five7kid

iTrader: (14)

The summer season finale for the NHRA division ET qualifying classes was held this weekend at the home track. It has been a 2-day event in the past (points racing only on the last day); this year they stretched it out to 3 days, with the points racing still on the last day. I was running the LS1/4L60E car. Jackpot and specialty races were held Friday and Saturday, not much to report there - I didn't get past the 3rd round in anything. Buybacks were planned, but some rain moved through a couple of times, so they cancelled buybacks to avoid issues with the community running after midnight.

Sunday was the points races. One time trial per class entered, then into eliminations. I was entered in two street-car-like classes. One was a Friday class, called Street ET; I missed the first race of the season so was in catch-up mode all summer, went into the day in 11th place (out of 94 registered for season points). The other was a Saturday class called Run Tuff; I didn't race regularly on Saturdays, only made 3 out of 8 race dates, so I was back in the pack in it (50th out of over 100 registered).

Run Tuff was the first in the rotation to run, and Street second to last with Super Pro and Pro in between (with bikes being the last, and a small class). Each class I was entered in was 7 rounds to win. The Run Tuff class was basically a hot lap run each round, while the car had more time to cool down for Street. So, it ran differently for each class. Pairings are random for the first three rounds, and we're laddered in the 4th based on closest to dial-in without breaking out in the 3rd.

I managed to make it to the 4th round in each class, but because of the way each 3rd round went, I wasn't laddered very high. However, I managed to take out the higher-laddered racers, so by the 6th round, I had a bye into the final in both classes (I managed a bye into the semi-finals in two classes last year at this race).

Oh, in the 5th round, I was laddered with the same guy in both classes (who happens to be the son of the track announcer) - I put a .006 light on him to his .029 in Run Tuff; when I came back around for Street and found out we were paired up again, he asked me not to put another .006 on him, so I took it easy with a .020 (to his .059).

In the Run Tuff semi-final, the pair that had to run each other were running first: one racer red lit, and the other one blew up their transmission at about the 330' point. That meant I won the class without having to make another pass.

While they cleaned up the track from the tranny failure, it started to rain. We were about to run the Street semi-finals, and instead had to wait about half an hour. I decided to run out that bye round, and after the nice cool-down, the car made the quickest pass (for me) that it's ever made at altitude. In the final, I was paired up with a part-time track employee (tech inspector) who has been a multi-time season champion in what they call the street sport compact class - he's running a '93 Camaro LT1 that runs 14.7's at our altitude. Let's just say he didn't have his best light of the day in the final, and I put a fender on him for the class win.

First time that I've been entered in more than one class (which is most of the time when I'm at the track) and went home without having lost a round. I believe I also had the better light each round (my poorest light of the day, the other guy red lit), another first.

The wins moved me up to 38th in Run Tuff (nothing special there), and 4th in Street. They take the top 3 in Street to the division race, but the 2nd place finisher is the one who lost the transmission, and she said she wasn't planning on going, anyway, so that opened up a spot for me. They also honor the top six in Street at the end-of-season awards banquet in November.

The haul from today (the shirt is given out to every racer that enters the event). Well, actually, they gave me a hat for each class win as well...

mikebondi

congrats tim. doubled up even.

1gary

Congrats Tim.Maybe gives you time this winter to get the 57 running again.

five7kid

iTrader: (14)

"More time"? I don't think so. Less time, in reality, since now I have to go to the Division V Finals in Topeka in 2 weeks. Which means I need to get the truck ready to tow the Camaro out there (could drive it, but I don't like the idea of breaking the car racing 700 miles from home and not having any way of getting it or me home). What this did do is basically pay for the trip to Topeka - which is very good...

mw66nova

iTrader: (13)

awesome awesome awesome dude. i'm glad to hear about another successful season from you! i'll get to do some competitive racing sometime next season after the move probably.

mikebondi

great job on making it to topeka. ill be routing for you as always. good luck out there

five7kid

iTrader: (14)

That's what I've been thinking ever since the win light came on in my lane in that last run.

Although I couldn't resist a little arm pump when I beat the same guy twice in the 5th round. Don't know what came over me, I usually don't do that...