Montreal, Canada (Aug. 19, 2012)- With only two career NASCAR Nationwide starts under his belt, Roush Fenway’s Billy Johnson ran in the top-five for a majority of the NAPA Auto Parts 200 at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve; contending for the win late in the race. Fuel mileage came into play forcing Johnson to bring the No. 6 Roush Fenway 25 Winning Years Ford to pit road after the first green-white-checkered flag attempt for some Sunoco fuel. For the second overtime attempt, the young road racer restarted in the 20th – position and in a mere two laps maneuvered his Ford to the eighthposition before taking the checkered flag.
“That was awesome,” Johnson said. “I have to thank the No. 60 team they are winning team and helped me so much this weekend. To be able to run up front and contend for the win is an amazing feeling, I just wish we would have had enough fuel to be able to stay up front and duel it out with the leaders.”
The rookie qualified the No. 6 Roush Fenway Ford in the ninth position for the scheduled 74-lap race. In a mere 11 laps, Johnson had positioned his Ford in the fourth position and was moving forward through the pact.
With minimal fuel conversation training, Johnson needed to save three quarters of a mile worth of fuel. Crew chief Scott Graves coached the young driver through the final laps on conserving the necessary amount of fuel for the scheduled distance.
The overtime forced the team to pit on lap 77 for a splash of fuel. Johnson lined up in the 20th- position and bullied his way back into the top-ten, taking the checkered flag in eighth.
