Sunday April 29, 2001 would prove to be another exciting day of racing as Stabley MotorSports traveled to Central Pa. Speedway Located in Clearfield, Pa. This would be Race # 2 of the Northeast Region Super MiniCup Series.
To begin with, the thought "If you build it they will come" came to mind as I pulled closer to the gate to the Pit area. This would be the first time that a race with the Super MiniCup cars would take to this monster .588 mile track. My day was off to a bright start since this was a race that I had scheduled. Just seeing 5 MiniCup trailers that had arrived before me put a smile on my face. We had the chance to do some socializing before the gates opened. Once inside we were directed to the turn 4 area where we would set up our pit areas.
Bo Elswick, also an Avenger Dealer, and his family had made the trip from Virginia. They had brought with them one of the Mini Trucks for display. Bo's son David Elswick, a former National Champion in the Super MiniCups, would be taking the grid along with the reigning series points leader David T. Miller also from Va.
As the seven of the eight cars took to the track for practice I noticed the track was a little on the sticky side. Everybody was trying different lines around the track, looking for the one that felt fast. After getting passed on the bottom of the track I jumped right on the back end of the 44 of Elswick to try out the draft and to get a glimpse of his line. The Checkers waved and it was back into the pits for a few changes. At this point I was not sure if I would have anything for Elswick or not, man he was fast! Unfortunately, we only had the opportunity to get in one round of practice due to an accident in one of the other divisions; clean up took a little longer than expected.
Qualifying would bring another surprise. When it was all said and done, I would find myself in the 3rd starting spot. David Miller in the # 94 car had grabbed the pole with a fast time of 23.82 seconds for an average lap speed of 88.84 MPH. In the 2nd starting spot was the # 44 of David Elswick. I knew I would have my work cut out for me. This could be anybody's race!
Starting beside me in the 4th starting spot was the # 20 of Mike Camp from Delaware. Starting 5th was 15 year old David Smith in the # 7. In the 6th spot was the # 9 of 15 year old Jacob Coffin from Delaware. 7th was the # 71 of Alan Shealy from Cleveland Ohio. Beside him was the # 37 of Craig Smith from Bradford Pa.
At the drop of the green I was able to work my way to the inside of Miller as Elswick made it three wide going into turn one. We stayed that way as we entered turn 3. I must have gotten a good run going into that corner because coming out of turn 4, I found myself with a two car length advantage over Miller and Elswick who were running side by side allowing me to get a little distance between us. Elswick slipped by Miller on the outside then set his sights on me! As the sound of "Inside Inside!" bellowed into my ears from my spotter it was only a matter of seconds before I found myself slipping in behind the 44 of Elswick to pick up the draft. Hot on my spoiler was the fast qualifier of Miller. I managed to stay with Elswick for a couple of laps as Miller got a run on me going into turn 1. We both drove into that corner hard, to the low side of the track we went. That part of the track was a little slick, the two of us touched, Miller spun and backed it into the infield as the # 9 of Colffin went high to avoid the 94 of Miller.
Yellow flag was out. Miller was put to the back of the field before the Green would wave to restart the field. Once again I managed to dive to the inside of Elswick and take the lead coming out of turn 2. Going into turn 3 I pushed the button on my steering wheel and told my spotter "He's all over me!" Elswick came out of 4 on the inside of me as we went down the front stretch side by side. We went into turn 1 the same way, at the beginning of turn 2 we were both a little high. We bounced off each other. Elswick dropped back just a little. I could still see his front fender right beside my door. Down the backstretch we would go side by side once again. Coming out of 4 it was Elswick that would take the lead. I tucked in behind him once again. I thought, "man this guy is good." I got a couple good runs on him that would keep me close, but not enough to get me by. As we came around for the white flag lap I tried one more time to close on him. I was about one car length behind going into turn 1. Elswick was a little faster getting off of 4. He crossed the finish line taking the checkers with a car length and a half separating us.
As I have said in the past this is from the driver's seat as seen by me. The finish order for Race No. 2 of the Northeast Region Super MiniCup Series and the current point standings can be found by visiting our web site at http://minicupracing.com
