever driven a worse handling car; on dirt or in the K&N Series, than what we had at Gresham last week. The best thing to do would have been to really go out and shake the car down, but renting a race track for an an entire plus the cost of tires is something we just can't do at the moment"

Brandon closed by insisting "I really do think we'll be a lot better this weekend"

The Reed Motorsports team will begin the day Saturday early as the garage area opens at 7:30 a.m. After NASCAR Inspection, the first of two 45 minute practice sessions is set to get underway at Noon. Final Practice is slated for 1:15 followed by pre qualifying inspection. Qualifying will be at 4:30 and the trackside autograph session allowing fans to visit with the drivers and see the NASCAR K&N Pro Series cars up close is scheduled for 5:30. 

The green flag is set to wave over the 30 car starting field for the 'Visit Hampton, VA 175' at 8 p.m.  
 
                
                               SPEED Channels Derek Pernesiglio

  Brandon to be 'featured driver' on Thursday's broadcast

Lavonia, GA (Jun-14) As part of the SPEED Channels national television coverage of the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East, SPEED introduced a new feature in 2011 it calls "Bio Blast" which features what SPEED Channel thinks are the "up and coming drivers" in the Series. To date, Chase Elliott, Corey Lajoie, and Joe Gibbs racings Max Gresham are among the names  that have been featured.
 
The segment which normally airs in the first part of the broadcast, sees the featured driver full screen with microphone in hand introducing himself briefly touching on his previous race experience. On air personalities Rick Allen and Phil Parsons expand on the drivers background and accomplishments aided by full a screen graphic outlining a drivers experience and or accomplishments.

On Thursady, June 19, Lavonia, GA's Brandon Haley, driver of the #51 Reed Motorsports Ford will the subject of this weeks 'Bio Blast" on SPEED's 
coast to coast national broadcast.

Considering there are but 12 broadcasts all year, car owner Wayne Reed said "we are so honored that SPEED Channel thinks so much of our effort. We don't have a sponsor and haven't been able to do the things we've wanted to be able to do. When you consider who has been featured in Bio Blast segments so far this year, I gotta tell you, I'm overwhelmed by this"

Brandon has been in North Carolina for two days making repairs to the #51 Reed Motorsports Ford suffered at Greshanm Saturday that were too extensive to repair in the Reed Motorsports shops.

When Brandon recieved word this morning he would be featured on Thursday's national broadcast, he said "I want to thank SPEED Channel for thinking so much of us, especially Derek Pernesiglio of SPEED. There is no denying how important Derek and SPEED Channel are to the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East. The exposure they have brought to our series is incredible. This is a tough series and even though the point standings have see sawed back and forth all year, SPEED Channel's coverage of our series is what really showcaes how competitive the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East really is"

Then, in typical Brandon fashion, Brandon hesitated and thought for a second and said, "Dang,... ya know, there is a lot of talent in this series, I can't believe SPEED chose to feature us this week"


                      -----------------------------------------------

   
After spending much of the afternoon in the Top 5 in practice, Brandon's fate takes a turn in qualifying that leads to more bad luck later in the Slack Auto Parts 150 at Gresham Motorsports Park

                        Gresham Motorsports Park
      A day so filled with promise goes wrong in a hurry
         With 2 damaged cars in 2 consecutive races, uncertainty abounds

Jefferson, GA (June-12) - When the day began Saturday morning, NASCAR K&N Pro Series East driver Brandon Haley & the Reed Motorsports race team arrived at Gresham Motorsports Park in Jefferson, GA wondering if today would finally be thier day in race #6 of the 2011 season, the 'Slack Auto Parts 150'. 

