Miller Motorsports T1 Race - My second national race weekend -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- OK, here is the video from the Sunday race. I got some strong constructive critique from some on my Buttonwillow National driving, although none of it was as strong as my own critique, so I am interested to see what folks have to say about this one. I think I drove great in this race. I was 4th on the grid. Mike Lewis was #1 in a GT-1 car, Mike Pettiford (T1) was next to him, and third on grid was Amedee Moran in his ST car. When the green came out Lewis was gone. I tried to hang with Pettiford and Moran, but lost a little ground. We all qualified ahead of three other GT-1 cars and a couple of GT-2 cars and as we approached turn 1, one of those 700 horsepower monsters pulled up next to me on the inside. I got stuck behind him on the whole first lap even though I was running faster than him. Every time we hit a short infield straight I would watch him gap me again. Ahead of him I could see Pettiford and Moran putting on more and more distance. I was thinking I needed to do something quick or I would be out of contention. Fortunately I got my chance at turn one at the beginning of lap 2. I braked late and jumped on the gas hard and early and came out of turn one with a ton of speed. He braked checked me, I am not sure if it was on purpose or if he was setting up for the next turn or what, but it got my attention as I had to take evasive action around his left. Before the brake check I was quickly trying to decide which side I was going to take him on... I just reacted when I saw the brake lights. Once around him I pushed the car and the tires as hard as I thought I could while still leaving something in reserve for what I hoped would be an opportunity to battle for a pass into first place. I just kept driving the car very cleanly and with discipline and nailed all of the turns. In the process I set a new T1 track record at Miller Motorsports. I could see I was slowly reeling in Pettiford, but I knew time was not on my side as these races are short. I was told Pettiford does not make driving mistakes. I could see for myself in practice and qualifying that Pettiford is a good driver and that he does not make mistakes. I was also told Pettiford does not have bad luck in races, never breaks, etc., so I knew this would be a good battle. Well, at about lap seven I was within striking distance and I was just starting to try and figure out how I was going to set-up a pass when a "first" happened. Pettiford loses it into one of the turns and goes spinning off of the track. I would have rather fought for a pass, but anything can happen in a race and I sure wasn't going to stop and wait for him. At that point I dropped way off of my pace. I figured why push so hard I just need to finish a couple of more laps to take the checkered. Plus, I was real worried about my car. A couple of laps before I caught Pettiford I could feel my power-steering failing. It was getting harder to steer and was particularly inconsistent on the right hand turns. Pettiford does not give-up. He came back charging hard and he was making ground but I paced it out to be sure I would have just enough to get across the finish line ahead of him. And that I did. I think I probably only had three or four seconds on him at the finish. It was a good race. No carnage and no break downs that I can recall. Like all my races, as a rookie I learned a lot this weekend. I now have 10 races under my belt and I have secured a spot for the championship race in Topeka. That was my whole plan starting in January. I have successfully executed on that plan. I am looking forward to that race in October! Here is the race video: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-1818846122003642177 Much More to come.... Visit again soon!!