Stefan Parsons has been a talented grinder, who constantly churns out results better than the perceived performance of the race vehicles he has driven over the years. Finally, the journeyman racer was given an opportunity to race behind the wheel of a Playoff contending vehicle with a call from Rackley W.A.R. to pilot the No. 25 Chevrolet Silverado in the season finale at Phoenix Raceway.
However, with roughly two minutes left in practice for Friday night’s NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Championship Race, Parsons suffered an issue on a mock qualifying run, which sent him shooting up into the outside wall. A shower of sparks followed Parsons on the path to the wall, and a thundering thud was heard as he collided with the wall.
RELATED: NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Championship Race Practice Results
After a trip to the infield care center, Parsons talked to TobyChristie.com about what went wrong.
.@StefanParsons_ says that he went into Turn 3 on a mock qualifying run at the end of practice, and the right front tire went down, which sent him into the wall. pic.twitter.com/6xUjVaQc2S
— Toby Christie (@Toby_Christie) November 3, 2023
“I felt like we cut a right front [tire],” Parsons explained. “We were doing a mock [qualifying] run, and went into Turn 3 and laid on the splitter and went straight.”
Certainly, this is not the start to the weekend that Parsons and Rackley W.A.R. had in mind, and Parsons feels gutted that the crash occurred. Fortunately, the team has a backup truck with them in their hauler, and they’ll prepare it for Parsons for Friday night.
“I hate it for all of these Rackley W.A.R., Rackley Roofing guys. They did a really good job bringing me a really good piece,” Parsons said. “And this is just a dream opportunity for me with Curtis and Willie and everybody here. It’s so unfortunate to have that happen in practice. Something out of our control. Just getting the backup truck out, and give it our best shot tomorrow.”
Prior to the crash in practice, Parsons had turned the 13th-fastest lap in the field. Parsons will still get his chance at his dream weekend, but it’ll begin from the rear of the field on Friday night.
“Nowhere to go but forward,” Parsons stated.