With a Roush-Fenway built Ford Carl Edwards piloted to two Top 5 finishes in the Nationwide Series in 2010, the Reed Motorsports team would field a car in this event hoping the gap between them and the Cup and Nationwide affiliated teams was not as wide as has been the case in previous 2011 K&N Pro Series East events

With the new car, the only downside felt by the team heading into the garage area Saturday morning was the empty notebook on the new car. 
Because of the car's shorter wheelbase and it's modern day chassis and suspension geometry, most of the notes on the four year old speedway car Brandon had competed in every race to date, establishing a base line early in practice was critical. 

With 31 teams on hand, the theme in the first of two practice sessions was to get Brandon to feel comfortable in the car as he had never been behind the wheel of another car in traffic as recent test session the week before was primarily solo runs.

On old tires, Brandon was 14th quickest near the conclusion of the first practice session but more importatntly, Brandon's level of confidence in the feel of the new car was growing. Brandon spent much of the second practice session in the Top 5 on the speed charts. Nearing the end of the session, many teams bolted on 4 new Goodyears and Brandon still found himself in the Top 10.

In a bold and risky move between Final Practice and qualifying, changes were contemplated that could make the #51 a little quicker. Brandon felt the car had a lot more in it than what the speed charts showed. After much discussion, shocks and springs were changed before qualifying. 

Qualifying order is determined by draw and Brandon would qualify near the end of the qualifying session. Be it a changing track or the untested adjustments made since Final Practice, Brandon radioed the car was 'bad tight' on his warm up lap. Throughout his two lap qualifying run, Brandon had to lift early entering the turns at both ends of the speedway and wait to get back "in the gas". It was so apparent, the first thought was the engine was going south.

Once qualifying was done, the #51 would line up a disappointing 21st on the Slack Auto Parts 150 starting grid. 

With the cars impounded after qualifying, the crew discussed making a pit stop for adjustments if there was an early caution. Unfortunately, once the race was underway (after a 2 1/2 hour rain delay) Brandon WAS the first caution.

When the green flag fell on the Slack Auto Parts 150, Brandon was more aggressive at the start than he had been all year (the difference between the new car and the 4 year old 'speedway' car that seemed to always take time to 'come in')

Plagued by a 'deep in the field' start and the potential for trouble such a start brings, on Lap 23 the car directly in front of Brandon was out of shape exiting Turn 4. Brandon was quick to miss the car but was slammed into from behind. While there was a gap between Brandon and the car behind him, Brandon was slammed into nontheless.

             
                  Brandon dives onto Pit Road for repairs

After going to Pit Road, it was apparent that beyond the LR quarter panel being completely destroyed, there was damage to the LR suspension as well.

Despite falling to 30th in the running order and going a lap down, on the restart, Brandon was a man on a mission; get back on the lead lap, salvage a good finish.

With four cars on the track already a lap down in front of him, Brandon would be the free pass car just 15 laps later as the caution flew on Lap 38. 

The green flag would once again wave on Lap 42 and over the course of the of the 108 Laps that remained, Brandon would soldier his way up through the field to finish 15th.

After the race Brandon's only comment was "not the kind of day we were hoping for"

 
   



             
      
                                      Army Strong 150
       After running 7th early, overheating ends Brandon's day
                                   Bowman Gray Stadium

             VIDEO OF WHAT PUT BRANDON OUT FOLLOWS ARTICLE 
                           
Winston Salem, NC - As the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East rolled into Winston Salem's historic Bowman Gray Stadium Friday, quietly, there was much concern in virtually every corner of the K&N Pro Series East garage area as to how physical an event the Army Strong 150 might turn out to be; due to the narrow and flat 1/4 mile track, would the Army Strong 150 transform stock car racing into a contact sport similar to the kind of contact seen on the Winston Salem University football field on the infield?

Reed Motorsports driver Brandon Haley had the same concerns as each of the other 26 drivers on hand. "Survive and keep the fenders on the car " was the number one priority heard throughout the garage area. 

Because of the expected physical nature of the event, everyone knew the night could forge a major shake up in the championship point standings. Subsequently, Brandon's objective was to be smooth on the track and not be overly aggressive so as to position himself as a benefactor of any potential shake up in the points.

