We were doing great in the Summer Clash 250 at Scotia Speedworld on Saturday the 12th….sorry for the late response, did get our show and race reports done though.
We stayed in the top 14 all race, even looking like we could get a top 10 in this long tough race.
On lap 234, we were done a lap or two, but next to get the lucky dog, when the RR trailing arm let go causing the car to go into a wild spin entering turn 3. Most cars got around us but two were unable and hit us on the drivers door and front nose.
I was okay but the damage was extensive. We finished 16th.
Sone of the parts included: the radiator, left upper control arm, left tie rod, heim end, all the front end brackets, hood pin bracket, RF rotor, and rad air box.
Once all the parts were gathered, we worked hard and long getting the body back together. It was the second wreck in a row, and the same damaged parts.
We fixed all we could, but the cost for this one would be double or more, than our crash in PEI.
Bob Landry was a huge help coming over every day to help fix the body. It’s now Thursday and we just finished the slugging and other than cleaning, ready for Riverside International Speedway’s Summer Sizzler, the East Coast International 150.
Special thanks to all my crew. Bob of course, plus Chris White, Jack Lynds, Shannon Riley and Gabriel Lattie. Buttons roamed the shop always finding and pawimg me to pick her up…and you know I did.
Our next race is this Saturday, hoping we get it in, lots of rain AGAIN in the forecast.
Pray for those poor souls in Hawaii.
Thanks for visiting our site…..God bless you.
Quaker State Team On Display At Scotia Speedworld’s Thursday Show & Shine
We had our car on display this past Thursday for the Summer Clash Show & Shine event held at Scotia Speedworld. There were big trucks, food trucks, Classic cars and lots of race cars. We stayed from 4 until dark. I got to meet lots of fans and mingle with my racing buddies. Here is a picture with a little fan who got one of our autograph cards.
It was a good night. More on the Summer Clash 250 later this week.
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Remember Jesus loves you.
Good Progress Being Made On Repairs
We have put a lot of hours in so far to get our car fixed. My excellent crew have been a huge help as always. Though this wasn’t a severe wreck, these cars are so sophisticated, it doesn’t take much to make the repairs a long process.
So far repairs and parts have included:
*Radiator repair
*Both left upper and lower ball joints
* New LF Fender
* Rad duct (fixed last years)
* Hood repair
* Many body braces
We are making great progress though and I am truly thankful for the help I am getting from my awesome crew.
God is good.
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BJ’s 150 At Oyster Bed Speedway….Very Disappointing For Us
It was one race I was really looking forward to. Short track, love the atmosphere and run well here. After struggling to get the car set up we finally were flying by our heat race and feature. We were using 180 lap tires for practice, a budget thing. We couldn’t get to the lap times we had the last time here on June 17th, not at first. But with many changes after each set of hot laps we were getting closer but still not where we wanted to be.
In our heat race we started 5th and finished 6th. That put us 16th of 18 in the 150 lap feature. I called my son David who was watching the race by paying for it and streaming it on line through Tim’s Motorsports. David called me after the heat race verifying what we knew, that our car was pushing, hurting us getting a good run off the corners.
We agreed on a few changes our team had already made but one David added was something I hadn’t tried on this car. We increased the stagger and were going to raise the pan hard bar to help the car turn better. David agreed with both of those things and suggested raising both sides of the pan hard. I had never raised the inside before but decided to take his advice, plus he is a pro and had many championships and feature wins.
After raising both sides we were ready for the feature.
Our car was very fast, allowing me to drive deep into the turns and get good bite coming off the turns. Unfortunate3ly it only lasted 6 laps. Driving hard into turn one one the bumper of the field of rockets, a sudden crash happened right in front of me and I had no where to go. We took the worst hit of the year, putting us out of the race.
The damage is repairable, naturally, but I was heartbroken wanting to do good on this short fast oval in a car that was very quick.
We have a lot to do this week, but work has already begun and we should have the car ready by Thursday.
This Ashton Reekie picture was 4 laps before the accident…racing with Stephen Lively…whom I got into when he had to stop quick.
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We Finish 9th at Petty International Raceway…Plus Win “Hard Charger”
We also won the Hard Charger Award sponsored by Kenny U-Pull. God is so good.
Best Feature Race Since Coming East…..Petty International Raceway July 22nd….9th In Feature Plus Hard Charger Award
Wow, we had our best race since coming to Nova Scotia and racing in the East Coast International Pro Stock Tour. We removed the bump stops a few weeks ago and keep seeing better results
with a more consistent car to drive and set up. I have taught my crew how to set up this car, and along with their through maintenance program we are seeing good results for our team.
At one point in the feature we ran 5th for close to 30 laps. With 10 laps to go in the feature we were still 7th with my body screaming from exhaustion. I would lose two more spots in the dying laps but come home 9th and solidify our top 10 points standing.
Our next race is July 29th at Oyster Bed Speedway and we hope to have another strong run there.
