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LAST UPDATE:
August 18, 2008

 
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WINNEMUCCA REGIONAL RACEWAY & LOVELOCK SPEEDWAY, August 15 & 16, 2008
One more LONG trip, over 1,000 miles.   Arrived at Winnemucca Regional Raceway with the whole team in tact.   Mom, Blake and Kelly all made the trip again.   The track was in great shape and the first heat was a fast one.   Then before we go out for heat 2, they WATER!?!   We tried running in the water and did ok except for a spot right in the middle of the front stretch.   It was slick.   They decided to go green so at the green I backed off and fell back.   Moved to the bottom against the berm and avoided the slick front stretch.   All the cars slid way up the track with one glancing off a light pole.   Red.   Back to green and I really just didn't want to risk it so I was lagging back.   Managed to work in the water and finally made a move up but would only finish in the third spot.   Lined up for the main and I moved through the field pretty quickly and was up to third before 10 laps were scored.   Being on the outside on the restarts was difficult and I could never make it stick.   The car just seemed to stall out once I got to third, didn't have anything for the leaders.   So I finished 3rd, a good run overall. 

Made the long drive to Lovelock after the race in Winnemucca.  My poor crew were wore out after a LONG LONG day of travel.   We got to the rooms by 2:00am and went to bed.   Went to eat in the morning and then hit up the local store to stock the coolers.   Spent the rest of the day watching the Olympics to pass time.   Arrived at the track and had to relive the "wreck" from the previous time with many of the people.   Everyone wanted to talk about it, me, not so much.   Lined up 7th in the heat race and was mired on the slick bottom groove.   They watered and the water always runs down so the bottom wasn't the greatest place to be.   Finally broke free and worked up to third.   Was gaining on the leaders as the white waved.   A lapped car played a role in the finish and I wound up slipping by into 2nd.   Made the invert and lined up 8th in the 17 car feature.   The racing was fast and close early.   After an early restart the leaders made contact and I narrowly missed another car as he climbed over the side of someone.   That put me in 2nd but I got put back to third as another car was restored to the lead.   At the green I fell into the third spot and was right behind as the 2nd place car got under the leader going into 1.   The other car suddenly made an odd swerve to the right and then snapped back to the left.   OH NO, he we go again.   I was going hard into the turn and was at full speed.   I tried to check up and see whether he was going to spun down in front of me or simply stop.   I almost had the car stopped and he stopped.   I glanced off him and we stopped driver's door to driver's door.   Just a moment later another car spun and jumped over my front end slightly.   The second hit broke the front end suspension and my night was over.   Everyone else drove away and finished.   Big time bummer!  

While taking a weekend off this late in the season is normally a kiss of death in regards to the points, I have decided that I along with the crew need a weekend off.   I am mentally exhausted from all the wrecking and carnage over the last few weeks.   School is starting for me on Wednesday and for students on Monday.   Yes it may jeopardize my shot at the points, but I just need the break. 

Thanks Mom, Blake, Kelly, and to the Delaney's for their help in the pits at Winnemucca & Lovelock.  
 
SUMMIT RACEWAY, August 9, 2008
Yes we are crazy, but to some we are persistent.   The recent troubles experienced by the team have done little to damper everyone else's spirits.   It seems that I am the only one, (as usual), who is concerned by it all.   We loaded up, got the mufflers on, and headed out to Elko, NV's Summit Raceway.    Left a little later and took our time getting there.   Just "enjoying" the drive.   Got to the hotel by 3:30 and had an hour in the room before heading to the track.   Arrived to find a healthy field of 16 modifieds.   I lined up inside row 2 for my heat and quickly got to third.   Slipped into 2nd and was putting pressure on the lead.   Was able to run up to him but just couldn't get by.   As the race wound down I entered turn 3 only to have the car come out of gear.   It just wouldn't stay in gear so I came off the track.    Decided in the pits that I would use the old secret weapon on the car to keep in it gear.  Click here to see it! 

With the small heats, I still managed to get into the invert and was lined up 7th for the feature.    I decided to change a few things for the feature and I will admit that my attitude stunk heading into it.   My confidence in myself and the car was really low.    But I climbed in and got into the line up.   Just after getting in line I see a red flag on the track for the pro stocks.   A car had gotten into the fence and taken some of it down.   The ensuing melee in the pits had everyone's attention.   Just as we were getting ready to go onto the track another incident broke out and halted our race before it began.    Finally we hit the track and it was black and slick but it looked like there might be some bite up high.  However it was WAY up there compared to the bottom where I lined up.   After a couple of tries we got going.   I moved up quickly and was into the 4th spot early.   With the double file restarts I used the inside of row three to jump inside the 2nd place car and took over that spot.   However the car on the outside went back by and I was into third.   Eventually moved my way into 2nd but wasn't happy with the car.   It was so tight going in that I had to drive it too hard which took away my corner exit.   After a couple of restarts the third place car went way up the track and found some bite.   I liked what I saw and headed up there too.   However I would have to be creative to get by in him in that line.   Went back to the bottom and got by off 4 and then did a little slide up into 1 to take the spot.   I had to wait on the car for a while on the top for the bite to come in.   The leader would be out there but I knew if I waited I could get a good run.   Sure enough I got a great run and went right by and into the lead.   YELLOW!   Damn!   Plus with the double file starts I would again have to fight for the top.   A couple more times I either was passing or just about to pass for the lead when the yellow waved.   Now the action was heating up as a new third place car was fighting high and low.   We were spending so much time battling with ourselves that we didn't have much of a shot at getting the leader.   Entering three there was a big oil slick as a car had scattered a motor.   They stopped us thinking they may call the race due to debris.   I was sitting in third on the track not sure who had crossed the line ahead (me or 2nd) on the last lap.   So I was sitting there thinking, YES I will have the outside on the restart and I am going to get this lead if it hurts me.   After about 10 minutes they had cleaned the track and we were ready to go back to racing.   The leader left the track as officials allowed him to change a tire due to being forced into the debris by an official.   They put me back into 2nd so there goes my plan for the top.  Darn it!  So we go back green, yellow.   The flagman shows the green, white, and checkered flags, meaning a two lap shootout.   OH BOY!   At the green I go in really low and the leader goes in a little off the bottom.   He slips up and I duck under.   He gets loose and there is contact.   The leader comes spinning down towards me.  OH NO!   He mashes the gas and spins around.   We make contact but I keep going.   The race is still on.   Yellow.   I am in the lead with the other two going to the tail.   Normally I would be excited to lead but not when things like that happen.  It was an amazing battle to that point.   The other problem, my front end was damaged as my steering wheel no longer lined up.   Uh oh!   I knew I needed the restart of the season to pull this off.   The green was out and I was into turn 1 hoping, praying it would turn.   It did.   In fact it turned better than it had ALL night!   The car was FAST!   It was like I had turned on another switch.   I won!   Amazing turn of events and a tough end to a great race.   Wish the three of us had just raced it out.   Bummer.  

Thanks Mom, Blake, and Kelly for their help and support!  
 
WINNEMUCCA REGIONAL RACEWAY, August 1, 2008
I will not be attending any more races solo, I got that much out of this weekend.    Left early Friday morning for a race in Winnemucca.   Got to the track in time to watch them water, water, and water.   One time the water truck went around the outside barely moving just soaking the track.   Well, of course, it was a mud bog when we went to pack.   What is wrong with dry??   (That's why I LOVE Battle Mountain) Anyway, we were just moving mud rather than packing it down.   After "packing" it didn't look any better.   So I decided to skip the heat race.   That put me last in the main and the track was better by feature time.   At the first green I played it safe and moved up a spot going into three I went low as another car lost it up high.   He spun into the right side and we hit.   It almost put me into the front stretch wall, but I recovered and kept going.   With no one on the sidelines I wiggled the car to feel it out.   It felt ok, so I stayed out.   Next start I went high into 1 and got ran up the track as a car jumped over my left front.   Escaped that and just as I completed that lap, BANG, BOOM, BANG, CLANG.......etc.   Something happened in the drive train and the driveline came loose.   It proceeded to tear everything up under the car before I came to a stop.   Night over after just 1 real lap of racing.   Bummer.

I have had a lot on my mind over the last few weeks and the pressure is getting worse.   So it's needless to say that I was frustrated after the troubles in Winnemucca.   I keep feeling that everything is a "sign" that I should quit.    No one believes that I will quit, they've told me.   But I will admit I have entertained the thought.  

Blake arrived on Friday after work and helped to load up.   He was optimistic about fixing it for Battle Mountain.   However it just didn't seem like we would be able to fix it well enough.   It destroyed the transmission, shifting rods, interior of the car and driveline.  So I loaded up and headed home.   I really need to get through this as I try to finish off a possible MVR and Western Region championship.   I feel like I have a 1/2 lap lead and have run out of gas.   The checkered flag is in the flagman's hand and I am creeping to it as the field roars behind me.    Interestingly enough, as I type this, "Something's gotta give" by Leann Rimes is playing in the background.   How's that for a "sign?"
 
