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Championship night at Hickory Motor Speedway produced a great battle between the top two drivers in the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Limited Late Model Division. Coming off of his first career late model victory and in position to capture Rookie of the Year honors, Cory Joyce and his No. 33 team were optimistic about another strong run. Starting from the outside pole position for the second week in a row, Joyce took the green flag next to division champion Kyle Mansch in the No. 17. Within the first few laps, Cory slid back to third position after losing grip on the high side of the track. A lap four caution gave him the inside line for the restart, and Joyce was able to muscle back into second shortly after taking the green flag. Coaching over the radio from crew chief Chuck Meyers kept the young driver calm and Joyce managed to avoid trouble, saving his car for the end of the race. Another caution with 10 laps to go put the No. 33 on the outside of the front row for the restart. Unlike the start of the race, Cory made the top groove work in his favor and took the lead on the very next circuit. With a persistent tight condition in the racecar, Joyce eventually lost the lead after a side-by-side battle for several laps with eventual winner Kyle Mansch. Successfully holding off the rest of the field through a couple more cautions and restarts, Cory would end the night in the runner-up spot. "The car handled pretty well all night, but it was just a little too tight to stay in front," said Joyce. "After qualifying I knew we had a good car, it just kept getting tighter the longer we ran. I'm really happy with the finish though and it was a great way to end our season." At the end of the night, Cory Joyce was named Rookie of the Year in the Limited Late Model division, and finished second in the overall series point standings. With an impressive first season in his limited late model, Joyce scored one win and 12 top five finishes in 2009. "I learned a lot this season and I'm really happy with the way it turned out," the young driver said. "Once my crew chief Chuck came on board, our car really took off. I can't thank my team and family enough for all the support, and I look forward to what we can accomplish in the future." The next big event for Cory Joyce Racing will be at Caraway Speedway on November 14-15, where he will attempt to qualify into the Limited Late Model Championship 200. Battling some of the toughest competition in the region, Cory will be competing in the longest race of his career to prepare for the 2010 race season. Fans can also follow the up and coming racer on Twitter. About Activ8 Communications: For more information on Activ8 Communications, please visit www.GoActiv8.com |
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Joyce Finishes Stellar Rookie Season on High Note at Hickory
