What a step forward it’s been for Viking Motorsports in getting its driver, Parker Retzlaff, into the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Chase. The 99 team will have its back against the wall as the lights shine the brightest with the first race at Darlington.
If Retzlaff wants to stay in contention, he’ll need to see a good showing Saturday, much like the one he had during the series’s last appearance at Darlington back in March: an eighth-place finish.
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What will hinder Retzlaff is the level of equipment he has in comparison to the other Chase drivers. The other Chase teams will put their best stuff on the track, and not to say that Retzlaff’s team won’t also be going all-in, but Viking Motosports just isn’t the same type of team.
Retzlaff, who enters the Chase ninth in the standings, has no wins this year, four top-fives, 10 top-10s, and just eight laps led, which is the worst out of the remaining 12 drivers.
The 23‑year‑old wasn’t expected to be a major factor in the Chase picture. Viking Motorsports doesn’t have the same resources as the top teams, and Retzlaff’s numbers reflect that. Still, the No. 99 earned its way in, and now heads to Darlington with a chance to build on a season that’s overachieved thus far.
Retzlaff has already proven he can run well here. During his top-10 finish in March, he showed he can manage the track and find speed when the car gives him something to work with. A similar effort this weekend would go a long way in keeping him in the mix.
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This young driver enters the Chase with little pressure and a good bit of upside. He isn’t expected to match the top teams, so a strong performance Saturday could simply reinforce the fact that he belongs in this field.
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