This show was something quite different to a normal race meeting as Sprintcars were the only class on the program along with the Jordan Luck band (Exponents) playing during and after the racing. Unfortunately the weather really tried to disrupt proceedings but determination and a lot of wheel packing got us through in the end.
We had some big showers just before and during warm-up which really softened the track up but all the drivers stepped up and made a great effort to bring the track back to a point where we could race on it. First up was time trails and the Makita/Wynns/Edge Triple X car timed in second quick. Great result considering it’s only the second time we have run this car and the first time run at Cromwell. In our heat race we started from the front row and won the race by half the length of the straight.
Next up was the dash race which was the top 8 qualifiers inverted. This meant we started from grid 7. I took the green and in the first lap tried to go round the outside of a local car and got run wide. So the next corner I tried the same only when passing him he moved out and I got slammed into the wall and ended up rolling down the back straight a couple of times. I don’t think he knew I was coming, it was just one of those bad luck deals.
When I got out of the car it looked pretty bad, but once we got it back to the pit we decided to have a crack at fixing her. As it turned out we had very little time because sprintcars were the only class on the program and there was some urgency to get the racing through so the concert could start. A big thank you to my crew Lee and Codey and also to Darryl Wright, Adam and Broody who were running round all day like mad men and whoever else was hanging off a spanner to get me out the gate (there was a lot!). We only just made it as all the cars had been circulating for 3 laps all gridded up for the start when I finally pulled off the grass to get in position.
I moved into my starting spot of grid 8 and took the green flag. This is always nerve racking as you have fixed the car in a hurry and have not had a chance to test the car. Well I found out we missed a few things….. The bonnet wasn’t fastened down and kept flying up down the straights, we ran out of time to set the toe on the front end so it kept tracking down the straight. We hadn’t had time to set the car up and to top it off I forgot to put tear-offs on my helmet so ran out half way through the race! What a scene.
Despite all of the above we managed to guide the wounded Triple X past some cars to claim the last podium spot in 3rd place. Safe to say we were all stuffed by the end of the day but enjoyed the concert and a few cold ones after. Again a big thank you to Jason Scott for organising the whole show and to Jason and Darryl from the Edge Parts and Performance for putting me in their Triple X weapon for the second time this season.
JMAC
