Kaulig Racing delivered a passionate and competitive performance at the Pacific Office Automation 147, as the team’s drivers tackled the road course in Portland with determination and intensity. This Kaulig Racing Pacific Office Automation recap highlights Christian Eckes earning his fourth top-five finish this season, while Daniel Dye and Will Brown faced their own battles on track, showcasing the team’s depth and perseverance on a challenging race day.
Christian Eckes Secures Fourth Top-Five Finish of Season
Christian Eckes started from the 15th spot in the No. 16 Action Industries Chevrolet, immediately making headway during the first stage by picking up four positions and concluding Stage 1 in 11th. By Lap 36, Eckes had entered the top 10 and posted some of the fastest lap times among the field, keeping himself consistently among the top competitors through Stage 2, which he finished in ninth. Although his Chevrolet began the race with a tight setup, as the run developed, the handling improved and allowed further advances.
Starting the final stage from 10th, Eckes maintained top-three pace throughout, and as the late-race caution came out with four laps remaining, he was sitting in sixth. The overtime restart proved crucial, and Eckes crossed the line in fourth, notching his fourth top-five of the campaign for Kaulig Racing and the Action Industries team. This result builds optimism for the ROVAL and Gateway events ahead.
“I’m proud of Kaulig Racing for fighting hard today. We had a really good No. 16 Action Industries Chevy; once we got going, I felt like we were easily a top-five car. We tried a couple things differently this race, and we feel like we made some gains, so we’ll take those into the ROVAL and move on to Gateway next week with one more shot at the playoffs.”
—Christian Eckes
Daniel Dye Recovers From Penalty to Claim 11th Place
Daniel Dye’s drive in the No. 10 Race to Stop Suicide Chevrolet saw him launching from 26th on the grid. He quickly improved to 20th by the end of Stage 1 and surged to 14th within the first few laps of Stage 2. However, a pass-thru penalty for short-cutting the course late in the stage set Dye back to 25th. Encouraged by crew chief Kevin Walter to stay focused and aware of the car’s capability, Dye responded by climbing through the field during the final stage.
As the race headed into its closing laps, Dye took advantage of the cautions and restart drama, advancing to 12th position when a final caution came out with four laps to go. The overtime finish saw him cross the line in 11th, a strong recovery considering the penalty earlier in the race and reflecting the speed shown by the No. 10 Chevrolet throughout the day.
“This was definitely one of our better road-course races. Our No. 10 Race to Stop Suicide Chevy had top-15 speed all day. I made a mistake and had to do a pass-thru, which set us back a bit. I think we maybe could have gotten a top 10 otherwise, but overall not a bad result.”
—Daniel Dye
Mechanical Trouble Sidelines Will Brown
Will Brown was forced into an early setback before the green flag even waved, starting at the rear of the field after team mechanics made unapproved transmission adjustments to his No. 11 MobileX Chevrolet. Despite the challenge, Brown made steady progress, finishing Stage 1 in 28th and continuing his momentum into Stage 2 by breaking into the top 20 within a few laps.
Late in Stage 2, as Brown approached the final lap of the segment, he reported a problem and was forced to pit. The crew determined the right-side track bar mount was broken, abruptly ending Brown’s race and assigning him 35th in the final classification. The mechanical failure was a disappointment for Brown and the Kaulig Racing team, who had hoped for a strong showing in Portland.
“Not how we wanted today to end. It felt like the car wasn’t driving right for the last few laps there before I felt something broken in the rear end. I hate it for the Kaulig crew, because I know they really wanted to have a good run this weekend. I’m super thankful to everyone for bringing me back and giving me another opportunity.”
—Will Brown
Looking Ahead for Kaulig Racing
The Pacific Office Automation event at Portland International Raceway delivered drama, challenges, and a showcase of talent from Kaulig Racing’s squad. Christian Eckes’ top-five result keeps his playoff hopes alive, with the team taking valuable improvements to the upcoming ROVAL and Gateway stops. Daniel Dye demonstrated resilience under pressure, while Will Brown will look to rebound from mechanical issues. Kaulig Racing’s passion and determination remain strong as they continue their road to the postseason.
