Kansas 150

My car handled almost perfect but didn't have enough straight away speed. I had it pegged out at the end of the back and front stretch. I was worried I would blow it but it held up until the end. I could catch the leaders on long runs but then we ended having to pit under caution and I'd get caught back in the pack again with terrible pit stops and have to work my way to the front. The cautions also helped me catch back up to the leaders. I can't complain about the run because it is one of my best finishes.

Congrats Larry!

1st race proper enjoyed it thanks to the 3 toms 4 help
even led 4 3laps lol,shame bout finish someone tapped me? after great restart near finish
last restart went 4 gap maybe bit ambitous but it was last lap!!!!!! cant wait till next one even though it was 3.00am
when finished
cheers

Although I have nothing to show for it, this was one of the races where I ran using my head for once. In some ways it represented what I love so much about stock car and oval racing in general, the car was changing every lap, every moment, you feel the car so well. Pity was that, due to the small field and the jimmy johnson cookie cutter track, I was banking on long runs: for once in my life time I had great tire management and I knew that in long runs my car was coming to me and I could make up some ground. Unfortunately we had a lot of cautions, close to the end I was right behind Larry in 2nd but I knew that would not last because of the yellows-- still I was hoping for a top 5. When there was a last caution I thought I'd slop on some tires and have a mad dash in the last 3 laps, even though my car was not really designed for that-- however I was sure that because of the good rubber I could make it easily up to 3rd or 4th. Unfortunately, the race coming under time limit and under caution and being hit from behind on the last restart prevented me from doing any serious point gain. However, I came away with some satisfaction because I felt I was a competitor and not just a lapped car, and because I had practiced and raced using my head which-- for someone short on talent and speed like myself-- is my only chance of doing decent!
Finally, I was VERY happy for Larry: he is one of those drivers out there who combines intelligence, speed, fairness and decency. I could not be happier that he won and he deserved this totally.

Thanks for the kind words Francesco. You are a class act all the way and a big part of why I come back week after week. It really is the people that make the stockcar challenge something special and it was the help of others that enabled me to run well tonight. Thanks alot Tom M. for the setup help.
You know you are running good if you can reel in Tom M. and Jeremy D. because most of the time they`ll run off and leave you. This time I had an awesome car though and it got better the longer the run went. I thought I was a sitting duck at the end when all the cautions were coming out because I couldn`t give up the track position to pit for tires and I was certain some had pitted for tires but somehow luck went my way in this one. I`ve had some rotten luck lately and have been struggling to find both speed and motivation. Maybe with this win I can turn a corner and get back on track. Thanks guys.

Yes, Larry, Great Job! :)
You had nothing to worry about from me on those final restarts, as you would just leave me in the dust.
I wasn't pitting either, no way, no how, though they did allow Tom G. to get by.
Very frustrating, all those cautions at the end, but still one of my most enjoyable races. :)