LOVELOCK SPEEDWAY, July 25, 2008
Again hit the road solo only this time it was just so hot I left the dogs behind.  So I really was solo.   About 100 miles into the trip I started thinking I should just return home.   However I kept going.   Got to the track and it turned into a heavy show as 23 cars were there and many great teams from all over the place.   The track was a miserable mess when we went to pack it.   It wasn't packing down, instead we were just moving slop around.   Trying to clean it off in the pits by myself was not fun.  It's the type of stuff that when it dries it won't scrape off, you have to keep getting it wet to get it off.    Lined up inside row 2 for my heat and jumped inside the pole sitter going into turn 1.   Got into 2nd and wound up moving up the track to find some traction as they kept watering between each event.  (A pet peeve).   Finally got into the lead and was getting heavy pressure from behind.   Turn 3 was blind as the sun was setting right in our view.   So I was setting the car off feel.   A few times I set it too high and lost traction.   Wound up losing the lead and finished 2nd.   Again started 2nd row inside for the feature.   They had watered heavily before the main and it was greasy.   I wound up finding an opening and got high early.   Had fallen back and then moved up to 2nd again using the drier high side.   The competition was great and I found myself back and forth between 2nd and 5th most of the race.  Running third as the laps wound down we encountered heavy traffic.  The lapped cars were pinning the leaders down so I started to move up.   White flag.   Several cars racing hard in front of the leaders as we ran bumper to bumper to bumper.  I went in just a little higher and figured I would try for the win as the leaders bottled up the bottom.   A lapped car shot up the track and when the cars parted I was full throttle heading for a car spun facing me head on.   WHAM.   I could tell by the ringing in my ears that it was a hard hit.   The bent up hood and the RF tire sitting just inches from me told me the car was toast too.   As the fuel poured down the track cars continued to circle the track.   I was trying to get my bearings and see if I was ok or if there was any pain.   My chest hurt and my legs were going numb.   But I figured I would be ok.   I sat there for quite a while without dropping my net.   Finally an official appeared and by then I was ready to come out.   Once out I was ready to throw up.   The damage was sickening.   Especially since I could look across the track and see the checkered waving, I was that close.     It took a team of 7 or 8 men to get the car in the trailer.   I cannot thank Rob, Nick, Rodney, Brandon, Randy, and several I didn't know for helping me get the heap in the trailer.   They were really helpful!   Thanks!  

Now that I am home I am thinking this whole thing may be a life change.   I planned to sell the other car and race the "wrecked" car on a limited schedule next season.   Maybe this is a sign that my time is up and that I need to just move on.   Grow up, sell out, and life goes on.   I had actually raced my way up the standings and am leading the region while I sit third nationally.    I already have several in line to buy the other car and that is money in the bank.   However, this isn't the way I wanted to go out.   But then, who said I would get to choose how I went out.    Part of me wants to race the other car until the end of the year, part of me thinks it is time to bow out gracefully.    I don't know what it is with cars, but some cars you just click with, and this car was one that I just clicked with.   I loved it and am sick that it is gone.   Money down the drain. 

Right now the best I can figure is that I may race out the season until September and then sell out, calling it a year, possibly a career.    The year started out horribly, got better, and now has taken a turn for the worse again.   I'm at a loss, literally and figuratively.

Thanks again for all the help getting the car loaded in Lovelock, I appreciate it greatly.

      
 
WINNEMUCCA & BATTLE MOUNTAIN, July 18 & 19, 2008!
After quite a bit of thought, I decided to hit the road to Winnemucca on Friday.   No one was able to get off work to come with me, so I would be solo aside from the dogs.  I was nervous, but figured if I was going up there I might as well get in both races.   So on the road I went.  I also had some vinyl to deliver for a dwarf car up there, so there was another reason to go.    It was a LONG drive alone and I took my time stopping several times to walk around and revive myself.   The Ipod was helping to fill the void of company.   Upon arriving at the track it was nice to see some familiar faces as Blake's brothers and nephews were there with their pure stocks preparing to race.   They offered to change a tire if needed and I was grateful.  I did, however, tell them that I hoped to not use them.   It was also during this time that I was presented with a great portrait from "Grammy."   It is amazing, see the Photo of the Week!   Lined up 4th for my heat and used the outside to get into 2nd quickly.   Once into 2nd I had to try the bottom and it wasn't working.   I was not getting any position on the lead car.   Started going in higher and coming off low and it allowed me to peek inside.   Finally got enough of a look and the leader drove in a little hard and pushed.   I slipped by and led the final two laps to win.  Tried to get all the normal stuff done on the car before the feature as best I could.   As I waited in line to go out for the feature I realized I didn't top off the car with fuel.   But it was ok as I was to the brim when I started the night and my car makes weight empty.   Lined up in the 7th spot and at the first green cars were everywhere.   A couple were spinning or out of shape.  We all scrambled but made it through.   Still green.  Then yellow as a car at the tail had to spin to avoid the scrambling mess.   Restart.   Another wild start with cars three wide,  maybe 4 off turn 2.   I started 7th yet drove into turn 3 in the 3rd spot.   Worked on 2nd for several laps but couldn't get by as he was working on the leader.   Space was limited.   They finally lined up on the bottom so I went high in turn 1 and it stuck.   Slipped into 2nd and then pressured for the lead.    Off turn 2, red flag.   A car had flipped over on the front stretch.   As I sat entering turn 3 I could see the pit stands.   It was eerie that I had no one there to look to for a thumbs up, wave, anything.    I passed the time people watching.  It helped take my mind off things.   I don't like it when there is a big accident like that.   I got a good restart and was right there for the lead.   I could get inside but not enough to stick it in there for the spot.   I realized I was giving up too much room getting in so I drove it in harder into 1 and was there when the leader got loose.  I closed up the extra room with my nose and as he gathered the car up the track I slipped side by side.   Into 3 and into the lead.   From there I was able to lead the final 12 or so laps to the win.   With the win I became the all-time wins leader at the track all on my own, breaking the tie with Robert Miller.     Afterwards I loaded up and hit the road with Blake's family and was able to meet up with Blake in Battle Mountain for a late night / early morning meal at the truck stop.  

On Saturday I was invited to a get together at the Bame household in Battle Mountain as they prepared for the race that memorializes their namesake.    I had won the Bame Memorial race in 2005 and 2006 but did not attend the event in 2007.   We had a great time visiting and was glad they invited me over to meet the family.   Just before we left there a big surprise, Mom and Kelly drove up!   So from 0 crew on Friday to the full crew on Saturday.   Awesome.    We headed to the track early so that Blake could apply the vinyl to the dwarf car.   Finished it just in time to get the car ready for the heat race.    Lined up 3rd for the heat as some new cars in attendance had to tag.   At the green the track was greasy.   I stayed inside where I started and moved into 2nd pretty quickly.   Could get inside the leader a couple of times but the track had me lifting to avoid contact as it was still quite greasy.   By 1/2 way it had come in good and I was able to make the pass stick.   Once into the lead I moved around a little testing the waters and won the heat race.    I chose not to run the trophy dash and watched instead.   It was a great race and I watched to see where the line might be in the feature.   It became obvious that I would have to use the top at least once during the main event, if not more.   A couple of cars broke so that moved me to the 6th starting spot.   They watered and the track came in pretty quickly, although it was a little greasy up top.   I once had a bad experience with the greasy top before and wound up flying off turn 1 and into a huge tractor tire.   So as the green waved I quickly got to the bottom to pick off a car or two.   A few laps in I finally got into the top 4 and put the pressure on third.   He was holding the bottom so I went high.   A few times I got in high but not far enough alongside and got a couple of tail whips into the left front.   So I waited and finally got a good run so that I was side by side into 1.   From there I got a great shot off turn 2 and into 3rd.   It was a good battle for the lead and I slowly creeped up on it.   Got into 2nd using the bottom and just gained inches each lap on the leader.   Yellow.   The double file restart put a car outside me who was working good up top.   He went into 1 hard and flew into the lead.   I tried low on the 2nd place car and got close but only managed to bump him a couple of times.  I moved up top and we touched a bit going into turn 1.   I fell back and again was better off the turn and wound up getting into his bumper again.   Not wanting to drive through anyone I again tried up top.   This time it worked and I was into 2nd.    The leader wasn't out too far and I saw he was middle to high.   So I started working the bottom and was making up ground.   Finally to the leader and we were side by side.   The track was like an ice skating rink, I loved it.    We were so close yet not touching.   This went on for a few laps before I finally found some bite on the low side off 2 to shoot into the lead.   While I could hear the pressure from behind I never felt a nudge or saw a wheel to my outside.   I went on to lead the remaining laps to pick up my 3rd Bame Memorial race win.   

Thanks Mom, Blake, and Kelly for your dedication and long trips this weekend to help!   I cannot thank you enough for the support.   Great weekend!
 
ELKO, ELKO, LOVELOCK, July 11, 12, & 13, 2008!
Another triple header weekend with many miles and trials in between.   Left around 8:00am on Friday for Elko with Blake and a visiting Iowan Kim in tow.  I was having some mechanical issues with the "new / orange" car so I decided to take the yellow / old car.   Arrived in Elko by late afternoon and checked into the motel before heading to the track.   Things weren't good.   Elko requires mufflers now and boy did they cause issues with the tuning.   The car ran very poorly, however I still won my heat.   I almost drove flat footed around the bowl shaped track.   In the pits and I tried to free up the car and jetted up as it was a little lean.   It helped and the car was good.   I raced all the way up to 2nd in the feature and was having a great battle for the lead.   I would actually lead several times without ever being scored as the leader.   It was a great back and forth battle for the lead.   On a late restart I got inside the leader and drove off 2 in the lead.   Just off two there was sparks and grinding coming from the car.   I lifted.   Went one more lap and pulled off.   The torque link had broken and was grinding on the driveline.   Night finished.  