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Saturday July 22nd Petty International Raceway Race #6 For The East Coast International Pro Stock Tour
This weekend is a mess, like most around this country. We’ve had cold and damp the past 6 weeks and a ton of rain this month already. This Saturday in the Fleetrite 150 at Petty.
It’s been calling for rain all week and so far some Friday night races have been cancelled.
Our race is Saturday and again rain is in the forecast. Sunday looks good but that brings a predicament for me. July 23rd is a big event for our family, Aunts, cousins and my own children.
Both David and Shirley along with my grand daughter Lauren and her boyfriend Adam have flown from Ontario, along with many other relatives for a Celebration of Life, family get together.
It was planned many months ago and I let those organizing it know that I am hoping we don’t get any rain and have a rain date on Sunday. It’s unfortunate for me and those who want to see me, I could be racing while they are gathered for this family celebration recognizing our Uncles and Aunts who have moved on…my Dad is also on the list.
Sunday looks beautiful but we don’t know for certain about the rain date until Saturday morning sometime.
Our team is 10th in points, we have a streak of 881 consecutive nights. I’m hoping we race Saturday, but if it is cancelled I hope Sunday is postponed although that is unlikely because there are not many Saturday nights open for the rest of the season, to get this race in. The struggles of a committed racer.
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IWK 250….Draws Over 10,000 Fans To Riverside International Speedway
I was run down, tired and weak for the biggest race of the year on the toughest and fastest track. We didn’t qualify well and would start 24th of 26 cars.
My crew were very good again as usual and the Fan Appreciation saw long line ups for our car, that truly was a blessing and nice for us to see.
Carson Hocevar dominated the day setting fast time of 26 cars, winning the Dash for Cash and leasing most of the laps. Unfortunately he spun while leading the race and was involved in another
mix up later on. Never met him before but he is a true gentleman and great racer.
We were 3 laps down by lap 200 and shortly after that cut a right front tire and had to pit under green putting us way down. We would continue though and finish the race in 17th with
no damage to the car.
Our next race is this coming Saturday at Petty International Raceway. Rain has been in the forecast all summer and could change the date for this race but hopefully not because there is going to be a Celebration of Life, Family Reunion for the Elliott’s on Sunday at 1:pm in Economy Nova Scotia. If Sunday becomes the rain date that will be too bad….but you all know where I will be.
Two Weeks Off Is Unlike Me….But!….Biggest Race Of The Year Next Up
With only 5 nights so far in 2023 it will be a welcome site for us to get a bunch more races in by Mid August. Usually by now I have 8 to 10- nights of racing completed, but things are different when you only have one car….for now. We are hoping to get some Sportsman series races in this month and maybe more in August and September, that’s the plan.
Meanwhile the most prestigious race is next, the IWK 250 at Riverside International Speedway on July 15th.
This race will draw 12,000 fans including campers, it’s by far the biggest show on the fastest track in Canada. Speeds of 200k will be reached by most every team.
Wee have raced this track twice before moving here, twice in 2020, three times in 2021 and 2022 with four scheduled for this season.
I am hoping and expecting to have our best IWK 250 for our team. We finished 21st in 2016, 19th in 2017 and last year we crossed the line in 14th. The reason I am looking forward to our best finish yet is based on how we did on June 10th, finishing 10th and on the lead lap. Our new set up should make the car easier to drive and if I can stay on the lead lap we’re hoping for a top 7, but a top 10 for sure, and that will be with a field of 28-30 cars.
I will make another post about this race next week and report on our visit to Atlanta Motor Speedway for the Quaker State 400. We will be in the VIP lounge with all the staff of Quaker State in the US and some from Canada. Going to be a fun weekend.
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Race #5 In The Books……Struggled At Scotia Speedworld June 24th
It was a very hot day, but needed badly after so many days of April weather both cold and rain wise. It seemed like October the past month, but this day was
very hot and majorly hot in the race car.
I was really looking for a great run at Scotia after having 2 really good nights previously. I have struggled at this track trying to figure the right line to take.
It seems I can’t be consistent at all and that is troublesome for me because, though I don’t have to win, or be on the podium to have a fun night, I do want to be competitive and
try to finish all 150 laps…and they can be grueling on a hot day.
The disappointment for me was getting the car to corner consistently at both ends of the track. I was up and down and perhaps went too far on changes.
My goal was to reach lap times in the 14:4’s but it wasn’t too be. Even the fastest cars were barely getting 14:3’s, but we did hit a 14:6.
More changes before the heat race only served to slow us down.
The good news
* We finished 13th of 16 cars
* We finished 149 of 150 laps
* We got the lucky dog
* My crew worked hard to get the car better during the feature
* Not a mark on the car
We are now 10th in the standings and looking for some better finishes in the next few races.
Up next is the IWK 250 July 15th at Riverside International Speedway. We had our best race there on June 10th. We will check our notes and get the car back to that set up.
We are off the next 2 week ends unless I can get a ride in a Sportsman on July 14th or next weekend.
Thanks to Ashton Reekie of Wingnut Productions for this photo
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