August 15 and 16, 2009 - MVRG Fun in the Sun Regional / National at Mid-America Motorplex
It seemed like I spent the whole weekend changing tires. The weather and track conditions kept oscillating between raining-wet and hot-dry. Saturday morning started in the pouring rain and a power outage at the track. So on went the rain tires. By the time track officials had rigged up some temporary power and got qualifying started, the rain had stopped and the track started to dry. I was first in line on the grid for qualifying when I decided to rush back to the paddock and switch to dry tires. I returned to the grid with just one minute to spare, however now I had 20 cars in front of me to contend with. Switching to slick tires was the right choice, but trying to get a “clean” lap where I wasn’t held up by another car was a real challenge. On my last lap of qualifying I clicked off a 1:45 which was good enough for Spec Racer pole!
When I returned to the grid that afternoon for the Regional Race, I was gridded 18th! Ahhhh! Timing and Scoring had screwed up the starting order for the race. I ran back to my trailer and retrieved the “official” grid sheet for the race and handed it to the grid workers. After some very tense moments, T&S and the grid workers finally got the starting order correct and I was able to take my place on the front row.
When the green flag waved, I got a very good start and left my fellow Spec Racers behind to battle among themselves. Now all I had to do was drive hard for 15 laps, don’t make any mistakes, and try not to get slowed down passing back-markers. But it was not to be, a full course yellow let my competition line up right behind me again. I got a good re-start but Frank Stone #72 and Jim Rishel #17 were charging hard! Eventually the race was between me and Frank. On the last turn of the last lap Frank made a move to pass me but he spun, leaving me to take the checkered flag and the race win!
Sunday morning was off and on rain. I gridded with dry tires for qualifying but once again changed my mine and rushed back to the paddock for wet weather tires. This time my gamble didn’t pay off. I entered a drying track, getting dryer with every lap. My rain tires over heated without any water to keep them cool and my lap times were dismal. I was next to last among my fellow Spec Racers and starting the race 11th over all. Probably the most important race for me in 2009 and it looked like I had thrown it away!
I only had 13 National points , I was in 10th place in the Central Division and in real danger of not qualifying for the Runoffs.
At race time it was hot, dry, and sunny. At least tire choice was easy. The start of a race is very tense and a little dangerous. That tension was repeated when the race start was “waived off” and we all had to make another lap and try it again. The second time around the starter showed the green flag and the race was on! The first few corners, I just “hung on” and tried not to get caught in any crashes. By lap 3 I was at the end of a log line of Spec racers. I got a good run onto the front straight and drafted past my friend Bill Douglas for 5th place. A lap later I repeated the maneuver with Art Kopp and moved into 4th place. Jim Rishel was next in line but he and Frank Stone were having their own little battle and I had to wait before I could try a pass. A few laps later I got my chance and moved into 3rd place. Frank was next but he wasn’t about to give up without a fight! Fortunately for me he got a wheel off track and slowed slightly exiting turn 3. That was the break I needed and I passed him going into turn 5. Frank charged back hard, but I was able to get a gap between us and hang on to 2nd place for the rest of the race. Congratulations to Scott Goolsbey on the win!