Skip allowed us to use his shop and thanks to several other racers we were able to get enough parts together to fix the car.   It wasn't exactly what I wanted but it was better than missing the race.   Got it all buttoned up and while Blake and Kim napped at the hotel I headed off to cruise through the activities in the park.  Back to the track and disaster strikes again.    As we unload the transmission is leaking out the back.   Lovely.   We rush to change transmissions and got it all buttoned up.   During this time I was asked to fill in for Dustin Greenwood in his heat race.   He races a pure stock which is a big old Monte Carlo.   I got in and started outside row 2 for the heat.   At the green there was an opening between the front row and I went for it.   This car is wider than my modified and well there was some good old fashioned door to door contact.   I muscled my way out of it and was into 2nd, just behind Dustin's dad Keith.  Keith was leading for a few laps before I finally slipped by going into 1.  I hit the brakes two times total and scared the heck out of myself in the process.   I learned, no brakes, just lift and muscle it around.   I actually WON the heat race!   Hysterical!   I was outside pole for the modified heat and won it after getting heavy pressure for the last few laps.    Was scheduled to line up outside row 1 for the feature but I didn't think that was cool, so I opted to start shotgun on the field.   You know, it's fun coming from the back.   It was exciting early as cars were really bunched up on the tight little track.   I moved outside and was really running through the field when the yellow waved.   They do double file restarts with the leader out front.   I finally made it to third and the outside was going away.   I really had to fight to stay in third and then I finally got into 2nd.   Once into 2nd I had nothing for the leader.  The car just wasn't rotating in the entry / middle part of the turns.   So I settled for a well deserved 2nd place finish.  

Exhausted we hit the hotel and zonked out.   Up and at 'em by 6:30 so we could be on the road by 7:30 to Lovelock, NV.   It was about 180 miles away and they were to start racing at 1:00pm on Sunday.   Arrived at the newly created track by 11:00, teched in and worked on cleaning the car up.   Lined up last for the heat race and really struggled badly.   After taking the mufflers out, the car needed some more fine tuning.  So back to work we went and hoped for the best in the feature.   Lined up 9th and slowly worked my way up through the field.   They too use outlaw restarts and it sucked the every time I was on the outside.   The bottom was where I was working best and I had to again fight hard to stay up there without losing any spots.   Finally broke the top 5 and then moved all the way up to 3rd.   While fighting for second I got a little too low and clobbered a tractor tire in the infield with the left front.   I drove cautiously into turn 3 hoping it would turn.    It did.   After two laps of cautious driving I decided I didn't rip the left front off, and although the wheel told me I had a lot of tow out, I continued on.   Caught up to and slipped by the second place car.    Was a ways behind the leader by then and ran the remaining laps to finish 2nd.   Not too bad.  

Loaded up and was on the road home by 3:34pm.   Arrived home at 11:57pm and hit the bed.   Was up by 4:45am to take Kim to the airport and have been running on empty ever since.  But there's work to be done!  

Thanks to Blake, Kim, Danny, Skip, and Dan for their help in the pits.   Also to Randy Artz, Keith & Andy Greenwood, and Wade Taylor for all their help getting parts lined up to keep us going this weekend.   I appreciate it.  
 
WINNEMUCCA, BATTLE MOUNTAIN, MOHAVE VALLEY July 3,4, & 5, 2008!
Well the bullet has been bitten and I hit the road.   The holiday weekend allowed for 3 nights of racing with many options.   Since I haven't raced at my sponsor's (Atlas Towing & Recovery) track in almost two years (Battle Mountain Raceway) I decided to head up north for Winnemucca and Battle Mountain for Thursday and Friday.   The weather was pretty warm for the northern part of the state as the temperature read 104° as we rolled into town on Thursday.   Atlas was nice enough to pick up the hotel tab for two nights there in Battle Mountain.    Winnemucca is about 60 miles from Battle Mountain so we got checked in and headed out to the track.   Lined up inside row two for the heat race and jumped outside quickly and got into the second spot.   The track was heavy for the most part with a couple of tricky slick spots here and there.    Managed to slip by the leader two laps later and won the heat race.    Lined up 5th for the feature as my DNF last race left my point average a little low.   At the green the racing was intense.  Very close with some rubbing and bumping going on.   The cars bottled up exiting turn 4 and I backed off only to get passed on both sides.   Figured I had better get aggressive or I would be going to the rear in a hurry.   Passed a car to get back to 5th and the yellow waved.   They do the outlaw restarts so the leader was out front and I was outside row 3.    After some tense battling I found myself locked in a tight three way battle for the lead.   The second place car went outside so I pressured inside.   Second went by just as I slipped by inside.   I was now in 2nd place and the leader got a couple of car lengths on me.   A couple of laps later coming off turn 4 the leader almost looped it and had to gather it up to the inside.   I slipped by on the outside and the race was on.   I felt that I wasn't quite as fast as a couple of cars and was ready for the pressure from behind.    The pressure was there.   I was racing my guts out doing all I could.   Little did I know but the pressure faded slowly and I had a lead.   Lapped traffic.   I hit the back of the field and it was crowded.   Got by the first few and then hit a road block as they were quick and racing hard for their own spots.   It seemed like I had passed a lot of cars.   The next two cars took me a while to work around.   I was thinking that there had to be someone there, waiting to snag the lead.  Had a small opening and I had to take it.   Into turn 1 side by side.   Clipped a spot of standing water and wheel hopped with the other car.   But we both escaped and I went on.  One the bumper of another car and the white flag is in the air.   I did lead that final lap for the win.   With the win I tied the great Robert Miller on the all-time win list at the track.   Very cool!  

Thought about heading to Fallon on Friday morning, but needed to race in Battle Mountain for Brian @ Atlas.  Plus it is a favorite of mine.   I really enjoy the surface there.   Headed to the car wash and unloaded to clean up the car and trailer.   Little did we know but the 4th of July parade was getting ready to start going right by the front of the car wash on the main drag.   Quickly loaded up as the sidewalks filled with chairs and people.   Off to the grocery store to stock up on drinks and ice and we found where the parade started, at the store!  Snapped a few photos and then got supplies before heading back to the room.    Arrived at the track by 5:30 and visited with a few friends before packing in the track.   Lined up 6th for the heat and didn't run to well at all.   Actually got up to third right with the leaders but fell back and ran 4th.   Hoped the track would slick over and it did.   As I sat in staging I could hear the stock cars squealing their tires in turns 3 & 4.   It was my old favorite surface coming to life.    A few laps into the race I found myself running 4th when the yellow waved.   With the outlaw restart that put me inside row 2 and on the bottom of the track.   I got into third and was behind another spirited battle for the lead.   We were all over one another and using every bit of our skills to stay off one another.    I finally got a peak at 2nd place as he slipped up off turn 2.   We touched a bit as the available space became narrow and I got into 2nd.   A small puddle of standing water started to make the exit of turn 4 interesting.   As the leader clipped the puddle his car pushed and I got side by side going towards turn 1.  The squeeze was on and I opted out.   I chugged the bottom and got a look off turn 2 and shot into the lead.   Two restarts and a lot of laps later and I was in victory lane for the 2nd time in as many days.   Awesome!  

Got to bed around midnight and was up and at 'em by 6:00am.   On the road at 7:00am and headed home to pick up mom and Kelly.   It was a cool 57° as we headed home.   Other than a blow out on the trailer just miles from Vegas, the trip was good.   Arrived home at 2:45 and chilled out while we waited time to hit the road again.    Left at 4:00 and made it to the track by around 5:45.    Kelly and mom went to work on washing the car and Blake fixed the damaged nerf bar.   I had the task of finding some tires with tread on them.   After the Battle Mountain race the tires were bald.   There was no cross tread visible at all.   In places you could see the chords peeking through.   It was a great team effort and the car was ready for the heat.   Lined up outside row two for my heat and got into third off turn 2 by using the outside.   I was trying high and low but the top 2 were having a good battle for the lead and there wasn't anywhere to go.    I finally started working the bottom and got by the 2nd place car.   Again had to use an inside move off turn 2 to slip by the leader and as I did the white flag waved.   Managed to win the heat.   Again had a great time with the kids at intermission and went to work on the car.   Lined up 7th for the feature and really stunk it up early.   The outside was the place to be and I glued myself to the bottom like I didn't know what was up.   Cars were going by me and I wasn't doing much of anything.   Narrowly missed a couple of spinning cars and found myself in the 5th spot on the yellow.   Had to go back to the bottom to get by a few cars and within a few laps the yellow waved with me in 3rd.   Once in third I used an outside-in cut to take over 2nd and found myself about 6 cars behind the leader.   We were evenly matched at best as I was not gaining at all.   The track was fast around the top and I was up there trying to get it done.   Entering turn 3 just before half way the leader jumped the cushion and slipped off the top of turn 3.   Into the lead I went.   I led for a while and then the final yellow waved.   We were ready to get the green and it was called off.   Cars flew by me on both sides so I knew they were ready.    As we headed down the back stretch a car flew by us on the exit road.   As he did the lights flashed signaling an impending start.   I entered three and set the car.   Hammer down for the green.   Turns out the rest of the field didn't go and I had a big lead immediately.   Ran out the rest of the race for the win.   Our third win in as many days.   A hat trick of our own.     In victory lane I had the "Dan Fans" from the fence join me, it was great!!  

