W

 

W

 

W

 

Outfoxed at Michigan... | More >> | 2004 Recap Archive | 2003 Race Archive

Start - 9th | Competitors - 19| High - 1st | Low - 13th | Finish - 9th | analyzer report

Repeat after me, track position is important, track position is important, track position is important, there's no place like home, opps, wrong story. The story of the evening is the strategy that went awry. Actually, it was a sound strategy but the complexion of the race didn't play into the teams favor. Early pace setter Dan Bailey ran into problems on lap eight and all of the teams ducked into pit lane for tires and fuel. At the time of the caution the AMSOIL Chevy was maintaining it's ninth place starting place and ducked also. After some discussion on the teams radio, the crew chief called him in to top off the fuel. There was an intense amount of dicing going on in the first eight laps and after six cautions in the spring race, it was a safe bet to ride in the back, save tires and dodge the big one. It seemed like a good gamble at the time; that is until a long green flag run started to unfold and Kevin found himself behind the lead draft and almost fifteen seconds in arrears to the leader.

Having about five more laps fuel then the rest of the field, the gamble would have paid off if the oh so common caution flew for someone messing up getting on pit road. It wasn't to be however and after leading five laps, Kevin ducked in and filled up with Sunoco gasoline and bolted on four fresh Goodyears for the run to the finish. Exiting the pit in twelfth, it looked like another dismal, out of the top ten, finish for the team. Good fortune would shine however as another caution did fly with eight to go. The teams and drivers prepared for a green-white-checker finish. One of the most dangerous scenarios in racing, a green-white-checker often results in a steaming mass of race cars against the outside barrier. Anything could happen and it did. Kevin was tucked in behind Jim Allen when exiting turn two for the final time when Jim scraped the wall, lost ever so little momentum, and was nicked from behind by the ECI Express. The resultant bump send Allen spinning to the inside grass. Kevin kept his foot planted in the throttle and gave it the old college try off turn four as he challenged Grant Farrow to the line.

More >>

 

 

 

Outfoxed at Michigan ... | << back | 2004 Race Archive | 2003 Race Archive

Kevin Inglin, the pilot of the AMSOIL Chevy had this to say after the run:

"Sometime circumstances dictate a finish more so than the actual on track performance. Such was the case with that run right there. We ran strong, had one of the fastest laps of the race but ducking in and giving up that track position turned out to be a bad move on our part. We had it in our notes not to give up track position but didn't follow our game plan. It was a bit hairy in the beginning and I would have put money on more cautions. Good thing I'm not going to Vegas anytime too soon.

We had one opportunity to capitalize on our fuel mileage strategy but everyone got off and on the pit lane cleanly and without incident. We had a heck of a battle going on there with the 97 of Shawn Miles and 55 of Grant Farrow. We had our own 'race within a race' going on and everyone raced smart and clean.

I learned something here in the spring race about going low on a restart. I got burned last time here when several cars got to my inside and I slipped a couple of positions on one of those last lap shootout deals. I got a good head of steam, made some purchase on the inside and moved from twelfth to ninth on the final lap. Unfortunately one of those positions cost Jim Allen a good run as we got together off turn two. I looked like he brushed the wall and well, we had no place to go. I was committed and couldn't get off his bumper once he checked up. It's unfortunate and I hope he knows it wasn't intentional. I got through the turn better than him and was just about to hook it left when he slowed up.

Next week we head to Bristol. It's one of those places that can be kind or reach out and bite you. We came way with a top five in the spring and we're going to see what we can do about getting a repeat performance.

One final note. Teammate Dan Bailey hit a rough patch again in the race this week but they have some consolation as Dan put ole' blue on the pole for Michigan. Congrats
to him and his CyberZine crew!

Until next week... "