Starting the 2008 NMRA season off by electing not to attend the first 2 races made my chances of winning my first NMRA Championship near impossible. The last race of the 2008 NMRA season would be held at Bowling Green, KY. Even with wins in Milan, Joliet, and Columbus, I needed many events to happen in order to win the Championship. Not only do I have to win, there had to be 4 rounds of racing (9 or more racers), and my main competitor Tim Matherly had to go out prior to the finals.
Debbie and I arrived on Thursday for tech inspection. We also prepared the car for first round of qualifying on Friday. During tech inspection I also weighed the car. I knew from testing the prior week that the car should weighed 3175 lbs. As I got on the scales to my surprise the scales read 3215 lbs!!!! Where the heck did this come from? I began to ask other racers what they felt about the scales. The ones I spoke with said the scales were heavy also. Since my minimum weight is 3150 lbs, I then proceeded to take out 50 lbs from the areas I felt best.
The first thing on my check list for Friday was to weigh the car. I drove on the scales Friday morning and weighed 3165 lbs. The scales showed to read heavy just as they did on Thursday. On to qualifying we went. I was aware that there was going to be 9 competitors in Real Street which would give me the 4 rounds that I needed. Qualifying in the proper spot was important because I had to make sure that I would line up against Tim prior to the finals if we both made it that far. During my first round of qualifying pass I shut it down early because of I wanted to get a feel for the track and just put myself on the ladder. After the run I fuel checked and scaled, which showed 3165/3170 lbs. The scales showed to be staying the same. When I arrived back to the pits I downloaded all my data. The data showed the clutch was too aggressive for the weight and conditions. Deb and I then changed the clutch and made some suspension adjustments for 2nd round. These adjustments got us ready for Saturday.
On Saturday, just as we did the prior days. I weighed first thing when we arrived at the track. Once again the scales showed 3165. Because of 9 racers showing up, I knew the best case scenario would be for Tim and I to qualify #1 and #2. In the second round Tim ran a 9.60 @ 141 and I ran a 9.632 131 putting us in the #1 and #2 qualifying spots. I shut it down early because of a vibration in the transmission that just did not feel right. Not sure what the problem was I felt it is better to be safe then sorry. After downloading my data I made changes in tune-up and got ready for 3rd round of qualifying. In the 3rd round I ran 9.61 @ 139 and Tim ran 9.59 @ 139. After the run I fuel checked and scaled. Once again the scales showed 3165/3170 lbs. When I was driving back from the scales I herd some rattling coming from the transmission. Unsure of what it was I knew that something was wrong. We put in my 3rd transmission and something did not feel right with the 3-4 shift gate. We then took it back out and disassemble two transmissions to make a good one. Deb and I worked on the transmissions taking them in and out all night until we got it right. With Tim qualified #1 and myself qualified #2 my chances of winning the Championship were still alive!!!! If Tim and I were to win first and second round we would have to race in the semi finals. Let’s get ready to RUMBLE!!!!!
On Sunday I did as I did all the previous days. I weighed the car first thing in the morning. To my surprise the scales showed 3145!!!!!! That was 20 lbs lighter then the previous days. So I added 20 lbs to the car. The first round of eliminations I received a bye run when my opponent was not able to race. In that run I had thought that I had solved my problem with the 3-4 shift gate, but it still did not feel right. We then proceeded to put in my 4th and last transmission. Tim had a bye run so he advanced also. Second round I had another bye run. I knew that if I faced Tim in the semi finals, not only would I have to beat him I would also have to set the record. After we changed the transmission I gathered all my data and made my best guess to try and set the record. During the 2nd round run I shifted into 4th gear and the transmission let go completely!! It was like a bomb went off in the transmission. I had to be towed back to the pits. I was all out of working transmissions. Once again the JPC Team came through for me again. Mike Washington took the transmission out of his car and handed it to me. We put it in my car and got ready for the semi finals. I then found out that Tim came up light on the scales and the win was awarded to Jim Pickel. With Jim winning the round and Tim going out prior to the finals, all that was left was for me to win the race and I would win my first NMRA Championship. Jim Pickel came up to me and said his engine was damaged and he would not be making the semi final round. In the semi final round I coasted down the track just slowly shifting into all 4 gears to make sure everything was good. Everything felt good. Now I was to face off against Kevin Scott. Kevin was running consistent 9.90’s 10.0’s. I felt that if I could get a clean run and make it through all 4 gears I would win the race. When the tree came down I left the starting line with the wheels in the air and shifting into 2nd gear. The shift light came on and I made the 3rd gear shift. I was out in front and all I could think was make it into 4th gear clean and stay together. The shift light came on and I made the 4th gear shift. It went in clean and everything felt great. I was yelling in the car at the top of my lungs as I crossed the finish line and the win light came on my side. I proceeded to scale in at 3165 lbs and fuel test passed also. This sealed the deal. I had tears of joy that I had finally won my first Championship.
Debbie and I are still in shock today that we finally have won the Championship. We will enjoy this feeling forever. Debbie has been the missing link to me winning my first Championship. Her drive and dedication to racing is as strong as mine. I want to thank her very much for all that she has sacrificed for me and this passion of mine. I would have never done it without you. You are the best!!!! We also want to thank everyone and every sponsor that made this possible.
. Also looking into a Strange Engineering 9" rear end (need gear selection). Also going to get new hood. Same size cowl, just new. My current one is pretty beat up.
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