Friday Night 6-14-13

Friday night started early, as we rented the track for 2 hours prior to the race to try to sort out the #32.  We lost the handling on the car in the past 3 races and just didn't have time in the practice sessions allotted prior to the race to sort it out.  The track gates open at 5:30 pm and practice starts at 6:00 and is over at 7:15 all classes must practice, so you don't have much time to work out a problem.  We were at the track for 3:00 and running test laps by 3:20.  We had a list of several things we wanted to try (only got through half).  The track was scalding hot when we first got on it 138.9 degrees.  We shouldn't have even attempted to sort the car out with the track being that hot, but you can't wait until October--the season will be over.  Our first set of 5 laps gave us a "fast"? time of 13.380, we came in adjusted, 13.400 wrong way, adjusted again--13.320,  more adjustments-13.290, better but no cigar, adjusted again 13.220.  In two hours of work we managed to shave off .160 of a second---huge still not where we need to be but closer.  With that run our time had run out.  A special thanks to Mr. Wayne (the track owner) who provided us a with transponder and personally read out all of our lap times over the PA system, so we had good feedback.  At that point normal track practice started, and the track had cooled down to 106 degrees Connelly managed some times in the high teens--more like it.  We qualified 6th not what we wanted,  made another adjustment for the heat race, fueled the car and got to the grid for our heat.

Cars that were available to compete tonight were the #32 of Connelly Dubuisson, #44 Joseph McArdle, #53 of Jeremy Lundy, the #7 of Hunter Lewis, the #2 of Billy Elmore, the #2r of Skyler Fleming, the #66 of Andrew Johnson, the #96 of Robby Johnston, the #04 of Dawson Keener, the #33 of Dalton Chipley, a very fast field of cars.

Heat Race:  We started 3rd in heat race number two, passed the #44, he took it back, passed the #53 and held onto it for a second place finish behind the #44, followed by the #53 the #04 and #33.  Our times had much, improved also the track had cooled to 101 degrees.

Feature Race:  The second place finish in our heat had given us the starting position of 4th in the feature, before the invert.  Hunter Lewis #7 threw the big dice and threw a 3--inverting 3 cars, which left us still starting in 4th--outside second row.  Connelly got a good start and by the end of lap one was in second place. Coming out of turn 4 to complete lap two the #2r pushed up got into our left side, he spun, Connelly was able to save it and restarted in 4th place, while the #2r had to go to the rear as he brought out the caution with his spin.  We took the choose and had an opportunity to get in front of the #44 but waited a hundredth of a second too long and Joseph closed the door relegating us to 3rd. after some good close racing the #04 got into the back of the #66 and locked up his brakes causing him to spin.  Through all of this Connelly was in third place behind the #7 and #44.  Another choose with three cars going up on the outside, but they couldn't hold position on the outside and fell back.  It was a close and very competitive race with all cars finishing on the lead lap.  Top 5 finishers were #7, #44, #32, #53, #66.  It was a very productive race for us as we shaved a quarter of a second off of our lap times--which is huge--got a third place finish, a check for $100 (which almost covers the gas for the truck) and a nice trophy.  We have some minor damage to repair from the #53 getting into our rear bumper hard, but nothing that can't be fixed.  Looking forward to the next race.  Come on out and treat yourself to some very good racing.