Whizzer
Gig'em
Where to begin? First it was c - o - l - d !! Grandstand seat was on the exit of turn four, two-thirds of the way up. Had a hooded winter parka, insulated underwear, flannel shirt, fleece vest and a blanket covering my knees, all necessary items to try to keep warm. Saw a lot of people with snowmobile suits and insulated coverall/hunting garb. Smart folks!
They started with hot laps and got most in before it started to rain and lost the track.
Re-did the track, ran it in, lined the cars up and started another race before it began raining again. From there, things went from bad to worse. First, a snow flurry (snow flurries in NC? In November?) then hail (Hail? In NC in November?) before returning to steady rain forcing them to call the events of the night, off. Announced racing would resume Saturday starting at eleven which meant two days of racing jammed into one.
Saturday morning, did not use grandstand seating but went to the pit area, met my son, and all the guys on the team where he is an associate sponsor. Didn't get to spend much time with him as he was pretty busy working on the car and those guys are really focused. Figured it was bet if I stayed out of the way and back in the shadows.
And make no mistake, it was c - o - l - d !! One of those "lazy wind days," where the breeze goes right through you rather than around you. For awhile, I thought I was being a wimp with the cold, but after speaking with people from Massachusetts, Syracuse, NY and, Pennsylvania, even they were complaining about the cold. Now I didn't feel so bad.
Chose to stand in front of the big signs between turns one and two. The team trailer was parked behind the Simpson sign where I could go stand by the generator to get warm between races. Had to jockey for position as a lot of others spectators had the same idea. The location for watching the race was good but it was dirty! And of all the things I forgot was earplugs and goggles! Of course, it was expected to be dirty since it was a dirt track. But did I mention it was c - o - l - d !
Some of the best races of the night were the DIRT big block modifieds. What a show they put on. Watching Brett Hearne go to the back because of a flat and then work his way through the pack was sight to see. A lot of passing and some three wide racing! But in reality, there is no comparison to watching the late models and DIRT modfieds on television and seeing them in person.
Daryn Pitmann, driving the #27 Heffner Racing sprint car, won the heat race, then won the six lap dash which determined where they would start in the feature. My son was on cloud nine and I was plesantly surprised! Winning the dash put them on the pole for the feature!
Daryn Pittman took the #27 sprint went right to the lead and held it for fourteen laps before having a lap car take his line. Until this time, the second place car wasn't gaining but holding the same distance. Things happen fast when turning laps just under thirteen seconds and the slight letup on the throttle when the lap car took Pittman's line was all it took for the #27 to go from first to second, where he finished.
Second place, but still, reason to be pleased because a low budget team with volunteers, limited sponsorship, nothing fancy about the deal of coming to the show pulling a twenty-eight foot car trailer behind an older Ford diesel dually pickup and winning a heat race, dash and finishing second in the feature. They ran with the best of the best Saturday night and darn near walked off with all the marbles.
Yea, yea, I know, close only counts in horseshoes but the owner, sponsors, crew and driver all have something to be proud of. They might have finished second to the driver that won the World of Outlaws 2010 Championship, but they beat Steve Kinser, Carl Kinser, Sammy Swindell, Joey Saldana, and some of the most highly funded teams in sprint car racing.
One more race for the #27. Susquehanna Speedway, PA this coming Saturday. A feature win would be a great way for the #27 to end the season.
All in all, there wasn't anything anyone could do about the weather, and despite lousy concession food at the track, it was a great show. WoO and track personnel and officials did a great job of getting the show in. Not only getting it all in but doing so in an orderly and timely manner.
Looking forward to next year.
HEY, VAdirt! Where were ya?
They started with hot laps and got most in before it started to rain and lost the track.
Re-did the track, ran it in, lined the cars up and started another race before it began raining again. From there, things went from bad to worse. First, a snow flurry (snow flurries in NC? In November?) then hail (Hail? In NC in November?) before returning to steady rain forcing them to call the events of the night, off. Announced racing would resume Saturday starting at eleven which meant two days of racing jammed into one.
Saturday morning, did not use grandstand seating but went to the pit area, met my son, and all the guys on the team where he is an associate sponsor. Didn't get to spend much time with him as he was pretty busy working on the car and those guys are really focused. Figured it was bet if I stayed out of the way and back in the shadows.
And make no mistake, it was c - o - l - d !! One of those "lazy wind days," where the breeze goes right through you rather than around you. For awhile, I thought I was being a wimp with the cold, but after speaking with people from Massachusetts, Syracuse, NY and, Pennsylvania, even they were complaining about the cold. Now I didn't feel so bad.
Chose to stand in front of the big signs between turns one and two. The team trailer was parked behind the Simpson sign where I could go stand by the generator to get warm between races. Had to jockey for position as a lot of others spectators had the same idea. The location for watching the race was good but it was dirty! And of all the things I forgot was earplugs and goggles! Of course, it was expected to be dirty since it was a dirt track. But did I mention it was c - o - l - d !
Some of the best races of the night were the DIRT big block modifieds. What a show they put on. Watching Brett Hearne go to the back because of a flat and then work his way through the pack was sight to see. A lot of passing and some three wide racing! But in reality, there is no comparison to watching the late models and DIRT modfieds on television and seeing them in person.
Daryn Pitmann, driving the #27 Heffner Racing sprint car, won the heat race, then won the six lap dash which determined where they would start in the feature. My son was on cloud nine and I was plesantly surprised! Winning the dash put them on the pole for the feature!
Daryn Pittman took the #27 sprint went right to the lead and held it for fourteen laps before having a lap car take his line. Until this time, the second place car wasn't gaining but holding the same distance. Things happen fast when turning laps just under thirteen seconds and the slight letup on the throttle when the lap car took Pittman's line was all it took for the #27 to go from first to second, where he finished.
Second place, but still, reason to be pleased because a low budget team with volunteers, limited sponsorship, nothing fancy about the deal of coming to the show pulling a twenty-eight foot car trailer behind an older Ford diesel dually pickup and winning a heat race, dash and finishing second in the feature. They ran with the best of the best Saturday night and darn near walked off with all the marbles.
Yea, yea, I know, close only counts in horseshoes but the owner, sponsors, crew and driver all have something to be proud of. They might have finished second to the driver that won the World of Outlaws 2010 Championship, but they beat Steve Kinser, Carl Kinser, Sammy Swindell, Joey Saldana, and some of the most highly funded teams in sprint car racing.
One more race for the #27. Susquehanna Speedway, PA this coming Saturday. A feature win would be a great way for the #27 to end the season.
All in all, there wasn't anything anyone could do about the weather, and despite lousy concession food at the track, it was a great show. WoO and track personnel and officials did a great job of getting the show in. Not only getting it all in but doing so in an orderly and timely manner.
Looking forward to next year.
HEY, VAdirt! Where were ya?
