07.21
MAARA Event 3
Normally a lot of preparation goes into getting ready for a race of this length however this time turned out to be especially challenging. Glenn Jr. had to make a drive to Indiana to pick up a new engine for the #32 and install it before he could race in the event. This was due to a late rules change involving the particular engine that Glenn happened to be using. The other option would have required the addition of weight to the car and a change of rocker arms to his existing engine if he had chosen to leave it in place.
The motor change seemed non apparent in practice with the # 32 posting the 3rd fastest time.
Heat Race
Glenn Jr. started the afternoon to qualify for the night’s race in Heat 3 starting from the 9th of 10 spots on the track in the 20 lap heat. From the start on lap one Glenn had to quickly manuever to avoid the # 24. Gathering it back up, he picked off spots and had moved into 4th by lap 8. He maintained it through lap 15 when the one and only caution of the heat came out. Once back to green, Glenn took third place. Glenn continued to race hard through the remaining laps and finished third earning a spot in the top twelve and a chance to draw for the pole.
Main 200 Lap Event
Glenn drew next to last for his starting postion and pulled 10th leaving the pole for Brian Salisbury #26. However at the drop of the green flag the only thing that most of the field saw was the bumper of the #32 as he passed by on his way to the front. After starting 10th, the first caution was on lap 2 and Glenn was up to 8th. Two cautions later on lap 14, the red flag was out and Glenn was up to 4th. By the caution on lap 25, Glenn was in second place and ready for the lead. They took the green on lap 27 and lap #28 had the #32 lleading the field. Glenn held the lead through lap 41 and after some hard but clean racing with the #47 of Brian Campbell, Glenn fell back into 2nd position. Glenn seemed to be a little better in restarts that the #47 and toook the lead back after going back to green on lap 51. Glenn held the lead through lap 58 and passed it back to the #47. Caution again on lap 86, and as before Glenn recaptured the lead on the green to be traded to the #47. When the competition caution occurred on lap 100, Glenn held the 2nd position. The team was given 15 minutes to adjust on the car.
Glenn started the 2nd 100 laps in the second position. The first caution of the second half came on lap 112 and Glenn maintained 2nd place. Glenn recaptured the lead for the last time on lap 132 and lead through lap 138 when the #47 took it back. On lap #143 caution was thrown and Glenn was ordered into the pits for some reported fluids leaking which the team found to be power steering fluid. Not a surprise to the driver who had been using some extra muscle with the steering for a few laps. On the restart, Glenn was tail end of the longest line. Two laps later in the entrance to turn four, two cars collected Glenn in their incident. This caused signifcant damage to the right front side of the car and finished the job of making and already difficult job of steering now impossible, effectively ending the night for Glenn and the team.
Even though the race was over early for the team, the work definitely was not. Team spirits nevertheless remained high. Glenn said he didn’t feel he would have done things any differently in looking back over the evening. Much time and effort will now go back into making the car race ready again.
So don’t worry the team is working hard and will be back with another “orange and black” attack soon.