10/30/14
We were at Atomic this past weekend, Thursday-Saturday for the Open Wheel Championship. We set 2nd fast time, but KC Burdette blew us out of the water with a lap time of ½ second faster. They inverted the top 4 in each heat race, which started us 4th in the 2nd heat. The fastest 10 cars that qualified thru their heat were guaranteed a spot in the dash. So I knew all we had to do was finish in the top 4 of our heat. Jess Hartman took the early lead from the outside front row and Tim Tribby moved up into 2nd and we followed in 3rd. The groove was strictly on the top and that is where Jess ran and Tim ran just high enough that we could not pass him on the outside. So I worked the middle and never was able to make a pass. About mid-way, Tim looped it in front of me and I had nowhere to go and hit him in the left rear. It tore up our front end up, but we were able to continue and Tim was as well. The caution was coming out for some other cars that had spun prior to Tim looping. So by us finishing 3rd, we were locked in the dash. As we assessed the damage, we found that we bent the right front frame horn down which had our steering in a bind. So Chad and I took the car to Nourse body shop, where good friend Sean Schobelock put it on the frame rack and we got it straightened out in no time. Sean also had a piece of aluminum and I was able to build a new nose. The dash was on Saturday and the starting order was determined by pill draw. New race fans Alexis and Allie Jenkins drew our pill for us and got us #5. We had made a set up change to try something and it didn’t work out and we finished 7th in the dash, starting us 7th in the feature. We made another set up change and I made a decision to run the bottom. It worked out well, for no one else was running there, LOL. We were able to pass our way to 4th and I took the opportunity to go to the high side and it seemed to overheat my right rear tire and we faded back to a 6th place finish. I was disappointed not to run better at Atomic, but I just didn’t have the car dialed in. A big thanks goes out to Sean, Stacy and Kalvin (aka George) for their hospitality and giving me a place to stay.
This week, I want to give a shout out to Michael Gibson of Gibby’s Dirt Track Racing Nation OH/WV and Sean Weekley of Weekley Electric. We were lucky enough to win the points title and were named the King of Gibby’s Dirt Track Racing Nation points. Sean Weekley puts up the point monies and Gibby does all the leg work and promoting. Also supporting the point fund is DJ Directional Services, Buckeye Custom Apparel, Lias Tire by Tye Twarog, Bryan Casey Racing, Tri County Overhead Door, DTR Updates, Tom and Pam Lemon, Zach Yost Racing Photography, C&S Racing Photo, Isner Racing Engines, Racers in Christ, Diamond Refinishing& Restoration, and McHugh Dealership. Also need to thank all of the tracks that participated as well. It was an honor for Gibby to come to the shop and present us with our awards. Also want to say thanks to Tom & Pam Lemon, Mike & Angie Haught, Bill & Karen Locke, Lisa & Maddy Cooper for coming out and joining us for the presentation. Also a BIG THANKS to Tim, Danny& Chad for all of their hard work this season. This Championship is theirs as well, cause if they are not there doing what they do, we couldn’t have won it.
Our next race will be at Atomic Speedway on Nov. 8th for the Dan Reno Memorial $2,222 to win. So we hope to see you there!
Remember, to make this work, support those that support us!
K-Graphics, Hall’s Auto Repair, Schilling Truss, JS Enterprises, Zemba Bros., Coughlincars.com, Steve Balderson Construction, Sheet Metal Local 33, Octane Race Products, Poske’s Performance Parts, Out-Pace Race Products, Racers Edge Supplements, Phantom Racing Gear, Hypercoils, Tom & Pam Lemon, Carr Auto Glass, OVDTR.com, Billy Joe & Wanda Hammett, Bill & Patty Welch (RIP), Keyser Mfg., Shaw Race Cars, TSM Enhanced, Bazell Race Fuels, Hoosier, Aero Wheels, Wrisco Aluminum, Lubeck Community Baptist Church, Iglesia Bautista Jehova Yireh, Willy’s Carburetor’s, KSE Pumps, KRC, Gibby’s Dirt Track Racing Nation and Weekley Electric
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