Somehow 9th

I drove six  hours from Branson, Missouri to make it to the races this evening. My family had a reunion of sorts this past week and it ended on Friday at noon. The trip was very smooth and the weather was great. Ron and Timmy met me at the track with the car.

I started in the front row of the heat race and got off to a pretty good start. I held the third position until the end of lap 4. Then I went into turn 4 a bit too deep and spun out. This is where my problems began. I attempted to keep my foot on the gas and steer through the spin. Let's just say that I was not successful. In my valiant attempt, I burned up the clutch.

As the caution came out, I got back in line in 5th spot with just two laps left. The clutch was slipping as we restarted but I was able to get up to full speed. I was fortunate to catch two cars and finish the heat race 3rd, my best heat race finish of the year.

We decided to put the car in the back of the field for the feature. The clutch continued to weaken each time it was engaged so the worst case scenario - we would finish last and not wreck anyone. I went out for the feature limping onto the track. It was impossible to get up to speed. As the green flag waved I was already a half lap behind.

Two laps in, I was about up to full speed when the yellow flag came out. One car had already dropped out, one was wrecked, my strategy to start in the back worked. The green flag dropped again. This time I was able to keep my speed up. I watched three cars drop out over the next several laps. I had somehow survived for thirteen laps and pulled off a ninth place finish.

This leaves us tied for 4th place at Lee County and finish with our 7th top ten finish of the year. New clutch for sure this week!!