#73 Limited Sportsman 2004&2006 Sportsman Division Champions Thompson International Speedway Thompson Connecticut	- 10/3/09
2009 Results & Points8/21 2008 Results & Points                                         2006 Results & Points                                         2005 Results & Points 2004 Results & Points Schedules  Thompson Press Releases Track Weather Links Team  Leadfoot's Bio Crew  Sponsors The Drive Band Taber TV-Get on the Car Be in the Ad's Nat's Racing Engines Rayline Racing Bodies The Joie of Seating Liberty Hill Home Inspections of New London Becoming a Sponsor        (Contact Larry) Photos Scott Nickel Photos (SmugMug) Leadfoot's Photos Photos of Thompson Speedway Photos By Cliff Moon Merchandise T-Shirts Pens Contact barnettracing@comcast.net To Order   Email Us      -Driver: Larry      -Web Master: Jon   Comments	World Series 2009 Race Report: We won the world series in 2007, we crashed in sept. 2008 and were not able to attend, and now back to victory lane in 2009!  This all helps lead to an off season of gearing up for next year, and the possibility of moving to another division soon….maybe.   I am currently investigating what it would take to run on the True Value Mod Series.  Bottom line is that the 2010 season could be my last in the Sportsman Division…IF… I can find myself another division that would be challenging, without pricing myself right out of racing completely.  If I was able to race in the Sportsman division until I was 73 yrs old it wouldn’t be a bad thing though either.  Testing the waters in other divisions, a race or two at a time in 2010 would be really great.  I will be looking around for opportunities.   Preps for the world series race included repairing the broken clutch disk from the last points race, having the tranny sent to Buzzy for a tune up / check up, and….   Installing a 2bbl carb on our crate engine, to do a comparison test.  We were not really sure how it would all turn out.  Several conversations with Nat helped determine our set-up.  I guess we made some good calls.   Meanwhile work had me busy working 72 hours per week on night shift for a refueling outage.  Qualifying Friday:  I left work from Waterford at 6:30 am.  Stopped at home for final pack up, had breakfast at zips…and then Jonny and I zipped up to the track.  It would be just Wayne, Jonny, and I in attendance.   I was all strapped in, waiting for the mini’s to head back for the first round of practice at 9:15am.  Turns out no minis headed back and I missed the darn round!  Not a good start! About 2 hours later I hit the track.  Car was pretty decent, but it was already getting too late for me to get any sleep.  We opted to run one more round of practice, I tried to nap in my hauler (didn’t work), we all tried to stay warm, and waited for qualifying.  I believe I was supposed to start the heat in 6th, a couple cars opted to start in the rear or had issues.  We finished the heat race 2nd in a good race with the 55 car.  Challenging for the win on the last lap.   I then headed back to work making it on time for 6:30pm.  cool.  Saturday am I went home and slept (while the rains fell).  Luckily I was able to get the Saturday night shift off.  Eventually the track was forced to give up on all racing activities for Saturday.  We arrived at the track near 3pm as they were announcing the new schedule.  We were able to hang out at the clubhouse a bit, then visit with the clorites and santos clans.  Fun times.  B2 was teasing he would build a car to come race against me.  He kept digging for racing secrets.  I really don’t think I have any! Tee hee   Sunday the race was almost uneventful.  Was having a good race with the 55 trying to sneak by.  I finally had a run by them on lap 8 when a lapped car moved up the track just as we were sailing by.  I nearly became the meat in the sandwich, but either I had cleared the 55 car, or Sean backed off quickly.  We all survived.  Sean would later get a flat tire and fell off the pace.  The remainder of my race was mostly a nice Sunday drive.  The others were busy battling for position, while I pulled away.   I suspect the carb test slowed me down about 2 tenths lap time (my lap times were the slowest I ran all year), but helped the way the car raced in traffic (corners).  Now it will be up the tech staff to make their call on rules for next year.   I may opt to run the Nat’s open rules engine next year as our primary engine if any additional changes are made, OR, I get the feeling that no one else will be buying a crate engine to race with.  The crate engine is a very good option as far as saving money and time, not as good an option as far as constantly having to deal with rule adjustments etc.  We certainly might run our new open rules engine for the icebreaker, then offer it for sale and run the crate after that.   2009 was a really good year.  7 wins in 17 starts.  Not too shabby. Jonny, Jimmy, Wayne, and Amy worked really hard to keep me running at the front.  Many others pitched in also.   2010? Look for us to be back running strong at Thompson.  Open rules engine in for the icebreaker, maybe the crate engine back in for the remainder?  Look for a possible start or two in another car somewhere?  I will most likely be back working with Mike Holdridge on his modified.  Larry     Update. October 3rd.   As of today, we hope to be able to run the world series.  I will be starting a 72 hour per week work assignment soon.  Expect to be able to shift hours enough to race (barely).  Turns out that the Tranny did survive the final race, but the clutch disk was broken in half.  The tranny kept getting stuck in gear due to things being out of alignment. We will be in test mode for 2010 season at the world series.  The race sometimes feels like a “run what you brung” event as well in the past.  With all those variables, who knows what the outcome will be….  My last trip to the world series ended in victory lane (2007).  That was the last time my dad was able to see me race.  I had a feeling it may be his last time to watch me race that night, as I pulled into victory lane.  He left us November 16th that year.  I was very thankful for the huge crowd in victory lane that night (it definitely lifted my spirits on a bittersweet moment).  Would be very cool to get back there again!    Championship Race Report! September 24th, final points race!   Need to finish 17th or better to clinch the points championship.  