Our team was still glowing from the big win at Stafford the prior weekend.
We had done some maintenance of our brakes / rotors / bearings in an attempt to solve the brake and vibration issues that had transpired over the last few laps at Stafford.

We were fast in warm-ups. We won our heat race and waited for the feature as rain threatened. Features were all postponed until Friday as the rains came and stayed for more than an hour.

Friday we practiced well once again. The change in schedule had our team down to me and Jon. Michelle joined us after practice. The feature began with someone ahead leaking fluid badly by turn one. By the back straight my windshield was a mess and I had lost several positions to guys with less fear than I. The caution was out before I ever got to the start finish line but somehow the lap was considered complete.
We had a fast car but racing was a bit crazy, too often, and with Saturdays OPEN show in our plans I took a more conservative plan on getting to the front. Glen Boss and I would find ourselves swapping positions a few times, Glenn admitted afterwards that he made several moves that were at best a 50 / 50 shot of his car surviving. By about lap 15 we were in 3rd pressuring Glenn as he was chasing the 02 car. Suddenly by lap 18 my vibration was back. I slowed down hoping the car would be able to continue. I feared a bearing was going, but we feel in the end it was only a power steering pump acting crazy.

Glenn went on for the win. We settled for our 3rd place finish. Car in one piece.

-Larry

 
Glen Boss, Jon, Michelle and Larry                                       Jon Michelle and Larry

Three Wide

Keith making room
Wrong place at the wrong time.

All pictures courtesy of Dale Nickle

A Busy and Rewarding Week!

Finally Finally Finally!

After several close calls, we have finally won the Track Championship! I really have a tremendous amount of respect for those drivers and teams that have won a championship. Even more for the many time champs. Jerry Marquis has more than 20! Glenn Boss has 7 titles in our division alone.

Thursday evening we clinched the Thompson Sportsman Division Championship with our third place finish. Would have been nice to show the extra speed we had in reserve... But low risk only moves for me that night. Mission accomplished.

Friday we brought the ol 73 car to Stafford...check that, to the Jack Arute Motor Speedway tee hee. A couple of practice rounds and we knew we were going to be good. Saturday we had swapped some tires around before the practice session. Were not as good as Friday practice, but we knew how to fix it. In the heat race I had my normal great luck with drawing for start position. Last row Larry strikes again. Scott Cook sent Glenn Boss to the infield mid race, and we were able to finish second to the 31 car. Glenn's luck wasn't so bad after all, as they chose to invert the top 6 finishers, placing Glenn on the pole for the feature.

The big feature. Last event of Saturdays Fall Final action was possibly the best race of the weekend. We only had 12 cars, but 7 were recent winners. Glenn Boss set sail from his pole position in a race that would go green to checkers. We pulled into second place on lap 5 only to spot Glenn out front by a seemingly comfortable margin. I gradually was closing in, when we got the half way flags. With the potential to stay green all the way becoming obvious, I starting going for it all out. I pulled up to a few feet behind Glenn on lap 15. Glenn slipped high in turn
2 and I gassed it hard pulling even out of turn 2. Oh blessed be the Pettit Power! Advantage to the red and yellow 73 car entering turn 3.

I pulled ahead on the front straight... ya hoooo. Easy from here right???
Right until I locked up my brakes entering turn 1. Holy crap! As I gathered my composure, Glenn pulled even on the inside. Battle resumes. I nailed the gas. It stuck, and I pulled ahead again on the back straight.
He followed closely behind until I did the same thing again entering turn 1. Side by side again we left turn 2. Feel the power. Back to the front!
I figured out my entry problem and gradually pulled away by a small margin over the last three laps.

Great competition, great race, and for us a great result! First Stafford Sportsman Division win goes to the 73 team!

Jimmy, Jon, Wayne, and Michelle were once again flawless in helping get this special victory.

This week we will be going for another win on the final points race of the year (on Thursday eve.)while Kieth "Sweety" DeSanctis, Scott Sundeen, and Glenn Boss drive to settle the points battle for my familiar position of "Brides Maid". Good Luck to all of you. Hope I see it all transpire in my rear view mirror.

Saturday is the PASS Pro Stock event. We will be doing a few changes to our car and going for another win.

The World Series event this year has more divisions running their features on Saturday, including us. This might allow me to find jobs to do on even more divisions. Drive my car, Spot for Todd Ceravolo's SK, Spot or Tire carry for the Mystic Missile.

Hey maybe I could drive the Boneheads back up car, Find a Late model to run, get an SK ride, test in the back up v4 car, do an outlaw race or two.... I only wish. I wonder why I drop a few pounds every race day.

See everyone at Thompson soon,
Larry

I have been asked what you get by winning the Championship...
One rumor is that it involves a racing vacation weekend with the Coors Light Twins..... Ya think????

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