Day 1 from Barber Motorsports Park provided lots of learning for our Pro Mazda duo who competed in the first of two races here in Alabama.

Garett Grist, No. 27 DaVinci Foods/Lander Property Management

•     Practice session: P3 at 1:20.757
•     Qualified P4 at 1:20.553
•     Finished P4

"We finished fourth today after starting fourth. We had a really good car in the race, but there weren't many places to pass here. I had a few chances, but as soon as I got close, the car's front end would just wash out. I think we had a car that definitely could have finished second, and in the end, if we had been able to make it up to second, I think Spencer (Pigot) would have been too far gone for us to capture the win. But, I can definitely run with those guys in the front... I just have to focus on getting a better start because I know we have the car to get it done. I'd like to thank DaVinci Foods, Lander Property Management, Sofina Foods, Sparco, Bell Helmets and the whole Andretti Autosport gang."

Shelby Blackstock, No. 28 Starstruck

•     Practice session: P2 at 1:20.716
•     Qualified P2 at 1:20.512
•     Finished P6

"Today definitely did not go the way the No. 28 crew had planned. At the start, I made a mistake and went to the inside when I should have gone to the outside. Kyle Kaiser made a really good move going into Turn 2; I caught him going into Turn 5, popped to the inside. But, unfortunately, I didn't have enough room which pushed me to the high side of the curb. That pushed the car off and nearly flipped his car over as we went (right rear to right front). It happens - that's racing. I'm just very happy to get all the bad luck out here at Winterfest instead of during the proper season. Hopefully Race 2 will provide a better outcome; we're starting P3."