Race 2 Sept 19, 2018 – OBRL Keener Farms Truck Series at Michigan International Speedway
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Another Great Day For Racing
On a partly cloudy day with a calm breeze coming from the north at 2 miles per hour. The air was warm at 78 degree giving the track a temperature of a 104 for the cars to run on this afternoon at Michigan International Speedway. A 2-mile track that leads to long green flag runs and great side by side racing with its long and wide track surface.
With a complete field of 42 eager drivers await the green flag. The smell of racing was in the air. To start the day qualifying was fast and #54 Tim Matthews posted the fastest qualifying lap of 40.028 to gain the pool. In second, #67 Steve “Mule” Thomson with a time of 40.269. Then came #87 Brian Glass in third with a qualifying time of 40.278. Next, was #44 Neils “Koni” Clyde at 40.286. Finally, rounding out the top five was #11 Thomas Ogle with the qualifying time of 40.322. Only 0.295 separated the top five for the start of this race.
As the green flags prepared to fly and the drivers getting up on their wheels ready to start. A technical issue proved to set some racers back as the field was not set from the 23 grid position back as the pace car left the track. Racing is a sport of constant challenges and the Old Bastards were not going to let this stop the green flag from dropping.
As the green flag drops the #91 of Kenneth Schulz jumps out slowing and going low starting a chain reaction of the #154 Adam Disselkamp checking and up and slowing the #156 Michael Everhart causing him to take evasive measures where he sought clean race track at the bottom of the track below the white line to avoid contact.
As the leaders began battle, #54 Tim Matthews jumped out ahead of #67 Steve “Mule” Thompson and #87 Brian Glass moved inside #67 Steve “Mule” Thomson to start the race with a little side-by-side action up front. The battle for second would start in turn one and continue through turn 2 as #67 Steve “Mule” Thomson battled on the high side to regain the 2nd position going down the back straight and headed into turn 3 single file. At this point it looked like the top 10 drivers where getting into position to settle in as 1 through 10 fell inline single file down the back straight and completing lap 1
The rest of the pack was still jockeying for position when in the back of the pack #140 Greg Peavler comes off turn 2 and gets loose nearly hitting the #00 of Bill “Pops” Keener and turns into #17 David Trainer on the back straight to bring out the caution at the tail end of lap 1.
With the restart on lap 4 the field was side by side looking like a great restart was about to happen. #54 Tim Matthews lined up on the inside and the #67 Steve “Mule” Thomson on the outside both smash the throttle with the #54 Tim Matthews having a slight advantage pulling about a quarter-truck length before heading into the first turn. Going into turn 2 #54 Tim Matthews pulls ahead and finds himself in the lead going down the back stretch with #67 Steve “Mule” Thomson hard on his bumper going into turn 3. We look like we are settling in as the top 10 once again go single file to settle in. Some jockeying in the back but overall good, hard, clean racing throughout the field.
On lap 5 the #16 Tony “Cyber” Romack goes hard into the corner and the #123 of Vernon Margheim cuts down on him ever so slightly just brushes the @16 of Tony “Cyber” Romac but they both come out unscathed and continue to race with #123 Vernon Margheim in front of the #16 of Tony “Cyber” Romack.
Lap 8 at position 18 there was a battle heating up as the #12 Kevin Rupert was making some moves through the pack passing the #46 Ken Huff in a tight pack with the #23 Joshua A Robinson and the #25 Mike Franklin. The #12 of Kevin Rupert setup the pass on the #46 Ken Huff going into Turn 1 getting on the inside of #23 Joshua Robinson on the backstretch completing the pass in turn 3 and looking to settle in behind the #23 Joshua Robinson.
While the battle up ahead was intensifying the #154 Adam Disselkamp in position 29 gets a great run going into turn 1 and comes out on the back of #133 Erich Braentner pushing him slightly giving him the momentum to pass the #117 of Raymond Caton.
Which brings us to Lap 13 and our first caution where #25 Mike Franklin comes off turn 2 hard and checks up to not hit the #109 Shane Norton on the low line. #25 Mike Franklin jerks the truck to the right hitting #12 Kevin Rupert and the wall. As the trucks get hard on the binders, the #157 of Steve McKlin is collected by the #25 of Mike Franklin and the #23 Joshua A Robinson drives into the back of the #12 Kevin Rupert starting a chain reaction collecting the #46 of Ken Huff. The #93 of Thomas Allmon was hit by the #25 of Mike Franklin who is spinning back on track and the #93 of Thomas Allmon takes a ride on two wheels and slams the outside wall. The #66 of Dode “Hornet” Hoskins seems to have taken little damage however, was still involved in the mayhem. The #91 of Kenneth Schulz almost dodges the bullet but ends up tagging the outside wall getting loose as he navigates his was at speed through the moving parking lot on the back stretch. #3 Peter “KoKo Puffs” KopKo heavy on the binders seems to have missed the action, as he was the first truck through as did the rest of the field from 23rd on back.
