Kratzer Brothers Rule!!!

This It has been the most unusual week for racing since I first began. To make a long story short, it was Friday afternoon and I did not have a car to race that evening. My engine was at the engine builder. The engine that the engine builder had loaned me did not fit into my car. We had our backs against the wall and many points to be lost.

Timmy had an idea late Thursday night. He said, "I wonder if Dean Kratzer would loan you his car to run." I knew that it would be a long shot but worth trying. I called the promoter to find out the details of the rules to ensure that it could happen. He informed me that I had to take a green flag lap in the heat races to gain last place points.

So I called Dean and explained my situation. He did not hesitate,  "I would let you do that, but the car got tore up at Burlington last week and it is in pieces." He went on to tell me that he had planned to come by the shop early and try to get it running for hot laps in preparation for Burlington on Saturday.

I told him that we could come up and help him get it back together. So Timmy, Ron and I piled in the car and headed to Donnelson. When we got there we saw a car with the entire front end apart and dismantled.  The four of us over the next hour and a half got it ready to race. At six thirty we pulled it into the pits for hot laps.

Dean hot lapped it and told me I was good to go. I was to go out and complete two laps and then pull in and that is exactly what I did. No problems - no contact just two slow laps to gain my points for qualifying.

Here's the craziest part. Only eight cars showed up for my class for that race. I finished with another top ten finish and only lost a couple of points, maintaning fifth spot. I gained a couple of new friends this week. I got to know Dean and Kenny Kratzer in a new way. I really appreciate them coming to my assistance when I needed it. I hope someday I will be able to return a favor for someone else - pass it on.