Easy, right???  Let’s just state that I have lost a lot more championships, in more ways, than I care to remember. So the car is prepped, no bolt is left un-checked.  Three concerns are floating around in my head.  Mechanical failure, Monahan being allowed to race, and the unpredictable Joe Coates.  All three concerns were valid, but we hold on to win the championship anyways! Heat Race: Tried to stay out of trouble, but given very little track to work with by the 64 car, and my car is acting a bit strange….I qualify, but coming off the track I cannot shift the car or even get the car out of gear. I have to shut it down in gear.  We make our best guess of the problem, replace the clutch Master cylinder.  I head back to line up for the feature in a bit of a panic, clutch repair does not work, and I am nearly convinced the tranny will blow up in less then 20 laps. 28 cars start the race….can I outlast enough of them???? I start in 12th again (I think).  Lap two I get drilled by Joe Coates.  Racing incident in traffic…maybe meant no harm… But I am sitting in the grass and cannot move, stuck in gear.  Caution fly's, no call made of course (hell, I spin so often all by myself that it is safe to assume there was no contact right?).  Push truck to the rescue.  Barely get the car re-fired as I get pushed down the back straight.  I have to restart at the rear of the field. I am slowly making my way through traffic, Jay and Joe Arena are both contending for the win, adding to the pressure.  I am somewhere near 12th position when Jay tangles with the 57 and wrecks.  I get drilled in the rear bumper while trying to avoid Jay’s left rear tire rolling down the center of the back straight.  I survive, but Jay’s car is a mess.  I struggle to count the cars still running, reasonably sure there are no less than 24, but I am not certain.  I must finish at least 24th to ensure maintaining my points lead over Joe Arena. On the next restart, Joe quickly takes the lead…several more cautions…..I continue to move ahead….as drive train vibrations worsen…. The 64 car is working over the 81 car just ahead of me….barely miss that mess as the 81 spins. No call again!!?? A restart with 5 to go and I get by the 64 car with air in all my tires, and not sure what is shaking worse…me or my car!  I find that happy space with no cars even near me…and hope the thing doesn’t blow up. Joe runs out front….I am fairly confident that even if I break I will finish well enough….but, man the car isn’t happy…. Coming to the white flag, Joe makes a mistake….slips enough to allow Monahan to reach his rear bumper. Heavy impact of course happens next.  Then Joe finds that he is being pushed all the way up to the white line entering turn 1.  Is anyone surprised????  . Joe has yet another win stolen.  Monahan again tries to explain that rubbing is racing…Driving “around” someone is an option some guys rarely use.  Good car, and Shawn certainly has enough talent to race…why not use it??? . I roll across the line in 6th position.  As cars slow down ahead of me, leaving the track, I stall the car.  Cannot re-fire it….and it even takes several minutes to get it out of gear.  I finally do, and get pushed to the pit area.  An incredible weight is lifted from my shoulders.  Those who have been there…. know what I am talking about.  A great season on the track, has still had many challenges.  Thanx to Jonny, Jimmy, and Wayne.  Not a chance in hell I could do this game without their help. . Congrats to Joe Arena for racing the way it is supposed to be done.  Joe moves to second in the points standings with Jay Sundeen’s accident.  It is so great to have a race season with all of the front runners doing things cleanly.  It made things much more fun. . September 17th: I felt a bunch of pressure coming into this race.  The wreck, take the lead from the back, then get a flat tire and the resultant DNF on the 10th left me with mixed feelings… what would happen next? Also ruined three tires during that race. We prepped the car as best as possible.  Had to buy tires, mount them, and use them right away.  I like a bit more time then that.  Oh well. In the heat race, Jay Sundeen was struggling with an ill handling car.  Just when I floored it coming out of turn two, he got right sideways ahead of me and I got into him.  He was probably going around anyways, but my tap made sure of it.  I had no problem being sent to the back with Jay.  He spun again on his own a few laps later.  I wish calls (me being sent to the back) were made like this more often.  I certainly had no intent to hit Jay, but did touch him.  Others try to get into people, knock them out of the way, or sometimes even spin the guy….and no call is made. Feature race: I started in 12th position.  Got to third.  I had Shawn ahead of me, no-one even close behind me.  I started sipping on an herbal tea…happy to be in a safe place.  Then with 1.5 laps to go, someone blows an engine, oil and smoke cover the entire turn 4 area.  NO CAUTION FLAG!  The Monahan takes out Joe Arena who lifts off the throttle as any sane person would.  Joe has a solid win stolen. We escape without any damage to our car and finish 3rd.  And leave the track with a 32 point lead over Jay Sundeen, who drove dad’s car in the feature.   Click to Enlarge Sponsor John Simlick/Coldwell Banker has gained increased business recognition as a direct result of his involvement with our team.  He has sold several houses as a direct result of his sponsoring our team!  We also hope his sore knees are not a result of his many trips dashing down to victory lane with us! Click to Enlarge The following business helped us purchase nearly 300 team shirts in the 2006 calendar year: Pauls TV of Groton CT Sound Medical Associates of Ledyard John Simlick, Coldwell Banker Realty of Ledyard Liberty Hill Home Inspections of New London Dr. Robert Barnett, Gales Ferry Chiropractic Thanks to the support from these businesses, we have been able to wear the shirts as race team uniforms, give some away to young fans, use as contest prizes, and sell many to raise some pennies to help maintain our performance on the track. With all these shirts out there…our car, and these businesses names have been dashing all over southern new England! We still have some of the T-shirts, long sleeve T shirts, golf style shirts, and sweatshirts available. Priced from $10 through $20. Any problems viewing the Website E-mail Webmaster