Thanks again to Mom, Blake, and Kelly for all their hard work and support.   They continue to make me look good!   
 
WINNEMUCCA REGIONAL RACEWAY & DEATH VALLEY RACEWAY June 27 & 28, 2008
Well I finally bit the bullet and hit the road.   I promised myself not to keep track of the money being spent and hit the road.   The original plan was to go to Winnemucca for their Friday show by myself (ok the dogs went) and then meet the team for the Death Valley race on Saturday.   I hit the road at 8:30am and traveled slow trying to sip the fuel.    Immediately I realized why I hadn't been traveling much.   It was pretty lonely.   My dad was normally there and I noticed him being gone quite a bit.   He was always good for a story or two along the way as well as some snores to interrupt the silence.   It was tough, but I needed to do it.    My normal small town fill up was out of gas so I had to make it all the way to Battle Mountain on fuel.   I got a call that Kelly and Blake had gotten off early and were on their way.    Arrived at the track early and it has changed since 2006.   A little more narrow and a bit heavier.    Got to visit with many people and it was nice to be there.   Managed to win my heat and lined up in the 8th spot for the feature.   At the green I went nowhere as I was suffering from shell-shock.   The track leads to much closer racing and a more aggressive style.    I finally found my way and moved up a spot here and there.   They do outlaw restarts, leader out front and everyone else double file behind.   I used this to move up to 4th, then 3rd and finally got inside of the 2nd place car down the front stretch to take over the number two spot.   The leader was out a ways but I slowly reeled him in.   However when I got to him I was out of room.   Couldn't go low as it was greasy and he was running a good line.   I was getting peeks at the inside but couldn't get by.   Finally I got a shot off turn 2 and as we exited the turn there was heavy contact sending my car up in the air a bit.   I came out in the lead but things weren't right.   The car had a mind of its own and was all over the place.   I had run out of tearoffs early in the race and now couldn't control the car.   I had to throw in the towel.   Bummer!  

Made the long trip home after visiting with several people in Battle Mountain.   They all saw the trailer and stopped by the hotel to say hello.   Took our time getting to Death Valley as the race didn't start until 8:00 and we knew it would get hotter the closer we got.   Arrived about 4:00pm and washed the car while trying to stay cool.    Mom and my friend Allen Williams from Texas joined us a little later.    The heat race was a little hairy late as I grabbed the lead early but the heat made for some dust.   I was using the infield tires to judge my entry into 3, but when it disappeared I began to worry.   The track, although dusty, was really fast.   I felt all Days of Thunder driving through the haze.   Managed to win the heat.   Had to use the outside groove a for a little bit early in the feature race before gaining the lead.   From there I led the remaining laps to capture the feature win at Death Valley Raceway.    The win unofficially clinched the track championship for us at the track.   There is just one sanctioned feature left (September 20) and I have a good enough lead to not get passed.   So if all works out, I should be the 2008 DVR champ.    Although the guys I had hoped were there to compete weren't there much this year, I'm still happy for my team, they worked for it. 

Thanks Mom, Blake, Kelly and Allen for their help and support this weekend!    Tough weekend, but I'm glad I went.

 
MOHAVE VALLEY RACEWAY, June 21, 2008!
It's too hot to be racing here right now!   I should be enjoying the cooler temperatures in northern Nevada.  But hey, we're tough, sucked it up and hit the road to Mohave Valley Raceway.   As always, the track was in amazing shape.   Packed in quickly, was smooth, and well DUH!! of course it was going dry.   What do you expect in 120° heat?   Lined up third for the heat.   At the green I jumped high and was right on the leader's bumper.   Couldn't get by as the car on the inside was right there.   Going into turn 1 I shot the middle.   Another car peeked low and hit the water that was standing on the inside of the turn.   His car washed up and whacked me in the left rear quickly blurring the horizon as I spun around like a top.   As I spun I knew the rest of the pack was behind me so I reached down to catch a gear and get out of the way.   As I pulled I yanked the entire shifting linkage assembly from the interior sheet metal of the car.   WHOOPS!  The car stalled and would only go into third gear.   I had to leave the track.   The amazing crew went to work repairing the damage and I hit the track to run the box races.   As I returned to the pits I was able to help the crew put the finishing touches on the car.   Took it for a stroll through the pits and it was great.   Even better than new!   Contemplated a chassis adjustment but nixed that idea after seeing how spent the crew was from all the hard work to fix the shifter.   It was miserably hot and they were worked to death already.   So I was fine with what I had.   Was scheduled to line up 8th but a car opted to start at the back and I moved up to 6th.   Got a great jump at the start and was quickly into the third spot.  Was trying the bottom to get by for the lead but couldn't get by so I tried the top a little.   Entering turn 3 a car shot the bottom and pushed up the track forcing me way up and almost off the track.   Back to 4th.   Was able to get into the 3rd spot just before a yellow waved.   At the green I quickly passed for 2nd as the car hit a slick spot shooting him up the track.   Once into 2nd I was over driving the car.   Bad!   Was about 5 cars back of the leader before I saw the crossed flags.   I then started waiting longer to get on the gas and it was working I was moving up on the leader.   Once I got to the leader we hit lapped traffic.   I jumped high and as I did the lapped car spun to the infield.   The inside car again moved way up the track forcing me off turn 4.   Back to the fight and I again had to slowly reel in the leader.   Finally back to him I tried to pass high but to no avail.   Coming off turn 4 I got a great shot and was side by side with the leader as the white flag waved.   He moved down and we touched.   We banged quite a bit before I could feel him slide in behind me.   Off turn 2 and into the lead.   Into three and on the gas.  Nudge, loose, shove and around I went just off turn 4.   From first to next to last that fast.   It was uncalled for and nothing was called.   At the very least we should have both finished at the back and third place should have won.    But it was not to be.    I really lost a lot of respect for people that I at one time held in high regard.   Things like this are just not right.   This isn't NASCAR, local tracks are supposed to have a black flag.   However, if they wanted someone else to win, they got their wish.   I know no one likes to see the same guy win, but if you beat 'that guy' it should be fair and square.   Just my $0.02.  

I have a lot of thinking to do over the next couple of  weeks.   The "dad" side of me says I should go back and dole out some good old fashioned "medication" next time.   The "Dan" side of me says to let it go and just go back and beat them fair and square again next time.   While the "I pay the bills" side of me says if you aren't happy with the customer service, go elsewhere.    We'll see. 

Thanks Mom, Blake, Kelly and Jerry Sr for all your hard work and support in the oppressive heat!  
 
DEATH VALLEY RACEWAY, June 14, 2008!
Did I mention that the temperature reading on the truck's "car-mometer" was 117°?   Just in case you forgot, it was 117° as we pulled in to race on Saturday night.   We had worked all week on the yellow car to get it going and then on Friday I worked all day myself to get the spare engine installed in the orange car.   While I'm not the most mechanically inclined, I did manage to get the motor in and running all by myself!    However, as we loaded the car on Saturday we found a small hairline crack in the intake (it's old) which was allowing water to seep out.   So we put some JB Weld on it and arrived at the track to check it out.   Put in some water and it held!   WOO HOO!   Just in case we put in some stop leak before I went out to pack the track.   Another short field was on hand but what's new?   Lined up inside row 2 for my heat race and the bottom was really slick as they had watered and the track was still greasy.   At the green I had to move up as the pole sitter slipped in the greasy bottom groove.   I shot the middle and into the 2nd spot.   Was challenging for the lead when the yellow waved.   At the green I was right on the tail of the leader entering turn 1.   I went in high and cut the car back to the bottom narrowly avoiding the slimy stuff.   The leader pushed up and I squeaked by and into the lead.  Survived a few cautions and restarts as drivers struggled with the slick and greasy surface.    No box races as they watered and were working in the track surface during intermission.  But there are some cool photos of previous ones here ( DEATH VALLEY PHOTOS! ).    We had time to go over the car and make sure that nothing came loose.   Sometimes the parts "settle" when they are recently replaced so we wanted to make sure all was well.   Nothing was too loose, but a few bolts took a 1/2 turn here and there.   Again, I considered loading up and heading home as the thought of another small field race entered my mind.   However I decided to race for my dad as Father's Day was coming up.   So I did.   The track was drying out quite a bit for the main and it was actually MUCH slicker than I thought it would be.   At the green I settled into the low line and was soon up to the 2nd spot.   The leader was working the bottom so I went up a groove and drove in side by side into turn 1.   We raced door to door for a couple of laps before I was able to slip into the lead and move back down to the bottom.   Everyone makes fun of me for running the bottom all the time, but I did win a race there earlier this year by rim riding.   I just tell them that the older I get the further way from the edge I want to be!  haha.    It was fun to tip toe around the track on the surface that was getting more and more slick each and every lap.   At the end of the race I had picked up the win....for dad!   