On Friday night, Brandon turned in on of the most surprising performances of the night in Coors Light Qualifying. Not known as a strong qualifier, Brandon went out second in qualifying and sat on the front row well into the qualifying session. "I didn't get too excited about where we were because I knew the later it got, the cooler it would get and that would favor the guys going out later" Brandon said afterwards.

When qualifying was over, the Reed Motorsports Ford Fusion was eighth quickest of the 27 cars that qualified.

For a few minutes, the atmosphere in the Reed Motorsports hauler in the garage area was almost celebratory as Brandon had turned in his best qualifying effort ever. In six career starts, Brandon had never qualified better than 14th. While gracious and appreciatave of the congradulations and attention he recieved from others, Brandon was concerned that his outside fourth row statrting position on the grid might be a problem; "you can't stay on the outside here. If there is anything I've learned in watching the local divisions, if you can't get down early, you fade fast and deep into the field"

With 15,000 in attendance on Saturday night, Brandon ran as high as 7th early in the event. The turning point changing the fortunes of Brandon's night came near the halfway point in the event.

Heading down the back straight-a-way, cars directly ahead of Brandon tangled just before the entry of Turn 3 resulting in the cars involved in wanting the same piece of real estate spinning in the center of the corner and coming to a stop. While Brandon was not caught up in the accident, the track was blocked in front of him and another car had stalled directly behind Brandon. With the caution out, Brandon was the meat in the sandwhich. Brandon was forced to wait until either the car in front of him or the stalled car behind him could refire and get back underway before Brandon could move as seen in the video below. Additionally, nearly half of the cars on the track pass Brandon as he awaits an opportunity to move. 

Because Brandon's wheels stopped turning, irregardless of the reason, NASCAR ofiicials shuffle Brandon back to the 21st position on the restart. 

The same car involved in the incident relegating Brandon to 21st would tangle with the same car on the restart, the right side of the car would go airborne breifly. Unable to slow, the left front corner of Brandon's #51 would contact the right rear of the airborne car as it came back down. Meanwhile, as this incident unfolded, at the opposite end of the track, a spin in in Turn 3 would bring out the caution. 

During the following lap while under caution, Brandon observed the water temperature was steadily rising. On the next lap with the yellow still out, steam began to pour out of the overflow. Crew Chief Mark Tutor called Brandon into the pits and discovered the fan had stopped turning thus ending Brandon's night.

Brandon would record his first DNF in six starts and finish 27th.

   

      --------------------------------------------------
              
           
                  Brandon to debut new car at Gresham
              2010 Nationwide Roush-Fenway Ford driven by Carl Edwards

Lavonia, GA (Jun-3) In recent weeks, news out of the Lavonia, GA based Reed Motorsports has been almost nonexistent. In fact, the usually active website and even more active Facebook page have been unusually quiet. While this weekend’s Army Strong 150 at 1/4 mile Bowman Gray Stadium in Winston Salem, NC is a concern for many of the NASCAR K&N Pro Series teams, Brandon and the Reed Motorsports race team have been involved in a project that has occupied most of the time not already consumed by the familiar black and florescent yellow # 51 Reed Motorsports Ford Fusion.

Brandon currently sits 10th in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East championship point standings and 2nd in the Sunoco Rookie of the Year standings despite a small budget and limited resources. While the Reed Motorsports team is still searching in earnest for sponsorship, Brandon and team owner Wayne Reed are preparing for a serious run at a strong finish in the championship point standings come year end and the Rookie of the year title.

