Wednesday, July 31, 2002
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Wednesday, July 31, 2002 |
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Bad Luck Continues to Plague the No. 83 Camp Fire USA Georgia Council Team
Hello race fans! After bringing you stories of the bad luck we've had in the last few American Speed Association (ASA) events, I was hoping to report good news following this weekend's race held at Madison (Wis.) International Raceway. Unfortunately, an unexpected problem once again wiped away our chances at another victory. Because the No. 83 team does such an awesome job each week getting the cars ready for the race, once the green flag drops I don't give much thought to the possibility of mechanical failures. In fact, our team is so thorough, we spend an extra two hours on the car each weekend following our qualifying session making sure that every part of our car is in top condition. We go over everything from top to bottom, which is what gives me great confidence once the race starts. Unfortunately, the car can appear to be in perfect condition but once the green flag drops anything can happen. I guess that's what we've faced these past two events. Two weeks ago we lost most of our practice time due to a problem with the brake system, while this weekend the fuel regulator failed during the race. We were at about lap 100 when fuel began to pour out of the car. Our crew figured out the problem immediately, but had trouble locating a new snap ring, a piece that makes up part of the fuel regulation system. We ended up locating the part from a team that had already called it a day. We had a great car on Sunday, and I was feeling really confident on the track. With long straightaways and tight turns, Madison International Raceway is shaped like a paper clip. The track is fun to drive because it really tests a driver's ability to save the car's brakes. Hopefully I will have as much fun driving in the upcoming event at Toledo (Ohio) Speedway. Toledo Speedway was repaved last year so our team decided we better test there to get a feel for the new racing surface. Our test session went well, and with the new asphalt, I think we will have an advantage over teams that opted not to test. Be sure to watch the race as it's broadcast live on The National Network (TNN) on Sunday, August 11 beginning at 2 p.m.
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