Thanks Mom, Blake, and Kelly for their help and support in the pits and at home this week as we readied the cars for battle.     Everyone enjoy Father's Day!  
 
MOHAVE VALLEY RACEWAY, June 7, 2008!
100 degree temperatures didn't stop the team from assembling at the house ready to hit the road to Mohave Valley Raceway on Saturday afternoon.   Mom, Blake, Kelly, and a fresh from Colorado Robert!  Arrived to an empty pit area.  Uh oh.   But as the afternoon wore on more and more cars entered the pits and a decent field of modifieds assembled for the action.   Lined up 5th of 7 in the first heat.   Used the bottom to move up and then jumped high to challenge for the lead.   On lap 5 or 6 I was able to sneak outside the leader and still hang on to the edge of the racing surface.   Into the lead I went.   Yellow.   Back to second I went.   At the green the leader now knew where I wanted to run and found that his car worked great there too.  So I would have to find another way around.   Began working the bottom, then followed him high cutting across the bottom.   Was able to get close, but he was just too good up top.   Going into turn 1 with 2 to go he slipped off the top and I went into the lead.   Led the last lap to win the heat race.  

The box races were a riot.   The little ones (6 & under) had 9 entries.   More than some modified fields these days.   We had kids cutting the course, falling over, and just having a good time.   I had to herd some of the wanderers through the correct course, but it was great.   Good times!   The older group had just two participants.   But both had a great time and did a super job.

They watered the track during intermission and I wasn't sure what to expect.   Decided not to tighten up the car.   Everything was ready and as the Super Stocks took the green I entered the car to go line up.   Bump the starter and the car's engine instantly locks up.   Uh oh!   Off flies the hood and I check out the flywheel.   It's ok.   Out come the plugs as the crew works feverishly to find the problem.   Yep, there's the problem.   Water in the back two cylinders.   I turned the motor over and was able to get the water out of them in a revolution or two of the motor.   Put the plugs back in and checked the water in the radiator.   It wasn't down too much.   Started the car.   It ran and put some moisture out of the pipes for a few seconds then cleaned up.   Hmmmm.   Checked the oil to see if it was milky.   All the while they are calling, "modified 87N to staging now please!"   The oil wasn't milky.   But it didn't look good.   Decided to see if the car would start and I could at least see what it would do in the feature.    I was concerned as just sitting between the heat and the feature it filled with moisture.   I would have to start the car three more times.   To stage, to enter the track, and to get going after on track introductions.   Started in the pit.   About 10 minutes later it started in staging.   "Gentlemen fire your engines!"    It turned over....and started!   Kept watch on the temperature gauge and took the green.   I was on the bottom so I wanted to stay there.  Moved up to 5th early, then 3rd, and then had to use the outside.   The temperature was good and the car was still running, so go for it.   The outside got clogged up so I cut back across to pass for 2nd.   Back to the bottom I worked on the leader until slowly pulling ahead and into the lead.   Things were going great!   Yellow.   Under caution the temperature gauge began to rise, slowly and not too much.   It worried me.   Back to green.   I knew they were close.   Laps winding down.   White flag!   What was that noise?   Is the car vibrating?   I was driving myself insane.   Finally into three off turn 4 and checkered flag!   What a turn around.   From thinking I would just start, to winning!   Awesome.

Thanks to Mom, Blake, Kelly, and Robert for their help and support.  

 
DEATH VALLEY RACEWAY, May 31, 2008!
I was awaiting a new gear from O'Hanley's 9-inch rear ends this week so I went ahead and took the "old" car up to Pahrump for the meet and greet.   It was a great experience and I had a lot of fun.  Even met up with some long lost friends from the sand drags.   Got home about 11:30 on Friday which made for a long day after being up for school by 5:30am.   Saturday morning Blake put the new set of gears in the car and I readied the trailer for the race.   Was loaded up and ready to go by about noon.   Hit the road at 3:00 and arrived at the track amidst the wind.   It was breezy.   Another short field, but what are you going to do?   Lined up inside row 4 for the heat race and the track was tacky but a little bumpy.  I had loosened up the car quite a bit in anticipation of the tacky track conditions.   Got a good jump and was running right on the tail of the 2nd and 3rd place cars.   Got a good run off turn 4 only to hit a slick spot and nearly clobbered the third place car.   Nearly, so I missed him.  Finally got into a good rhythm and caught and passed for third before the end.  The leaders were long gone but I ran a good third.   They graded the track during intermission and I had a first hand look at it as I ran the box races for the evening.   That was a kick, the little tikes are the best.   Kept a close eye out on the track and with some water between the early main events the track was slicking over yet keeping some bite as well.   Lined up in the 5th spot for the feature and wasn't sure what to expect.   At the green the hole opened up and I drove through it.   Went down the middle, cut the car to avoid a car pushing up from the bottom and crossed over into the 2nd spot.   Out of turn 4 I was in 2nd and gaining quickly on the lead.   Into turn 3 and the leader starts to lose it.   I narrowly miss the spinning car and am in the lead when the yellow waves for the spun car.   I was happy yet not at the same time.   In the lead early and nowhere to go but backwards.   I got there quickly using the outside and I didn't get to try the bottom.   Was the bottom better?   Decided under yellow to stick with what got me there and try the top.   Shortly after going back to racing I began to get pressure from the bottom of turn 2.   A couple of quick yellows made it tough to find a rhythm.   After some heavy pressure from behind I decided on another yellow to go to the bottom.   It was tricky on the bottom of 1 & 2 as it was both wet slick and black slick.  I could hear the pressure from behind like crazy.    Three and four was really good on the bottom.   So good that if I didn't trust the car and drive it in hard, it would push.  Pressure, pressure, pressure.   Was beginning to wonder if the white was coming, but kept pushing those thoughts out of my mind.   I kept thinking of hitting my marks and trusting the car in three and four.  Was actually surprised by the white as I was working hard at staying on top of things in the car.    Managed to get the car around and win the feature.  

Thanks Mom, Blake, Kelly and to O'Hanley's 9-inch rear ends for getting the car going this week and for helping me at the track. 
 
MOHAVE VALLEY RACEWAY, May 24, 2008!
It was a very long week around here.   A meeting after school on Wednesday and then I displayed my race car and gave a speech at my school's Award's Night on Thursday night making for two very long evenings.   Was so tired by Friday that I came home after dinner around 7:15 and the next thing I know it was 10:00pm as I had fallen asleep without really setting out to.   Loaded the car on Saturday under cloudy skies.   The weather maps on tv called for rain and it was looking iffy all the way there.   In fact we just missed some heavy showers in the area while driving to the track.    Arrived at the track and it seemed as if the track was in its own vortex as there was little if any moisture.   It was great.   They had been pumping water out all day on Friday and the track was in great shape.   Packed in very quickly and we were ready to go racing, although, once again the field was short.   Like I've said before, I can't control who is there, just need to go out, have fun, and do my best.    Lined up dead last for my heat race, inside row 3.   At the green I slipped by one car and was into the 4th spot.   Things were pretty racy as the track was fast up top.   It was slicking over on high on the exits and my competition was getting loose coming off each set of turns.   I started to diamond off the corners and exit the bottom.   It worked as I slipped into the 3rd spot and then slipped into the number 2 spot.  Worked on the leader for a couple of laps before driving it in hard on the bottom of 3 and 4 and taking the lead.    The next time by the white waved and I led that last lap for the win.   Again held the box races at intermission and the kids came out in force.   Some of the older kids let the younger kids use their boxes so we had a full field of pee-wee box racers.   It was great.    One car broke for the feature and I moved up in the line up.   The first green saw some cars bottle up off turn 2 and I cut down quickly making it by several and up into the top 5 quickly.   Restart.   On the second start I moved to the outside and slipped into the top 5 quickly.   Then I began to work the bottom getting up to the 4th spot.   Second and third were side by side and I managed to get by one and used a high low crossover to gain the runner up spot.  The leader had already moved out on the field and I worked hard to chase him down.   He was running high and I was entering high, rolling across the middle and exiting the turn hard off the low line.    It was working as I was steadily cutting down the margin.  The high-low line was really where the car wanted to be and since the exits up high were slick I was making huge gains coming off the turns.   Finally to the leader and cut under coming off 4 and into the lead.   The next lap the yellow waved.   Finally able to run my line completely I was having a blast.   The car was good and it was fun.   Began lapping cars just after 1/2 way and everything seemed to be going my way.   With about 3 laps to go I could feel a vibration developing.   It wasn't just my nerves, it was obvious.   Getting worse, and worse.  OH NO!   Still had my foot planted in the loud pedal going for the win.   Off turn 4, white flag waving and car shaking  the whole time.   Come on!  Just one more lap.   Down the back stretch, into 3.   It was worse.   The car was losing some momentum.   Off turn 4 and I made it!   WHEW!    Not sure but we believe it's a drive train issue.   We'll have to see.    I was planning on trying to race in Fallon on Sunday, but I think it's best to stay home and save some money.   Diesel was $5.29 down the street from the track, yet only $4.59 at a store in Searchlight on the way home.   Interesting?!  

Thank you to all those lost protecting our freedom whose doing so has allowed me to continue doing what I love to do and having fun while doing it.   "If you can read, thank a teacher, if it's in English, thank a soldier."

