By David Morgan, Associate Editor
NEWTON, Iowa – Scott McLaughlin was a man on a mission Saturday at Iowa Speedway.
After a crash on his warm-up lap in qualifying relegated him to the rear of the field for the start of the Synk 275, the New Zealander wasted no time in slicing his way through the field in his rebuilt No. 3 Team Penske Chevrolet to prove that he had a car capable of competing for the win.
By Lap 57, McLaughlin had cracked the top-15 after starting in 27th and wasn’t done yet, climbing into the top-10 when the yellow flag flew for a crash by Kyle Kirkwood on Lap 153.
McLaughlin ran fifth when the final round of green flag pit stops began with his Team Penske teammate Josef Newgarden, eventually cycling into fourth place behind Newgarden and his other teammate Will Power just prior to the penultimate caution of the race, which would bring out the red flag.
Though he put up a valiant effort to try and surpass his teammate and punch his way into the top-three for a podium finish, he didn’t have quite enough at the end and would settle for a fourth-place result.
“Went a lot better than I thought it was gonna go, that’s for sure,” said McLaughlin. “Car was magic, track raced really, really well. I was able to get up to the top there and just keep ripping. Me and Rasmussen, really we were going together.
“Just sort of took my time when I needed to. The car wasn’t great in spots and then I sort of just waited for the deg to come and our car just looked after his tires. I was able to sort of just keep ripping. So yeah, after the last few months, even up until like lunchtime today, like it’s been a pretty tough few months. So, it was really nice.”
Asked about Mclaughlin’s charge from the rear, third place finisher Power noted that he was not surprised to see his teammate in his rear-view mirror late in the race after having to start at the back of the pack.
“It didn’t surprise me actually when I saw him there,” said Power. “I was like, man, that’s awesome, but not really surprised, and especially after a big shun. It’s not nice to get back in that thing and trust the rear straight off the bat, but that’s a big recovery right there. Good for him.”
After the finish, McLaughlin made a concerted effort to go around and shake hands and high five crew member for not only his crew, the Thirsty 3’s, but also other members of Team Penske for the group effort it took to get his car repaired in the condensed timeline between qualifying and the start of Saturday’s race.
“It was huge. I mean, I went around, shook everyone’s hand because at the end of the day, people, if they had cameras on it, you know, like 2, 3, 12, everyone worked on that car,” McLaughlin said of the effort of Team Penske to get his car put back together and be so competitive.
“And I mean, I was speaking to [Graham] Rahal and he didn’t think that they would be able to get it together in that time. So, I think a lot of people are surprised how early we’re gridded. We’ve gotta be really proud of that and that’s why I put a lot of trust in my guys.”
McLaughlin noted that while it was a big question mark on whether the high line would be a feasible option during today’s race to make passes, he had no other choice than to use it. He explained that he trusted his car would be able to hold and he could just send it as he chewed his way through the field.
“I had no other hope to get to the front if I didn’t just rip the top,” said McLaughlin. “And there was a couple of moments for sure. Like, I definitely had moments where I thought I was going around, but you gotta take that chance and at this point in my championship, I really don’t give a shit.”
So, are we in for a repeat on Sunday with McLaughlin having to start at the back again?
He sure thinks so.
“Yep. I just gotta got three spots better,” said McLaughlin.
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