       
                              
               Highs & Lows Define Iowa Weekend
           Brandon fades to 32nd early & charges back to finish 19th


Newton, IA - In what was somewhat the equivalant of the Cup Series All-Star event in Charlotte, the NASCAR K&N Pro Series competed in the only event of the year open to all race teams from both the East and West divisions of the series. The all important event was critical to teams interested in makng the statement they are in the series for for all the right reasons. The financial commitment all 60 teams had to endure was expansive. Knowing in advance that only 40 teams would make the field, it was no secret 20 race teams would be sent home packing. Add to that the fact the Iowa event was a "pit stop" race meaning each team starting the event would pit during the race as the Cup and Nationwide Series do. In somewhat of a twist though, teams could only change two tires at a time hence changing all four tires would require two stops. In addition, 175 Laps on a 7/8 mile track would require taking on fuel as well.

On the surface, the similarities between Ricmond and Iowa Speedway are very apparent. Insiders profess that Iowa was built to pattern Richmond. While just a tick larger than Richmond, it was easy to assume Iowa would 'race' like Richmond as the layout of each venue is similar as well as the length of the turns and the degrees of banking at both ends of the speedway. The banking on both the front and back stright-a-ways are nearlty identical to Richmond. 

Going into Iowa, Reed Motorsports driver Brandon Haley sat 9th in the championship point standings. Of the the 45 drivers competing in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East in 2011 to date, Brandon's #51 was one of only six teams ranked in the Top 10 in the point standings after every event. Add to that, Brandon was ranked near the top in the Sunoco Rookie of the Year point standings.

While Brandon was in the Top 10 during practice at Richmond, the former Dirt Late Model driver was sideways in Turn 2 on both qualifying laps relegating him to a 28th place start on the grid. During that event, Brandon would pass 13 cars in green flag conditions. Brandon would say after the event "the car felt good and it was fast"

After Richmond, a cloud of uncertainty lingered as to whether Brandon and the Reed Motorsports team would be making the trip to Iowa. Brandon's website fell quiet as did the teams Facebook page, both of which are normally very active with updates, news, and photos from work in the shop. While negotions with potential sponsors for Iowa had been undeway, in the end, nothing panned out. After considering to forego Iowa, team owner Wayne Reed concluded the teams hopes for sponsorship in the future could be compromised if the team didn't go to Iowa.

Once in Iowa, Brandon and the Reed Motorsports crew approached the event in the same manner as Richmond due to the similarities of the tracks. the school of thought was, what worked in Richmond should work here. That thinking seemed to be accurate early on. Due to limited resources, Brandon practiced on used tires that had  47 Laps on them at Richmond. Despite this, Brandon was positioned 19th quickest in practice of the 58 cars that had been on the track. Of those 58 teams, most practiced with 4 new Goodyears. Nearing the end of practice though, the Reed Motorsports crew put four new tires on Brandon's #51. There was an anxious excitement felt by the crew as to what kind of lap times Brandon would turn when considering Brandon was on old tires while everyone else had been on sticker tires. 

Brandon was sitting on pit road awaiting an opportunity to make a mock qualifying run when practice was red flagged due to a car that backed into the wall in Turn 4. The clean up would exceed the alloted time set for K&N Pro Series teams to practice, thus, Brandon did not have the opportunity to get any laps in on new tires. Subsequently, it was unknown as to what adjustments needed to be made to the car.

Up until this point, the weekend had gone quite well. NASCAR officials were complimentary of the great strides Brandon and the Reed Motorsports crew have made from a tech inspection standpoint. Additionally, in the garage area, more and more members of established front running teams are acknowledging Brandon as one of their own rather than the "dirt track outsider" 

Despite the many positives and the momentum heading into Iowa, not having an opportunity to turn laps on new tires prior to qualifying would have far reaching implications not realized at the time, that would adversley affect Brandon and the #51 Reed Motorsports Ford Fusion for the remainder of the day, both in qualifying and the race itself. The event was an impound event; meaning, you race with what you qualified with.

Brandon tightened the car up prior to qualifying. The Nationwide Series had been on the track on a different tire and Brandon assumed that would make the K&N Pro series cars lose. But, having not been on the track on new tires, how much he needed to tighten the car up was guesswork.

