With both cars loaded and ready to roll early in the week, it was an easy Saturday, which usually makes for a calmer night at the track. But my return to the speedway held a couple unexpected speed bumps. After getting to the track, Lady Luck seemed to be on my side as I drew an 18 (out of 100) for myself, but a 68 for Doug which put us into different heats. Doug and the #28 started fourth in the first heat where he faced off against some of the best cars of the night but kept his nose clean all race long and finished in the fifth position. My draw put the #80 and myself on the pole position of the second heat which added just a little pressure to try and stay at the front. On lap three, I traded the front of the field for the back as I got loose in turn four and had to cut through the infield, but was able to rejoin the track at the back of the field where I started to hunt down the #57 of Darrin Rea. In my eagerness to make up time, I cut the exit of four a fair bit short and decided to move one of the infield marker tires to the middle of the front stretch, causing a caution while the tire was removed. With the field bunched together for a dash to the finish, I wanted to try and regain a couple of positions but instead found myself in a heated battle with Rea for fourth. In the final corner I tried to out-brake him and pass on the inside, but drove too deep in the corner, bumped him and left the door open for him on the exit of four, where we had a drag race to the finish with me as victor. The only damage suffered to either Rea’s or my car was a cut valve stem for me which meant replacing the right front tire.
With both cars ready to go again we lined up for the feature where luck had shone through again for myself as I had the pole position again and Doug found himself starting ninth of 11 cars. As we came to the green flag I could almost feel the field nipping at my heels and did my best over the first few laps to hold the inside line and try to stay at the front but in the middle of turns three and four, the #38 of Steve Bruyere gave me the lightest tap which was just enough to send me for a spin at the front of the field, hitting the #54 of Dean Kellar on my way around. Despite getting a little help, I was the car that spun and caused the caution, so I was sent to the back of the field. I didn’t get to make up much ground on the restart as there was another caution a couple laps later with Bruyere being sent to the back. Up to this point Doug was keeping up with the field but not getting involved in the messes that had a front row seat to watch. On the second restart I was able to make up a couple spots so that I was chasing down Doug for the seventh spot, but before I could catch up, Bruyere passed me and was presented with a road block in the middle of turn two, as Doug’s car began to spin out. Talking after the race Doug said as soon as he entered the corner he knew it would spin out and spent the couple seconds sitting sideways, hoping no one was coming. Unfortunately Bruyere had nowhere to go and hit the driver side of the car. As Doug caused the caution he was sent to the back of the field as well. Both of us struggled on the final restart as the #28 was running at half power due to damage from the accident, while the #80 became tight in turns three and four and coming to two laps to go the right front tire blew and I limped the car into the pits. Doug was able to finish all the laps and score another decent finish to contribute to his championship effort.
This week we will be looking deeper into the issues on the #28 and put a new tire on the #80 and prepare for the Rea Memorial. If you’re at the Fair come cheer on your favourite race team before the season is over, and be sure to come say hi in the pits because there’s nothing more fun than getting to meet all you great fans. See you at the races!