The #84 of Ted “Chief”Quincel seemed to have a problem as he was catching the field and slides it sideways coming into pit lane for a solo spin. All other drivers came in for Pit stops. New tires always seem to be the right answer early.
To start the field on lap 17 was #67 Steve “Mule” Thomson, #54 Tim Matthews, #11 Thomas Ogle, #87 Brian Glass, and the #123 of Vernon Margheim rounding out the top five for the restart. As #67 Steve “Mule” Thomson brings them to the stripe. The #123 of Vernon Margheim gets into the back of the #11 Thomas Ogle the #11 gets loose and almost makes it 3 wide but decides it’s a better idea and gets back inline and continue without pushing the issue yet. Double file going into one looks like a solid start to a great race.
Lap 18 there was some great side by side racing between the #154 of Adam Disselkamp and the #110 of Douglas Conro as the #154 of Adam Disselkamp does some door to door banging with a light touch to the #110s truck of #110 Douglas Conro but both come out clean and continue to battle on side by side. Down the back straight. The #110 would win the battle and come out ahead in the end.
Lap 36 Yellow was waved for debris and pit stalls were busy. On Lap 42 the restart consisted of the #54 Tim Matthews, #67 Steve “Mule” Thomson, #87 Brian Glass, #11 Kevin Rupert, And the #4 of Mike “ShraderMan” rounding out the top five for the restart. On the restart the #46 Ken Huff jumps the start and gets into the back of the #148 of Roger Craig then backs off to race the #12 of Kevin Rupert. On the back stretch the #156 Michael Everhart gets a run on the #133 of Erich Braentner and jumps out to the inside and almost collects the #142 of Ken Aaland which takes evasive measures and shoots to the inside of the track below the white line to maintain control and continue racing. Again top ten look to settle in and get into a rhythm to complete the middle portion of this race. On lap 49 some good side by side racing by the #40 of Joel “Tex” Kilburn and the #44 of Niels “Koni” Clyde proved to be exciting and enjoyable to watch.
Between lap 58 and 62 would be pit stops for all. While the #67 of Dwayne McArthur, #54 Tim Matthews, #123 Vernon Margheim, #11 Thomas Ogle, and the #4 of Mike “SchraderMan” pitted it appeared that the #4 of Mike “SchraderMan”and the #67 of Steve “Mule” Thomson came out together followed by a brief pause and then the #54 of Tim Matthews, #123 Vernon Margheim, and the #11 of Thomas Ogle came out in a pack. Group one…. The #67 Steve “Mule” Thomson and #4 Mike “SchraderMan” came screaming around turn 3 to meet the group two consisting of the #54 of Tim Matthews, the #123 of Vernon Margheim, and the #11 of Thomas Ogle (Group 2) to meet up and become one big racing cluster that I am sure will be a deciding factor in this finish of this race. The front group now consisted of the #54 of Tim Matthews, #123 Vernon Margheim, #67 Steve “Mule” Thomson, #4 Mike “SchraderMan”, and then the #11 of Thomas Ogle coming across the stripe after pit stops and starting lap 61
Lap 61 through lap 80 ran in this order and would continue as the #67 Steve “Mule” Thomson made several attempts at passing the #123 of Vernon Margheim but couldn’t get the job done. As stated in the beginning, this track gives us long green flag runs and allot of racing surface with different fast lines to hold off the completion. Track position seemed to win this race, as the completion of the race was static from lap 61 to the checkered flag. Great job from the top 3 #54 Tim Matthews in first, #123 Vernon Margheim in second, and rounding out the top 3 was the #67 of Steve “Mule” Thomson. Great job by all drivers who fought a great battle.
Special thanks to “Keener Farms” for being the main sponsoring of the OBRL 2018 Truck Series
Next week Sept 26, 2018 Race 3 – the OBRL Keener Farms Truck Series heads to Charlotte Motor Speedway for another exciting truck series event. At Charlotte expect dramatic battles with multiple grooves on the 11/2-mile banked asphalt track. However, finding the one that works for you on race day might be a little more challenging. We expect some bumper-to-bumper, door to door racing with a lot of passing. Charlotte is sure to be an exciting race.
If you liked what you read and are interested in becoming a member of a well-managed professional league, where the Rules are clear and strictly enforced. Every race begins with a Pre-Race drivers meeting, Post-Race congratulations and discussion are the norm. Where drivers help other drivers. Driving school is readily available. Not to mention, some of the best virtual online racing to be found anywhere. Go to OBRL.racing to fill out an application to join this great league.
Author
Pete “KoKo Puffs” KopKo #3