Thanks Mom, Blake, John and his dad, and to the fans for their help and support at the track this weekend.   Even though the fields aren't huge, I'm still having fun.  

 
DEATH VALLEY RACEWAY, May 17, 2008!
Began the day by celebrating Blake's birthday by sharing cards, gifts, and of course CAKE!  Yummy!   The weather is heating up and it was flirting with 100 degrees all the way to the track.   The temperature gauge on the mirror of the truck reached 98 degrees before we got to the track.   Once at the track, disappointment as the field was a skeleton like one yet again.   People were racing other tracks or just not ready to race.   The economy has some on the sidelines and others are just doing their own thing.   After being bummed and wanting to just load it up, I thought about it a bit and changed my tune.   I decided that I can't control what others do and that people were there to see racing, so I needed to race.   Not to mention my family, crew, and friends wanted to see me race.   So I headed out for the heat starting in the 6th spot.   The track was in great shape and fast.   I got up to third pretty quickly but the car was bogging quite a bit as it was still pretty tight.   Again carrying the left front pretty good and I finally worked my way up to 2nd.  The leader was gone.   I'm talking 1/2 a lap ahead gone.   But I stuck with it taking the white.   Part way out of 2, yellow.   Under the caution we packed the top of the track as it was still pretty chunked up.   Going for the green the engine's pitch changed.   It was down on power.   I ran the last lap and pulled off shutting the engine down quickly.   Coasted into the pits and began removing the front body pieces.   I thought it may be a rocker arm or a rocker arm stud so I began pulling the valve covers as the team went to get Jerry Jr as he happened to be in the stands watching.   Jerry came over and we ruled out the valve train and found that the center of a spark plug had broken out.   Changed all of the plugs and the problem was solved.    We did check the timing just in case, but it was fine.   Turns out those plugs have been in that engine since 2006.   OUCH!    We finished just in time to hit the track for the box races.   Those are always fun and this time my mom had made our very own race flags to use during the box races.   It was great.   Hopefully everyone enjoyed it.     After the box races I decided that the car needed to be tamed down more and went to work on the right rear of the car.   Changed a spring and the shock to hopefully slow down the roll on the car and make it more stable.   In other words I wanted the left front to be off the ground in inches, not feet.    Lined up for the main and the field was even smaller.   But hey, I was determined to have fun regardless of the circumstances.  What else is there to do right?   At the green I cut the car early in one and it stuck like it was welded to the track.   I raced off of turn 2 very quickly and found myself 3 wide for the lead.   Into 3 on the bottom and into the lead.   I wound up leading every lap for the win!   

Thanks to mom, Blake, Jerry Jr., Kelly, Aries, Carly and Brett for their help and support in the pits.   We'll hope there are more cars and competitors at future events.  
 
MOHAVE VALLEY RACEWAY, May 10, 2008!
Another Saturday, another race.   Another short field of cars to boot.   Lots of things seem to be keeping people away, but I can only control whether my car shows up and thanks to Blake and my mom the car is always ready to go and in tip top shape.   Lined up 4th for my heat race and got a nice jump at the green to come off turn 2 in 2nd place.   Began to pressure for the lead very quickly on the bottom and was door to door for the lead for an exciting couple of laps.   I had tried to calm the car down from the last race at Death Valley and it was working as I could actually see track instead of the left front tire.   Going into turn 3 my car pushed up the track and both myself and the leader thought we were going to hit.  Both of us let off and we didn't hit.   Both back to the gas and I was able to pull ahead and into the lead.   From there I began working different lines every lap until I found a good, solid line.   Won the heat.   Out of the car and onto the front stretch to run the box races.   FUN!   This time the wee little ones did a race.   They lost shoes, went the wrong way and just had a blast.   Lined up 8th for the main and the track was a slick one.   Into turn one a car pushed up and hit the outside pole sitter exiting turn 2.   He spun and mashed the gas shooting off the track and into another car.   I bobbed and weaved my way past the spinning cars and into the 3rd, yes third, spot.   Yellow.   Restart and I moved up to 6th as the front row cars tagged.  Back to racing and I was having a hard time finding a way by as cars were high and low and as we raced in a sort of slow motion there was just no room to get by.   Patiently I found my way into the 4th spot and then finally into third.   Once into third the race got fun.   There was an intense battle for the lead and I was left to run where they weren't.   My line changed in every turn, every lap.   High, then low, then the middle, then high, low, middle.   I almost went three wide but ran out of space a couple of times and lifted in lieu of hitting the front stretch fence.  (Been there, done that too many times at this track).   Finally the outside got the line and moved into the lead allowing me to use the same line to get by into 2nd.   Again I was all over the leader trying inside as he was running the middle to high line.   Finally got a good sniff of the lead air coming off turn 4.   The entry to 1 on the bottom was bad so I had to lift early.   That allowed the leader to tuck down in the middle and take my line.   With laps winding down I was running out of time.   However the leader picked up a push.   He was really hugging the bottom.   I was going in high and cutting back across to get a good run off the moisture.   White flag.   The leader slowed going into turn 3 and I went to the middle.   I got my left front up to his door.   Contact.   A little wiggle and he is just ahead of me as we take the checkered.   Another close 2nd for the team, we can't complain.    Great run for everyone and a fun race even in a short field of cars.  

Thanks to Mom and Blake for doing such a great job giving me a good car to race and for the support!  

 
DEATH VALLEY RACEWAY, May 3, 2008!
Death Valley Raceway has suffered through some terrible winds these last few weeks and this week had me a little worried as the wind was whipping around on the way.   However as we arrived and started unloading, the winds were calming and the weather was great.   The track packed in pretty quickly and was actually holding water really well.   With the car regulars not showing for some reason, the car count was down to some regulars and some new cars.   That led to a closer start for my heat, inside row 2.   Dropped into the third slot at the green and found that the track was heavy and that my car was not set up for that.   My first clue was the fact that I was carrying the left front WAY off the ground.   I almost thought something was wrong.   However I had been working on tightening up the car, but on tracks that were a little slicker.   I rode around for a couple of laps and wasn't doing much.  The car was bogging off the turns and I contemplated pulling off the track as it was really a handful to drive.   Decided to move down a little and get the left sides into the bottom groove that was already slicked off.   Out of nowhere the car was a rocket.   I pulled alongside 2nd place coming off turn 2 and used the slicker bottom groove to move by.   I was surprised to be right with the leader on the next lap and drove it in hard on the bottom of turn 3.   Into the lead I went and the next time by the white flag waved.   Won the heat out of nowhere as I wasn't really doing much the first 1/2 of that race. 

Had some fun with the kids doing the box races at intermission.    The track is really working with me on that and it's going to be good, I can tell! 

I was really concerned about how tight the car was, but with several divisions in front of us I didn't want to loosen it up too much in case the track glazed over.   We don't have too much experience with the Death Valley surface so many of us do not really know what the track is going to do.  That, in my own weird way, makes it incredibly fun!   I burned a path from our trailer to the track as I closely kept watch on what the track was doing.   It was actually staying very good and it looked fast.   Do I loosen up the car?   How much?   So I got two ideas in my head and wasn't sure which to do.  One last look at the track.   There was a slight glaze appearing entering turn 3.   Is it enough?   I had no idea and was getting a headache trying to make up my mind.   Back to the old, scientifically proven method of Dan.   I flipped a coin.   Heads I leave it, tails I loosen it up.    Grabbed a nickel from my shorts' pocket and flipped it onto the trailer floor.   Heads......leave it!   Well there you go.   Lined up inside row 3 for the feature and it was on quickly.   Heavy and fast on the inside and outside.   The only areas of slick were the exit in the middle coming off turn 2 and the front straight in the high lane.  I was right with the leaders as the inside row was had moved up into 3 of the top 4 spots.   I finally got inside the 4th place car and into 3rd to make it 3 for 3 for the inside row.   The car was still tight and it felt like I had lost the right rear spring.   All hiked up and pedal to the floor I was running the guts out of the car.   It was like an IROC race as I couldn't gain an inch but wasn't losing one either.   Kept working the bottom of the track and was starting to get a peek inside of 2nd place.   Whenever I would get a run, he would get a run at the leader and we were just inches off one another.   If someone were to bobble it would be ugly.   Just about half way I got a shot at 2nd and was able to take advantage of a wide entry to 3.   Drove it in on the bottom and got the spot.   Was right on the leader at that point and even after a restart it was tooth and nail the rest of the way.   I was getting sniffs of the lead off turn 2 from time to time but just not able to get enough to drive it into the lead.   Pressure was also right there from behind as at times it sounded as if I had two motors in my car.   Exciting!  White flag in the air.   Off turn 2 I was there but just not enough.   The leader went in a little lower into 3 and that caused him to push up the track.  I jumped to the extreme inside and we came off the turn almost door to door.   He was a little sideways and coming back down the track.   I pitched the car a little to avoid the door slap and we raced to the line side by side.    Checkered flag flying over our cars like a blanket and I was 2nd.   Just a couple of feet short.    I could finally take a breath.   What a race.  

Thanks to Mom and Blake for keeping things together this weekend.   The best skeleton crew in the biz!  
 
