Hardee's Summer Shootout - Week 10 08/17/04

 

Bill has drawn a 76, 197, 221, 222, 224, 206. 34, 173, 205  tonight "158"

 

Bill Beats Clay In A Close Last Lap Finish for 2nd

  
 

Racing In The Rain Again

      
 

 

 

 

 

 Just before the qualifying race began, the skies opened and the downpour started.  Not only did Bill draw 158, placing him near the rear.  he was unable to get his car to turn, as it's setup was for optimum conditions on a dry track, (the weatherman was not calling for rain), Bill had to settle for 6th place. This qualified him for a 12th place starting position, outside, in the middle of the pack, on a wet track for the feature. The last 2 practice sessions Bill has had 5 career record time laps., so his car was good, although conditions were unfavorable.  Bill paced with, and gained on the leaders throughout the race. On the last lap, the 16 and 40 cars got together and created a race to the checkered flag for 2nd place between Bill and Clay Hair. They raced side by side, out of turn 2,  down the backstretch, through turns 3 and 4, with Bill nosing Clay out for 2nd place. Clay was third. Johnny Sossman won the race, and Clay Hair won the coveted Masters points championship. Johnny Sossman  finished 2nd in the points race, and Bill finished the season in 6th. His strategy had refocused away from the points race as the rough driving penalty from week 6, made it mathmatically unfeasible to finish in the top 5.  After starting 8 of 10 races in the back, earning five top 5 finishes, and racing with these 2 veteran, multi-division champion drivers was a confirmation that Bill can still compete and was the highlight of his 2004 Hardee's Summer Shootout experience.                     

 

Link to Race Results  - courtesy 600Racing.com requires Adobe Reader

  Link to Week 9 08/10/04 Commentary