Brandon's prediction that rubber laid down by the Nationwide Series practice would make the cars lose proved to be correct as a stream of crew members from other teams already qualified made the walk down pit road to give Brandon a heads up.

Brandon went on to qualify 18th fastest among the 58 cars that would qualify. When asked how the car was with new tires Brandon acknowledged he paid the price for not getting any laps in during practice on new tires "while everyone else was lose, we were too tight. We might have over adjusted.

As the starting field of 40 cars was impounded, the prospects of an ill handling car was immanent once the green flag waved. Couple that with the fact that the event was a pit stop race, Brandon had to contemplate chassis adjustments prior to pit stops and for that matter pit stops was something most in the field had never experienced, so add the pressure of the commit cone, pit road speed, properly positioning the car in the pit box etc; .

Despite the challenges and intimidation a "pit stop race" presented, pit road would provide the brightest spot in Brandon's night. On one occasion, Brandon pitted with the race leaders and went on to beat all of them off pit road with the exception of eventual race winner Brett Moffitt in the Michael Waltrip Racing entry.

Brandon's success on pit road was never matched on the track at least, not in the finishing order. With an ill handling car at the outset, Brandon found himself fading fast and mired deep in the field early.  At one point Brandon was as far back as 32nd in the running order. Chassis adjustments started early, on Lap 30 of 175.

Demonstrating the 'never give up' determination that led to 47 wins and 90 Top 5's in 100 outings on dirt, Brandon fought his way back to finish 19th.

Brandon would say after the race "We're in a sport where a good day or a bad day is determined by the finishing order. On the surface, finishing 19th ain't that great a story but so many good things happened here. We learned so much here and we'll try to build on that going forward.



   

     

Infield JumboTron

 With practice underway, Brandon gets some TV time

 

TV Monitor inside Media Center




Under threatening skies, practice is underway at Richmond

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                NASCAR K&N Pro Series East Point Standings
    Brandon among Top 10 heading into Richmond

Lavonia GA - Because of it's role as NASCAR's top developmental series and the last stop before the Truck, Nationwide or Cup Series, it's common to see names like Gibbs, Waltrip, Elliott, LaJoie, Max Siegel and Mike Curb among the list of car owners in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East. Subsequently, there is no shortage of technical & engineering support in the series from the likes of RCR, Waltrip, Gibbs and Hendrick to name just a few.
 
On Wednseday morning NASCAR officials in Daytona Beach released
the current K&N Pro Series East point standings. Among the Top 10 are powerhouse teams one would expect, complete with sponsors and technical and engineering support.

One name that stands out amongst the Top 10 is Reed Motorsports driver Brandon Haley, unsponsored and the recipient of no technical or engineering support.

"It's a true testament as to how committed and how dedicated 
Brandon really is" says team owner Wayne Reed. "Even when he was racking up all those wins and 90 top 5's in 100 starts on dirt, Brandon always knew that NASCAR is where he wanted to go. He figured he had to pay his dues.

"A career on dirt and making a good living at it would have been the natural course but there isn't a person alive that could talk Brandon out of NASCAR, that's how committed to this he is. As a team, the things we lack, Brandon makes up for and I don't mean just out on the track. He's spends so much time in this shop trying to learn and make our entire effort better. 

"Someone told me a few days ago that in the last three races we've been in, we had passed more cars on the track then any of the teams in all three races. If that's true, it's a reflection of how much of himself Brandon puts into this at the shop.

"His goal everday is to know more at the end of day then he knew yesterday and he doesn't leave this shop until that happens.

"Going into Richmond, we're tied for 9th in points with the Gibbs car. Brandon is the reason hands down and not just because of his efforts on the track. It's as much because of all the time he puts in here at the shop trying to make up for the things we don't have.

"Our team is the the only unsposored team in the Top 10, maybe the Top 15 and we're in a tie for 9th with the Gibbs car. THAT.." says Reed "defines who Brandon Haley is and what he's all about.


            

        NASCAR Announces 2011 K&N Pro Series East
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