Race 3 Sept 26, 2018 – OBRL Keener Farms Truck Series at Charlotte International Speedway
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It’s 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 92 degrees for the trucks to run on this late afternoon at Charlotte Motor Speedway. A 1.5 mi (2.4 km) quad oval track that hosts NASCAR racing including the prestigious Coca-Cola 600 on Memorial Day weekend and the NASCAR All-Star Race just to name a couple.
With a complete field of 43 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 for the second race in a row of 30.171 to gain the pool. In second, #43 Bruce Pearson” with a time of 30.220. Then came #128 Brad L. Bothwell in third with a qualifying time of 30.267. Next, was #77 Michael Margheim at 30.282. Finally, rounding out the top five was #50 Michael Hensley with the qualifying time of 30.284. Only 0.426 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. The #43 of Bruce Pearson has trouble on the outside line not getting a solid start and both #53 Tim Matthews and #128 Brad L. Bothwell in the inside line jumps out ahead about 6 truck lengths before entering turn one. The rest of the field seems to get an even start as they dive into turn one 2 by 2 throughout the field.
As the field sorts itself out on lap one the #17 David Trainer in position 37th starting the race drops down to serve his green flag pass through penalty from a previous race as the old bastards continue to jockey for position to complete lap one. On the backstretch the #17 David Trainer rejoins the field and finally gets up to race speed coming out of turn 4 sliding into the 39th position one lap down. In great position should a caution fly to get that “Lucky Dog”.
So far on lap 4 the drivers are showing some patience as most racing is one on one and a lot of give and take is taking place. Position 1 through 5 are single file with a good battle-taking place at position 6 with #50 Michael Hensley on the inside and the #66 of Dode”Hornet” Hoskins outside battling from the back stretch on lap 4 across the start / finish line finally settling it out on the backstretch where it all began on lap 5 with #66 coming out ahead and looking for his next victim
Back in the pack on the backstretch #3 Peter “KoKoPuffs” KopKo looks to the inside of #16 Tony “Cyber” Romack going to the inside. Driving into turn 3 hard and on the inside of #16 Tony “Cyber” Romack. The #3 Peter “KoKoPuffs” KopKo slides up mid corner and leans on the #16 in turn 4. Knowing that door banging on this fast track is not, what we need this early in the race the #3 lifts the throttle and retreats behind the #16
Lap 6 proves to be just as exciting as the #48 of Greg Peavler looks inside the #01 of Rob Connors on the from straight. Hard on the throttle into turn 1 #48 gets side by side with the #01 pushing just a bit wide coming into the start of turn 2 and brushed the right front bumper of #01 of Rob Connors. Some tight racing by some talented drivers.
As we see some drivers getting into a rhythm and laps are now counting down we find the #154 Adam battling with #11 of Thomas Ogle on lap 16 on the front stretch coming out of the dogleg. #154 goes inside the #11 and rides up just as #11 Thomas Ogle is peeking out to the inside of #14 of Eddie Jones colliding with the #154 Adam Disselkamp and spinning him into turn 1 where he locks the binders but still comes up the track and hits the outside wall in turn one. #6 of Robert L. Vinning cannot miss as he T-bones #154 in the middle of the track and gives the #18 and #75 nowhere to go. The #48 brakes hard but just gets into the back of the #75 causing front-end damage but seems to be one of the lucky ones through this one.
However, as the drivers’ catch up to the pace car on lap 17 mayhem in turn one unfolds. The start of the accident is unknown but seems that the field simply miscommunicated and several drivers were collected. One could only assume it started with a rear end collision and went downhill from there. Bad luck for the #54 of Tim Matthews that was in position 1 when the mayhem started.
Pits are open and everyone on the lead lap comes in for fresh tires and fuel to keep these ponies running strong. Coming out of the pits the order has changed with #128 Brad L Bothwell in First on the inside of #66 Dode “Hornet” Hoskins in second. Followed by #23 Joshua A Robinson in third next to Josh “Dean” Geer on the outside. #50 Michael Hensley gets to round out the top five, as we get ready to receive the green flag to restart the race.
Lap 20 the anticipation mounts as the field slinky’s down that back straight and into turn 3. Coming out off turn 4 everyone is tight and ready to go racing. GREEN GREEN GREEN the spotters yell, as the drivers hammer the throttle crossing the finish line 2 by 2. #128 Brad L Bothwell jumps out ahead before turn one and leads the pack from position 2 through 6 2×2 and then single file back to position 10 where the #43 Bruce Pearson damaged slows the outside line. Everyone behind him looks for clean racetrack to get around the #43 of Bruce Pearson. #43 Bruce Pearson retires to the pits ending his day as the pack rolls out in front of him as the front pack from position 1 on back remain 2 by 2 settling in and jockeying for position once again.
Lap 23 the #96 of Quentin Waynick gets a run on #177 Raymond Caton off turn 4 but #117 slides down and contact is made loosening the #117 of Raymond Caton having him chase the truck high and sending the #96 low looking for open real state to regain control. The #117 Raymond Caton gathers his truck and lives to battle another day but not before relinquishing several spots to calm the situation and a friendly apology for slamming the door on a faster truck. A veteran move by a classy driver.
