RFK Racing’s Particular Entrant for Chicago Proves To Be a Success After His Dominating End

From thirty eighth to fourth, Joey Hand braved the ever-changing monitor situations and darkness to attain his profession finest Cup Sequence end on the Chicago Avenue Course. Driving a part-time entry for RFK Racing, often called Stage 60, Hand confirmed simply how helpful various racing expertise may be, main seven laps on the short-term 2.2-mile avenue course, and profitable Stage 2. It was simply his eighth Cup Sequence begin, however Hand ended the race because the top-placing Ford driver, a lot to the delight of his No. 60 crew.

He could not have gained the race, however Joey Hand was all smiles on the finish, having put up a valiant combat to compete for a win. One thing virtually no one would have predicted in the beginning of the race.

Joey Hand lets his expertise shine in Chicago

Joey Hand has been there and achieved that. The 45-year-old has a category victory and an general victory within the Rolex 24 at Daytona endurance race. His expertise of driving within the rain comes from piloting Ford Multimatic Motorsports’ Ford Mustang GT3 in IMSA GTD PRO competitors, which meant dealing with slick in comparison with moist tires and devising methods for the altering monitor situations had been second nature. So, it ought to come as no shock that when rain hit the monitor and created full chaos, Joey Hand was there to capitalize on the chance.

In a video uploaded by NASCAR on Instagram, Joey Hand mentioned within the post-race interview, “The vehicles don’t drive all the identical, proper? You bought to hunt water, you bought to hunt grip, you bought to go hunt totally different strains. And that’s good as a result of these guys drive these vehicles a lot that when it’s all similar to textbook, they will do it actual good. I’m not saying they didn’t do a great job, however it allowed me to stand up there and work my manner by.

“With the water, you can provide anyone just a little nudge and also you don’t have to maneuver them into the wall. You’ll be able to simply give just a little faucet, get below him, faucet, get below him. So, I used that to my benefit. However, simply enjoyable racing with these teams of drivers, teams of groups, and producers. Tremendous comfortable to be in a Ford Mustang Darkish Horse. And lead. Win a stage. Who would have thunk it? I gained a stage. I had a ton of enjoyable. Tremendous grateful.”

It was not past the realm of chance for Joey Hand to win the race in Chicago, having led seven laps till he was overtaken by the No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet of Alex Bowman. Though Hand is understood to be higher on highway programs than avenue programs, his technique was to stay on worn-out moist tires whereas nearly all of the grid selected to pit, serving to him climb up the positions. He was overtaken by Tyler Reddick and Ty Gibbs within the penultimate lap, ending fourth. His earlier best-ever end was twentieth at Sonoma Raceway in 2022.

Joey Hand’s efficiency in RFK Racing’s Stage 60 entry was additionally the most effective this season. Earlier this yr, Supercars star Cam Waters raced within the Stage 60 entry at Sonoma Raceway, ending thirty fifth after being concerned in a crash. David Ragan additionally raced within the automobile within the season-opening Daytona 500, ending twentieth. A victory in Chicago would have been the proper underdog story for Joey Hand, and followers had been all for seeing a surprising consequence at Grant Park 165.

Followers react to Hand’s efficiency in Chicago

Joey Hand’s efficiency in Chicago caught the eye of followers, who took to social media to sing praises concerning the 45-year-old. Given the topsy-turvy nature of the race, followers had been impressed by how Joey Hand navigated by the various challenges, regardless of his restricted expertise. A fan wrote on X (previously often called Twitter), “Whoa, that was a wild experience! I like seeing sports activities automobile drivers like Joey Hand maintain their very own. The best way he navigated these corners and accelerated out of them is spectacular. It’s nice.”

Given how Joey Hand impressed at Grant Park 165, one fan urged extra sports activities automobile drivers to compete in NASCAR, significantly on highway and avenue programs. Writing on X, the fan mentioned, “Want extra Sportscar drivers in Nascar highway course/avenue course races. @JoeyHandRacing drove an excellent race immediately ”. One other fan echoed the sentiment, having had his perception strengthened that sports activities automobile drivers can maintain their very own in NASCAR’s high tier. The fan wrote on X, “That is a fully insane drive by Joey Hand. Sports activities automobile guys can hold in NASCAR!”

With Alex Bowman going 80 races with no win within the NASCAR Cup Sequence, one fan took solace in the truth that it was the Hendrick Motorsports driver who overtook Joey Hand for the win. The fan mentioned, “Man that will’ve been a really cool and really bizarre win. Been following his profession for awhile. Alex beating him was the one ‘correct’ one I feel. He actually wanted that win for his personal confidence if something.”

Having led for 20 minutes (seven laps) throughout the race, it might have been the proper underdog story for Joey Hand to safe a victory in Chicago. Regardless of ending behind Alex Bowman, Tyler Reddick and Ty Gibbs, one fan expressed his admiration for Joey Hand. The fan mentioned, “I so needed him to steal the W, however I’m so pleased with him!”

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