MOHAVE VALLEY RACEWAY, April 26, 2008!
I'm an early to rise kind of person anyway, so the early start time wasn't too bad for me.   However I will admit that it was different being on the road to a local race so early in the morning.   We left the house about 6 minutes earlier than expected (7:54am) and hit the highways to Mohave Valley Raceway.   The race, the Spring Nationals, was placed during the daytime in hopes of becoming a part of the annual River Run motorcycle rally in Laughlin, NV.   In the past the event has had a few problems with violence and the police presence was evident early.   We were still 90 miles away from Laughlin and the highway was cluttered with Highway Patrol cars and unmarked cars pulling people over left and right.   So I will admit our trip took a little longer as I was careful to heed the posted speed limit.   Not that I am a big time speeder either.  

Arrived at the track around 10:00am and readied the car for action.   The temperatures were in the high 80s by the time we packed in the track and soon swelled to the 90's by race time.  I was ok with the heat but the wind was, again, miserable!  It just drains you when you are out in it for a long time.   Lined up 5th for my heat race and really didn't go anywhere right away.   The track was slick, slick, slick!   Normally I love it and move forward quickly.  This time, not so much.   I was struggling bad.   Fell back early and wasn't running all that well.   Finally moved up towards the front and everyone bunched up in front of me.   I hit the brakes to avoid contact and with the steering locked right I couldn't save it.   To the rear I would go.  Again I really went nowhere and struggled bad.   On the last lap I went in high on the 4th place car.   I was about up to his passenger door when he pitched the car.   The timing was bad.   The very right rear of his car slipped right in the opening between the left front and the driver's door.   As I squeezed by our cars connected tearing the right rear quarter panel from his car and beating up my driver's door.   My fault.   I did run 4th as I was door to door for 3rd at the line.  

In the pits I was a little down on myself for not going anywhere.   Didn't know what my problem was.   Gathered up the materials for the box races, but they never materialized.   Miscommunication just made it impossible.   So I went to the pits to scratch my heat.   I noticed when I spun that the car wasn't steering right very well.   After a quick check I noticed the problem.   The front end was off center to the left.   I would turn left at a 90 degree angle and right at about a 40 degree angle.   Problem!   Fixed that and I decided to change the pullbar entirely as well as switch the two right side shocks.    I mean I ran so poorly I needed to do something to make myself feel better!  

Lined up 8th for the 40 lap, yes 40 lap, feature.   At the green it became obvious it was a day race as the field in front of me disappeared in dust.   I moved high and caught a glimpse of turn 1.   To the outside I moved up quickly and was in 5th when the first yellow waved.   The track was just as slick, but the car was better.  MUCH better.   Still working the high line I was up to 4th when I got a little high entering turn 1 and slipped my right sides off the track.   Holding my breath I made it back onto the track losing just one position.   One lap later I got the spot back as the car who passed me slipped off turn 1.    I was working the track high and low but it was obvious that high was the way to go.   However it made me nervous.   The entry to 1 was SO slick entering 1 I was afraid of slipping off.   Finally made a low pass for third and then worked on 2nd.   Once into 2nd the yellow waved.   I really had nothing for the leader.   He was slowly creeping away as I was trying other lines to get by.   Yellow.   I again made a run at the lead and could keep up.   I noticed a couple of puffs of blue smoke out of the pipes of the lead car entering the turns.   Two laps later the leader exited the track down the back stretch and I inherited the lead.   Where's that white flag?   Lap, after lap, after lap.   Finally the flagman makes a move.   CROSSED FLAGS!?!  WHAT?!  I still had another 20 laps ahead of me.    I came dangerously close to slipping off the top two or three times during the run until a caution waved.   Back to racing I was hearing noise behind me but no visible pressure.   Yellow.   I was getting nervous as the guys behind me had more and more shots to plan an attack.   Concentrated on getting good restarts and it happened.   Heavy pressure on the outside entering turn 1.   Uh oh.   I hit the middle and drove off turn 2 back into the lead.   Wait.  I got a great bite in the middle.   Think I'll try that again.   I moved my line down the next lap and it was great.   Moved down in turns 3 just about 3 feet and got another good bite!   YES!   I found the little edge I needed and drove on to win the Spring Nationals!!   A cool grand in payout, a very cool checkered flag of my own, and the best part, a brand new 90cc Polaris Quad!!    Oh yes, this also puts us back on the IMCA All-Star ballot for 2008!  

Thanks to Mom, Blake, Kelly, and the gang from Steamboat Springs, CO for their help and support today.   What a day!!  
 
DEATH VALLEY RACEWAY, April 18 & 19, 2008!
**I was taught that if I cannot say anything nice, I should say nothing at all...so there will be editing here.
Friday April 18, 2008

The driver's meeting was at 2:00 and considering I still have students in my room until 1:20, I knew I would be late.   My principal agreed to let me go when the students were out of my room, about an hour before I was actually contracted to leave.   I arrived at the track solo as Mom, Blake, and Kelly were unable to get off any earlier.   Blake joined me around 4:30.    We finally hit the track for hot laps at 5:30 and our heats rolled out shortly after that.   I lined up inside row 3 for my heat and used a three or four wide move on the bottom of turn 2 to jump into the 3rd spot and captured the 2nd spot coming off turn 4.   Once in second I stayed at the bottom to try for the lead.   I was able to pull almost to the door of the leader a couple of times but couldn't make it stick.   The sun was glaring badly coming off turn 4 and I came really close to making contact with the leader once and the infield tire another time.   I moved up once but it just wasn't worth racing so hard for a heat win.   I finished 2nd.   Cleaned up the car and watched some of the alphabet soup races for the dwarf car events.   It was finally our turn to race at 9:30.   I lined up 9th, row 5 inside.   Used the bottom early and was making progress as the top was crowded and some contact racing allowed me to slip into some better spots.   However once the line thinned out it was obvious I needed to go top-side.  I was patiently working my way through the field and had not touched a single car the whole race.  Once into 6th I used a small slide job in turn 3 to capture the 5th spot.   I was having a hard time fighting the car off the front stretch wall as I contacted it slightly once and kept riding the berm of dirt in front of it on other occasions.  The car was great up top, in fact it was really much better than the cars in front of me off turn 2 especially.   Third place slipped off the top of the track and that moved me into the 4th spot.   Second and third were racing side by side up high in front of me.   I was carefully working their battle and again made no contact with either of them.   With laps winding down I noticed that second was moving down slightly to block the advances of the third place car.   It took a couple of laps but I finally set up my move.   As he moved down off turn 2, I shot to the extreme outside and with my right rear just over the outside edge of the track, I flew by both cars on the outside and into turn 3.   Into second place I drove into turn 3 and could see the former second place car fly into the turn way too hot.   Edit......birds.......puppies..........children at play............sunny days..........fields of flowers.........nice things.......deep breaths.......self-control.......Edit.  As I spun in front of the whole field several dodged me with great skill, but not everyone was so lucky.   It wasn't their fault, but I was clipped in the right rear ripping the rear body supports from the frame and making a huge mess.   For some reason I was placed back to 4th for the restart but the car who......Edit..........nice things........nice things........self-control........Edit remained in second.   My car was terrible as the side to side contact has knocked the front end all kinds of crazy.   It was a handful.   I was able to ride out the final laps in 4th.   I can be thankful that I still finished, but I ended up having to tow home last night so that we can rebuild the rear end of the car this morning before heading back.  The newness has certainly been knocked off of this car these last few events.   While I'm not one to let others control what I do, the old saying is, "when in Rome."   If the Romans continue to drive like barbarians, maybe I'll have to join in myself.   Better get to work!   Thanks to Blake for helping me out on Friday! 
   

