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MIKE BLISS / KEY MOTORSPORTS CONTINUE STREAK WITH 17th PLACE FINISH AT IOWA SPEEDWAY
August 2, 2010 (Mooresville, NC) Mike Bliss and the Key Motorsports team posted another consistent finish to the results column of the 2010 NASCAR Nationwide Series page at Iowa Speedway Saturday night, with veteran Bliss using skill and finesse to bring the green No .40 across the finish line 17th in the U.S. Cellular All dressed up in the Westerman Companies colors for the big crowd at Iowa Speedway, the No. 40 team displayed its gratitude to the long-time sponsor and their employees in the heartland. Tires quickly become an issue for the Key Motorsports crew, beginning on lap one of the 250-lap affair, with Bliss visiting pit road after flat-spotting a new set of Goodyear’s during a lap one skirmish that involved fellow veteran Morgan Shepherd and rookie Taylor Malsam.
With one less set of tires than the majority of competitors, crew chief Gary Showalter directed a series of adjustments during pit stops designed to compensate for the inevitable gap that would present itself when other teams bolted on their last set of stickers. Bliss, who narrowly missed a spinning Mike Bliss lined up 19th on the lap 209 restart with the Oregon native fighting a tight-loose condition that contributed to the two positions gained in the final 41 caution free laps. “The Key Motorsports Chevrolet ran well in the race tonight,” Bliss offered after the race. “We used one set of our tires up early and that worked against us later on. Gary and the crew did a great job in the pits, everybody wanted to have a good run for Westerman, and we appreciate everything they do. I am certain we could have had a top-10 this week if we were not caught up in the spin at the start. We’ll be back next week.”
Showalter shared, “Tonight was a tire issue. We flat-spotted the tires in that spin on the first lap, everyone had six sets (of tires) and we had five. We worked on it during the race and did the best we could, the guys, everybody made a good effort. We had a good day.” “I want to congratulate everyone on the Key Motorsports team for the string of five top-20 finishes we have put together over the past several weeks,” said team owner Curtis Key. “Mike, Gary and the whole team has worked diligently and are focused on moving forward. Their efforts, along with those of Westerman Companies and all of our partners, are very much appreciated.” Key Motorsports maintains the 22nd spot in the current NASCAR Nationwide Series owner points and will return to action with driver Mike Bliss next weekend at Watkins Glen International.
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250. Continuing a streak that began at Daytona in July, Iowa marks the fifth consecutive top-20 finish for Bliss and the Key Motorsports organization.
Wallace in turn four on lap 203 while holding down the 10th position, ducked onto pit road with the leaders during the ensuing caution for the final stop of the race.