Sunny South Race Results 6-19-10

Saturday night's race was quite eventful to say the least. An early rain shower rendered the track green and somewhat slick, setting up some mishaps. There was a strong field of 5 cars set to race, The #55r, #18, #39, #32, and the# 00. The #55r had just completed a one week journey of the southeast making tonight's race his 5th race in one week, whew! In practice the #39 got loose coming out of turn two, overcorrected and hit the wall on the back straightaway very hard. He bent several key components including his rear cassis. The car will probally need a new rear clip. He was unable to race due to the damage sustained. In the next practice session the #55r blew his engine. Something broke internally then it locked up. They had a spare motor with them and were able to change it in time for the last practice and made the race.

The heat race found the #32 on the pole. We drew the lucky chip, I am afraid we are using up all of our luck on the draw. Connelly got a good start and gradually increased his lead to an entire straightaway. The #00, #18 and#55r put on quite a show dueling for 2nd through 4th for more than half the race. The #00 develloped a mechanical issue and retired from the race. The #55r and #18 continued their duel for second until the end of the race with seldom more than a car length separating them. On the last lap the #55r got under the #18 but he couldn't quite pull off the pass. Finishing order; #32, #18, #55r, #00.

In the feature race the starting lineup was the same as the finish of the heat race. At the start Connelly got off to a fair start, the #00 who was starting outside of row 2 appeared to jump the start then turned left running the #55r into the infield, the field was jumbled going into turn one with Connelly running second to the #00. Connelly went up a little too high coming off of turn two allowing the #18 to get under him. Connelly just about had the pass on #18 completed coming off of turn 4 when they got together spinning both the #32 and #18. They became locked together (bumper of #18 under rear bumper cover of #32) and it took some muscle to get them apart. At that point the rains came again raining out the rest of the event. The track officials allowed the heat to count for the feature, giving Connelly his 4th win of the season. As Connelly said on the drive home, this is not the way we wanted to win it, but we will take it. Finishing order; #32, #18, #55r and the #00.