Saturday, April 19, 2008

We arrived home just after 12:30am on Saturday morning.   Unloaded the car so it was ready to work on first thing in the morning.   Ordered a pizza as we were all hungry, got some things done around the house and before you know it I was going to bed at 3:00am.   Back up at 5:45am and I managed to do some school work and other things while waiting for everyone to get to the house ready to work.   At 8:00am we were hard at work getting the car repaired from the accident that followed our being punted on Friday night.   We used the truck to run over the bent pieces to get them back straight, hammered many items, and used an old door from 2004 to repair the shredded quarter panel.   Mom and Kelly worked on getting the 100 pounds of sand and dust out of the trailer and we were loading up at 11:00am.   Hit the road to the gas station ($4.15/gallon yikes!) and were on our way by 12:00.   The driver's meeting started at 2:00 and with a 1.75 hour travel time, we would make it.   The wind was brutal throwing us all over our lane on the highway.   As we entered the open valley near the race track it was obvious that the wind was going to be a big problem.   I parked facing into the wind so that the wind wouldn't whip into the trailer as it did on Friday night.   They decided to start later hoping to avoid the wind and dust.   We all sat in the trailer out of the dust and wind and when I needed to go out I would put on my fire suit head sock to save myself from being sand blasted.   We finally lined up for our heats after the near 100 dwarf cars completed their heats around 6:00pm.   They watered the track and we waited for the sun to set so we weren't out for our heat until about 7:00pm.   I lined up 6th of 7 and moved up to 2nd quickly.   Got side by side for the lead off turn 2 and finished the pass off turn 4.   A couple of laps later I got pressure from inside.   Just couldn't stay out front and was passed.   I ducked back under and passed back.   He ducked under in the next turns and passed me back.  I then got outside and we were door to door in a great old fashioned duel.   But my car just wasn't as good as his and he continually put inches on me every lap until he had a good couple of cars at the finish.   I ran 2nd.   The wind was making it miserable, I was starting to feel the effects of the food I ate earlier and my 2nd, third, and fourth winds were finally wearing down.   I laid down in the truck for a while and tried to nap.   Couldn't.   Wound up sick to my stomach as my food seemed to have left an acidic taste in my stomach.   After getting sick and finally starting to feel better, I went to check on the racing.   They were running the Dwarf C.   They had A Pro B, A, Pro Dash, Veteran Dash, Veteran A, and Sportsman A to go.   Yikes.   This was around 9:00pm.   I looked at the track during the Pro B and decided to make a couple of changes.   By now we had the heat on in the trailer and were using a fan to blow the inches of sand out of the back of the trailer.   Finally our turn to line up.   Just before midnight we rolled up.   Upon rolling into the staging area I was careful not to bottom out the car on the bumps and holes.   Then WHAM.   I rolled to a stop and immediately got out of the car.   Looked under the car and my heart sunk.   Oil was pouring  out of the pan.   Immediately I motioned to mom and Kelly to get Blake to push me to the pits, oil streaming under the car.   Leland Hibdon stuck his head in the passenger side and offered up his personally built, AWESOME Chassis immediately.   I was hoping to fix my own car though.   Drained the oil and began work on the pan.   Patched it and put oil back in.   No go.   Decided to take Leland up on his great gesture and stepped about the "A" machine.   It has a Brinn Transmission and I have never experienced one of those as I am still old school Muncie 3-speed.    I drove the car around the pits once to get a hang of the new (opposite) clutch system.   It was so nice of Leland to offer and his cars are always top notch.   I was nervous, didn't want anything to happen.  Especially after Friday's fiasco.   I took my spot at the back of the field due to the driver change and spent a couple of laps feeling out the car.   I steadily got quicker and moved up into the top 10 quickly and then was slowly picking off cars to get into the top 5.   The car was good and I think I was probably not aggressive enough with it.   It could have taken more from me going in.   I got as high as third before I began to fade.  Not the car, me.   I fell back to 5th at the line.   However, two of the cars apparently lost a lap in the pits so I was scored in third.   An AWESOME was to finish what was a long and miserable day.   I appreciate Leland and everyone from the AWESOME Chassis team for being so kind and letting me drive their car in the main.  

Thanks to Leland Hibdon, Levi Kiefer and team,  Mom, Blake, and Kelly for their help turning what could have been disaster into a great top 3 finish!
 
MOHAVE VALLEY RACEWAY, April 12, 2008!
The racing this weekend was a little short on cars, but not short on action.   I lined up 4th in my heat race and had the lead coming off turn 1 at the completion of the first lap.   Went on to win that race by a decent margin.   I am trying a "new" BMS set up and the car was good but it wasn't using the left front very much if you know what I mean.   Good run though.

During intermission I went over with Blake and Kelly to run the first box races at MVR.   It was a huge success.   They allowed me to use the remote microphone and the crowd was really into it.   Hopefully the kids will bring their own boxes and enjoy the racing next time.  Thanks to MVR for putting up trophies for all 5 kids for the demonstration race. 
 
Lined up 8th for the feature and used the outside line to move up to 6th early.   Was by 5th and passing for 4th when that car got really sideways in front of me.   I slammed on the brakes and then 6th got by me.   I was then pinned behind them and they were evenly matched.   Luckily for me I the 5th place car slipped off turn 4 and I squeezed by before passing for 4th on the outside of turn 2.   Third jumped to first at the same time and I took a lap to run down 2nd and 3rd hoping the leader wouldn't check out.   Got to the bumper of the 2nd and 3rd place cars and chose the outside car.   Going into 3 the outside car pushed and I cut and shot the middle jumped off turn 4 in second place.   By the crossed flags I was right with the leader but he, of course, was running the high and better line.   I started working the bottom off both sets of turns.   It was working, but inch by inch.   At this rate it would take 30 laps to pass him.   We approched lapped traffic, MY FAVORITE!   Just as it started to get fun, yellow.   Asleep at the restart I lost several car lengths and had to make it up.  Finally had worked up and got a good run at the leader, it was there.   The pass was ready.   YELLOW!   I knew there was only about 3 to go as the flagman was readying the white flag on the flagstand.   Got a decent restart and followed the leader high into turn 1.  Cut across and come off the bottom of 2.   Good run.   Into three and I was about a tire behind coming off turn 4.   Off turn 2 I lost a little ground having to go in in the middle.   Shucks!   Off 4 about a car length in arrears.  Easily into 1 up top and cut across the bottom.   Was about a car behind entering three but I drove it in hard and got the car turned well.   We were door to door!   Side by side, number to number, wheel to wheel, checkered flag waving!   My car got a bite and I inched ahead.   Flagstand there, both of us inches off one another, hard on the car.   FINISH LINE.........we win!!   By about 3 inches.   WHEW! 
 
I led the last three feet of that race, if that!   Really exciting.

Thanks Mom, Blake, and Kelly for their help and support this weekend!!   Also thanks to Shane and MVR for sponsoring trophies for all of the box racers!  

 
DEATH VALLEY RACEWAY, April 5, 2008!
Another long day, but sleep is over-rated right?   What is sleep anyway?   I was up early to get ready for my 4 hour class for my job.   After learning the latest and greatest ways of teaching kids these days I headed home at about 12:30 and started getting the car ready to be loaded.    It didn't take too long and I was able to sit down and eat something for the first time all day.   Good thing as I had one of those annoying headaches.   Hit the road about 2:30 and made it to the track just before 4:30.   Got through tech, they have a great tech there, very thorough, I like it.    Once that was done I got things ironed out for my first kids box race at intermission.   Had a nice interview with track announcer Mike Henle and then prepared for the heat race.   The cooler night temperatures made for a really nice track.   I started 5th of 8 in my heat.   At the green I was surprised at how good the track was.   There was a tricky part coming off turn 2 once you got to corner exit but it was fast.   My car was fast too.   I got it turned quickly and was up to 4th, then 3rd and finally rocketed into 2nd.   Followed the leader around for a couple of laps before he picked up a push in the middle of 1 & 2 and I slipped by.   From there the only other obstacle was a lapped car with 2 to go.    While it was a closer call than I thought, I was able to slip by with just the slightest tire mark at the end of the right side quarter panel.   

Funny note!   People STILL think I have a Late Model!   I love it, April Fool's lasting almost a week!  haha

Heat win in hand I quickly got out of the car and headed off with my boxes, cups of water, and trophy to conduct the first Kids Box Races at DVR.    It was great!   I had 5 kids this first time as I just wanted to show the kids what it was and how it worked.   They ran in front of a front stretch fence that was lined with parents and other kids cheering them on.   They raced two laps (around a shorter marked off track on the front stretch) then stopped for a tire taking off one shoe, holding it over their head for the official (me) and then putting it back on.   Two more laps then a stop for fuel.   1/2 a cup of water that after drinking they had to hold over their head to prove to the official it was gone.   Then off for the final two laps and the checkered.   The race long leader lost the lead on lap 4, but regained it quickly and took home the first win!   I took a photo with the kids and should hopefully have one to show soon!   It was a blast.   Hopefully kids will start bringing out their own boxes all decked out!

Got back to the pits and saw that I lined up 9th in the 15 car field.   One car broke so they changed to another car.  Not too bad of a start, sort of usual.   It looked like there would be two good grooves with the middle being tough as it was black and slicked over.    Since I started low I figured I would work that angle.   It worked well as I was doing well and up to 5th.   I then made the mistake of trying to set up 4th a little high and got shuffled out to the middle and I dropped through the field like a rock thrown into a pond.   Bloop, bloop, bloop!   But hey, I wasn't following.  Managed to stay in the 7th spot for a few laps before getting by 6th.   Stalled out in 6th as I was faster than the car in front but couldn't get by.  The car spins right in front of me.   He actually almost spun 2 times before finally spinning partially down the back stretch.   Whew.   Yellow.   The yellow wasn't for him so he got his spot back.   Darn it.  From here on out the race would get exciting.......in a good way......I think.   Anyway, they have a rule that the flagman starts the race.    There is a cone a little further down the front stretch than we are used to and it really boggles up the field coming to the green.   If you aren't on your toes, LOOK OUT!   I was able after a few laps to slip into 5th and was working on 4th coming into 3 when the third place car looped it.   I had the car slowed and was trying to drive around him high when I got a shove from not 1, not 2, not 3, not 4, but 5 cars.   We all piled in door to door to door, etc in turn 3.   OUCH.   YUCK!  I waited as the car to my left started and drove off.   I started, backed up, and drove off.   Was awaiting that lovely wobble of a flat tire, broken suspension, something.   It wasn't there.   The car had held up.   A slow drive by up high in turn 3 to give the crew  a look.   Two thumbs up, so I was back in action.    The track wound up restoring everyone's spot except for the car who originally spun.   Up to 4th.  Back to racing and three of us were low as another worked high.   That allowed me to slip into third and eventua