Re: The heat is on!
ok... so you have heard what a blast Watkins Glen was. Truly a phenomenal weekend. I've been doing this for 3 years and never saw such intense competition.... such close battles... so many cars so close together. Man those cars were moving quickly!
So what happened in the Expert points battle?? We could have a photo finish on our hands next weekend! Read on.
Daniel Herrington did nearly as much as he could to sew up the Championship this weekend. Two Expert wins. A P2 and a P3 in the Champ group... "this kid really makes things happen out there". I never saw such awesome restarts. In one, he went from "warming his tires" to "bat out of hell" in one swift move. Kudos!
His new point total after drops of 332 is 4 shy of a lock on the championship. Fortunately, for some of us, the boy is scheduled to take his SAT's on the weekend of the finale! Wonder where he'd rather be?! I tried to talk him into coming... but I'm not sure he will.
That leaves two of us who can mathematically take the lead. Chris Cook hit the ground running with a P2 on Saturday behind Herrington. I was right behind. But watched him and Jimmy Locke battle for a second too long. Forgot to brake going into the Toe!! Did a rim shot allowing Casey to get by on the inside. Later, Mayes took me to school on National level racing and passed me IN THE CHICANE!! How cool. I finished 6th.
On Sunday, Cook got caught in a heated battle for P2 with David Casey. With 2 laps to go... I got a nice draft on the back straight and made a double pass for 2nd. Casey then blew the Chicane and a podium opportunity. I held Chris off for the next lap and a half, before he got tangled up with another car (J Locke?). I finished 2nd, Cook 7th.
In the Saturday Champ group, I had a great run with Pork Chop. I promise you, the distance between our cars could not be measured! Twice I passed him in Turn One, only to be passed back in the Chicane. After Matt and Peter took each other out (where else? in the Chicane!... did I mention that I got pelted with rocks as Peter tried to extract himself from the gravel at full throttle?!?!) I passed Bill again heading into the Chicane on the last lap. He tried REAL hard to get me between the Toe and the Heel... to no avail! P4 for me! Well actually no... in the pits we are informed that I passed under yellow! Even Bill can't believe it!! We were so tuned into each other, it went un-seen. Damn. 20 second time penalty... dropped to P6. Bill inherits 4th.
On Sunday, I ran like a man on a mission. Actually kept up with Matt and or Peter for 3 laps. Maybe that was a mistake. On lap 4 Matt's draft sucked me through the Chicane (#$^%ing Chicane!) faster than I'd ever gone. Got wide. Got loose. Turned the wheel to get pointed stright, but spun it and backed it into the wall at 90+. Ouch. Lot's of spectators. Sounds like it must have looked pretty cool! A few said they heard a "pop" as I spun... they thought I blew a tire. I think it was my bowels letting loose! A picture of my car can be found elsewhere on the site. My helmet can be found on my shelf. Had to send it to Arai for inspection. Sorry Mr Auriemma, this thing is toast! As Bobo said... "a new helmet will cost less than 5 months in intensive care!".
Bottom line? P11 for me.
So, after drops, I wind up in P2 with 271 and Cook up my butt with 270!! Nothing short of 2 wins next week will put either of us on the top step. Otherwise... we race to see who is the first loser!
Of course, RJ might have a thing or two to say about that. At 256 points... he can't win, but he could stick it to me or Chris. Watch your backside boys!
Chasing the front 4 is Pork Chop. A mezza mezza weekend for him. Two goose-eggs in the Expert races, but 69 points (yes Bill they counted wrong) in Champ races gives him 237 points. Still striking distance from P2.... with a little help from his friends.
Charles Anti may have had the most miserable weekend of all. He went in third and came out 6th. Scoring 4 points in 2 races will do that to a guy. Sorry Charlie!
Jimmy Locke... decided not to be left behind also. His 45 point weekend gives him a total of 220 points. A miracle could save him, but I wouldn't count on it. There are a lot of hungry guys with their eye on the prize between him and a trophy.
In summary:
Herrington 332
Auriemma 271
Cook 270
Smith 256
Hammer 237
Anti 232
Locke 220
GOOD LUCK TO ALL!!
|