Dejected Xfinity Star Dissects COTA Heartbreak After Mechanical Malfunction Robbed “Top 10” Run With the “Big Guys”

While rookie Xfinity hotshot Shane van Gisbergen (SVG) and Kyle Larson snagged the pole position to kick off from the front, a couple of drivers weren’t as lucky, with Preston Pardus and Kaz Grala missing the cut for the race. Early in March, Preston Pardus shared the exciting news that he’d be jumping back into the NASCAR Xfinity Series fray at Circuit of the Americas on March 23, taking the wheel of the #50 Chevrolet Camaro for his own Pardus Racing, backed by Garage Oil Spirits.

Unfortunately, things didn’t roll out as expected for Pardus, when he had to bow out of qualifying, marking a DNF (Did Not Finish) after his axle gave out mid-qualifying after ending his practice in P10.

Preston Pardus was heartbroken because his team brought a really good car but they could not show that up

Preston Pardus shared that their car was on point during practice, but then, out of the blue, the axle broke. Despite the setback, he’s not throwing in the towel, knowing there are still plenty of opportunities left this year to make a mark on the road courses. Pardus has always felt at home on these tracks.

Last year, he took the #50 out for his family’s team on four road course runs, bagging his best finish of 12th on the Chicago street circuit. He also hit the track at Portland International Raceway for SS-Green Light Racing, landing in 31st place.

Reflecting on the recent hiccup, he mentioned, “We were good in practice. Unfortunately, I mean like you said we were top 10 so I just kind of feeling it out and kind of just taking it easy getting ready for qualifying there and even the axle snap on the pit road.”

He went on to express his disappointment about not getting the chance to demonstrate the speed of the car his team worked hard to prepare, saying, “Team brought a really really good car I mean for us it’s a team made of family members and you know neighbors and stuff so do up and practice and be top 10 against all these big guys is really cool which just kind of unfortunate you know we don’t get a show get a show forward in the race and good qualify.”

He later tweeted, expressing his pride in his team, which includes his dad, uncle, and a couple of family friends. However, considering he has always been good at road courses, hopes are still high.

#50 once had the role of road course specialist for DGM Racing

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A standout in sports car competitions, clinching the 2017 SCCA National Championship Runoffs and the 2020 SCCA Super Sweep in Spec Miata, Pardus has been the go-to guy for road course events in the Xfinity Series starting from 2019. He kicked off with Pardus Racing at Road America in 2019, only to bow out early due to a suspension issue, then took on the Charlotte Roval, finishing twenty-seventh.

By 2020, he was DGM Racing’s ace on road courses, clocking in fourteen starts over three years and snagging three top tens: tenth at Indianapolis, eighth at Road America in 2020, and a personal best of seventh at the Charlotte Roval in 2021. That year also marked his first oval track attempt at Martinsville, where he secured an eighteenth-place finish. In 2022, he hit all five road courses for DGM’s #91, with his top performance being eleventh at Road America.

2023 had him making waves at the Circuit of the Americas and racing two additional rounds for his squad at the Chicago Street Course and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course, plus a stint with SS-Green Light Racing.

What’s still up in the air is which road courses he’ll tackle in 2024.

Read More: Shane van Gisbergen “Sick” of Preparation Ahead of His Road Course Double at COTA