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HMS Update - Wild West Shootout

Our first weekend of the 2013 season wrapped up Sunday night at Central Arizona Raceway in Casa Grande. Although we struggled during parts of both nights I think we leaned some things for slick race tracks with some banking.

The first night we pulled pill 68 to start 3rd in the 2nd heat race. The track was slick top to bottom and the high side was the place to be. I didn't get a good start and slipped into 4th before passing for 3rd a few laps in. After that, nobody made any moves and I finished there in 3rd. Luckily, I still made the top 8 redraw but I drew 8 to start outside the 4th row of the feature. The track had no grip to start the A main and I struggled Saturday night at getting any power to the ground. In the first half of the feature I made my way into 6th place and after that the track took rubber and there was no more passing. I finished 6th and we were disappointed in the run but we had some ideas going into Sunday. The track was the total opposite for the heat race on Sunday in which I started on the pole after drawing pill 18. I got out to the early lead and won the heat race. It was the best the car felt all weekend which didn't surprise me because we have been good on heavy tracks recently but we still have work to do on dry slick surfaces. For the feature I drew 7 to start inside row 4 and the track had gotten dry and black through the middle with moisture on the bottom and very top on both ends. I struggled on starts throughout the race, passing some cars twice but I was able to make it to 5th with a few laps to go. As the track went away I started getting loose on entry similar to the night before but early on I could run the bottom groove pretty effectively, and that is where I made most of my moves. With 2 laps to go I went into 4th place after Royal Jones slipped of the edge dodging lap traffic and that is where I would finish. There were good and bad points during the feature but I'm looking forward to the Winter Challenge in Peoria, AZ at Canyon Speedway Park two weeks from now. It will be the first time out with the newly formed USAC Southwest sprint cars (non-wing 360's) and we will also be returning to the site of last year's Western World where I had some success.

I'd like to say good job to Royal Jones who had a great run going Sunday this past weekend and also congrats to Logan Forler for his two wins.

The Winter Challenge dates that we will be attending are January 25-27 and February 1-2.

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