On lap 32 the #50 Michael Hensley seems to get a run on the #16 of Tony “cyber” Romack coming off of turn 4. #16 Tony “Cyber” Romack will have none of that as he fights back on the high side all the way down the front stretch and into turn one where #50 Michael Hensley gets in a little hot and slides up close to #16 Tony “Cyber” Romack for some door banging side by side racing in the corner. These boys should know that the sharks could smell the blood as #4 Mike Schrader watches these two side by side just waiting for the right moment to attack
Then it happens, As they go into turn 3 the #16 of Tony “Cyber” Romack holds the #50 Michael Hensley down while the #4 Mike Schrader comes up on the bumper of #16 Tony “Cyber” Romack and they both gobble up the #50 Michael Hensley going down the front stretch. The #11 Thomas Ogle following the train through picks up the scraps and passes #50 Michael Hensley where #50 Michael Hensley finally is able to get back into line and is able to stop the bleeding.
With the loss of momentum #16 Tony “Cyber” Romack is a sitting duck and #4 Mike Schrader makes his move going into turn 3 and setting up a pass on #16 down the front straight and completing it going into turn 1.
Lap 59 #95 David Desjardins hits the outside wall in the dogleg and comes across the track sliding it sideways low and comes back up on track as the #17 David Trainer cuts through the grass to avoid the accident. The rest of the field gets through unharmed. As #95, David Desjardins comes to rest high on the track just before turn one bringing out the caution.
The pits are busy as mostly everyone comes in for fresh tires and some needed fuel. Out of the pits the field has been shuffled as #74 Shane Norton is leading the pack with #23 Joshua A Robinson in second, #128 Brad L. Bothwell in third, #67 Steve “Mule” Thomson in fourth, and rounding out the top five for the restart is #12 Kevin Rupert bringing us to the green flag.
The field is set and the belts are tight heading to the start/finish line. The green flag waves and the top 4 jump out ahead of the rest of the pack while the rest of the field is 2×2 and getting up to speed. #74 Shane Norton goes into turn one in the lead. With #128 Brad L. Bothwell tight on his bumper as they exit, turn two to go down the backstretch.
#128 Brad L. Bothwell is pinned low by #23 Joshua A Robinson who got a good run off turn 2 and #74 Shane Norton slid up leaving #128 Brad L. Bothwell all alone on the low side. #128 Brad L. Bothwell fights back going into turn 3 and fights back against #74 Shane Norton where #128 Brad L. Bothwell gets the position in turn 2 and slides up into the outside line going down the backstretch on lap 66
Some great racing all through the field as we are still 2×2 from 2nd position back throughout the field. Finally, drivers are getting into a rhythm and counting down the green flag laps.
On lap 81 at position 8 #4, Mike Schrader dives into pit road alone for fresh tires and a splash of gas. Coming out in position 19 #4 Mike Schrader is betting that this may be just what is needed to finish this race should it remain green from this point forward. Only time will tell.
There was great racing throughout the field from lap 70 on. Some give and take and patience we find ourselves at lap 92 where the #16 Tony “Cyber” Romack after pitting finds himself setting up a pass on the #17 David Trainer a lapped car where he looks underneath but he can’t hold it and slowly slides up into the #17 of David Trainer in turn 4. No harm no foul as they both come out unscathed.
Lap 96 brings little excitement as the #157 Steve McKlin slides it sideways trying to enter the pits on old tires. With the #157 not in harm ’s way, the race remains green as the drivers have their sights set on the big prize at the end of this race.
On lap 99 brings a lot of radio chatter as the #23 Joshua A Robinson runs out of gas as well as #58 Michael Everhart and others who estimated incorrectly exactly how much fuel it would take to make it to the end of this race.
#4 Mike Schrader does not stop and continues to roll the pavement as the #12 Kevin Rupert in position 2 sputters on the backstretch on lap 99 and must pit for fuel.
#4 Mike Schrader finds himself in position 5 on lap 99 still pushing hard and never giving up. The radio kicks in and the #91 Kenneth Schulz is heard “I’m Out Of Fuel”. Music to #4 Mike Schrader’s ears. As we cross the start finish line for the last lap #4 Mike Schrader is still making his way through the field. Passing #23 Joshua A Robinson in position 4 going into turn one. Then passing #88 Gary Corbett position 3 who is out of gas on the backstretch.
Still with the hammer down #4 Mike Schrader passes the #67 Steve “Mule” Thomson in position 2 at the entrance of pit road who is coasting to the start finish line Giving #4 Mike Schrader the win and a well played ending to this fantastic race.
Like a well-played casino game, #4 Mike Schrader rolled the dice and comes out on top with #93 Thomas Allmon finishing 2nd and #128 Brad L. Bothwell coming in 3rd. Great run top three and a fantastic race by all
Special thanks to “Keener Farms” for being the main sponsoring of the OBRL 2018 Truck Series
Next week Oct 3, 2018 Race 4 – the OBRL Keener Farms Truck Series heads to Iowa Speedway for another exciting truck series event. At Iowa expect dramatic battles with multiple grooves on the 7/8-mile 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 banging action with possible high emotions. Either way Iowa should prove to be an exciting race.
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Author
Pete “KoKo Puffs” KopKo #3