There’s nothing better than climbing from your race car to celebrate a well-deserved top-10 finish with your team. That’s exactly what Brad Perez did following a grueling race at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course.
With temperatures climbing into the mid-90s, drivers were in for a tough race around the 2.258-mile road course. Perez was well up for the challenge, though, adding difficulty to his afternoon by qualifying on two-year-old tires. Regardless, the driver of the No. 10 Sebetka Bail Bounds Toyota qualified 13th.
“I love being in positions where I know the goal and I can execute on that goal because then that will help me be in the car more,” Perez said about his qualifying efforts.
As Perez was waiting to jump into his racecar, a potential sponsor slid into his DMs. Before starting the Zinsser SmartCoat 150, the driver took a sharpie and drew the sponsor on the back bumper of his Fast Track Racing Toyota.
last minute partners: @StubbyBuddy & @TOECARNews https://t.co/aiolGxhajo pic.twitter.com/OaQThaegey
— bread perez (@bradxperez) June 21, 2024
Racing at any road course takes precision, patience, and focus. The 27-year-old displayed those skills and methodically worked his way through the field. At the drop of the checkered flag, the Hollywood, Florida native crossed the start-finish line in ninth.
Despite some issues with brake fade and grass on the grill messing with brake cooling, the day couldn’t have gone better for the small team.
Top 10 day for @bradxperez #ARCA #ZinsserSmartCoat150 pic.twitter.com/wtMAKpgK3N
— Ben Branscum (The New/Real One) (@benbranscum) June 22, 2024
“We did exactly what we were supposed to do today. Everything went exactly how it should,” Perez shared. “I wasn’t going to quit on these guys. They work hard and all the UNOH kids and Chris Vanscoy, everybody who worked on this car. You know, little team out of 30 or 26 cars, and we finished ninth. So that’s it’s impressive and everybody should feel very proud of themselves and I’m happy. Hopefully, Andy [Hillenburg] will let me come back.”
As Perez looks for his next opportunity, he can hold his chin high after putting together a top-10 effort in Lexington, Ohio.
