August 30, 2013

Since school has begun we have had to pick up Connelly at Brother Martin High School which isn't bad as it is on the way to the track. We left school at around 3:10 and arrived at Sunny South Raceway slightly after 5pm, got to our pit area, unloaded, got the car registered, went through tech and got ready to go on the track. We didn't have to break in tires as our newest set was just about ready, but we did put one heat cycle on the new tires just to let them know we still loved them, It was good not to have to thrash to do tires and get the car ready, it was a lot more low key.

The cars available tonight were: the #7 of Hunter Lewis, the #44 of Joseph McArdle, the #32 of Connelly Dubuisson, the #66 of Andrew Johnston, The #04 of Dawson Keener, the #96 of Robbie Johnson, the #94 of Brad West. Unfortunately the #96 burned up his wiring harness in his last practice session and couldn't get it fixed in time to compete tonight, leaving us only 6 cars to race.

QUALIFYING: Connelly overdrove the car in his three lap qualifying session, it is easy to do, but the fast way around is smooth, smooth, smooth. He wound up third behind the #7 at a 13.095, the #44 at a 13.124 the #32 at a 13.125, and the #66 was fourth at a 13.277.

HEAT RACE: Connelly started third behind the #7, the #44, with the #66 to Connelly's outside in fourth starting position. At the start Connelly was able to keep the #44 to the outside and make the pass for 2nd by the end of lap 2, the # 44 was able to pass us back by the end of lap 4, where they raced #7,1st, #44 2nd, #32 3rd #04 4th with the #66 5th followed by the #94 in 6th. Connelly mustered up a run for second and by the end of lap 7 had taken 2nd place, which is where he finished. The finishing order is the same as above with the exception of Connelly being 2nd, a good entertaining race.

FEATURE RACE: Hunter Lewis driver of the #7 was called upon to throw the big dice to determine the invert for the feature, he threw a 5 which put him starting 5th, Connelly 4th, the #44 third, the #04 second and the #66 on the pole. Fourth starting position is as tough as it gets, you are behind several cars, on the outside, you will probably have to fall back to last to get to the inside where you can race, but it is part of learning how to compete successfully. We took the start and fell back to 5th, but by the end of lap 2 was back to 4th, by the end of lap 7 was up to third, by the end of lap9 had gotten by the #44 and was in second place. Shortly after halfway a caution came out for the spin of the #04, This was probably good for us as it let our right rear tire cool down a bit, upon the restart the #66 took the "choose" which let him go up to outside front row. After two laps he was back to fourth, Connelly and the #7 raced nose to tail for several laps and going down the back straightaway with two laps to go got by the #7 for the lead, however coming out of turn four he got a little loose and wiggled slightly, but it was enough for the #7 to get back by us, we just didn't have enough laps left to mount another charge to the front, and we finished second, followed by the #44, #66, #94 and the #04. Not the finish Connelly hoped for, but we learned a lot about ourselves tonight. First of all we can start deep in the field in an outside starting position and get to the lead, we need to learn how to protect that lead and not overdrive turn 4 and be able to hold on for the win. We did have a good points night and we need to continue doing so. We are looking forward to the next race---Friday the 13--I am not superstitious, but I have my lucky socks ready.