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Update from the NASCAR Xfinity owner/driver lot
When we arrived at Road America Thursday night about 5pm we were the fifth Prevost in the lot. A sixth was expected, but while driving through Milwaukee on Wednesday it tossed the fan through the radiator. The coach was towed somewhere, parts were ordered, expected today but some didn’t arrive. Finish is now expected to be Monday/Tuesday.
In the #61 Carl Long MBM Motorsports Toyota for the weekend. Crew chiefed by George Church. NASCAR up and comer Timmy Hill has been helping me get fitted to the car.
We qualify late morning Saturday and the race starts at 2pm (CDT). Broadcast is on NBC Sports Network.
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9 Replies
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We will be cheering you on. Try not to bang it up too bad…. 🙂
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Hammer down Dick…
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Dick
inquiring minds want to know!! How did you do? Driving that bus may not be good training for race car driving!!
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Wow Dick! You are a genuine celebrity. Makes me wonder how many other high profile individuals we have here.I try not to Google people because it makes me feel nosey but couldnt resist after your post. I will follow you from now on. So cool. Thanks for sharing!
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Well done Dick, 30th and still running in your debut!
Good to see you didn’t have somebody wad it up on you!
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Thanks for all the fine sentiments.My first NASCAR Xfinity race is in the books. Thinks to Brent Bushu for connecting me to Carl Long’s MBM Motorsports for the ride. I enjoyed working with crew chief George Church, Infield Jen, Timmy Hill, and the rest of the crew.I was doing well during the first ten lap stage. The moderate temp, partial overcast, A/C in the car, and the ingeniously vented seat in the car made it comfortable for me. As I got more comfortable with the car I’m sure my lap times we’re picking up.When the full course yellow came out for Justin Allgaier’s unplanned trip into the turn one gravel trap (lap nine I think) we formed up behind the caution car at 45mph. The car got hot inside because there wasn’t enough air air flowing to keep me cool.I was the first car a lap down as the leaders had just pasted me. I couldn’t hear on the radio where the incident was, so I didn’t run flat out to catch up to the pack. Being a veteran road racer with over 400 laps at Road America I knew the incident could be around the next blind corner or hill. The fast cars behind me had no hesitation to run flat out to catch up to the field as they passed me quickly.I caught up to the field on the front straight. As I was exiting Turn One I was told on the radio I was the Lucky Dog, to immediately pass the field and the caution car, and catch up again. I did it. (This was kinda weird because during both the rookie and regular driver/crew chief meeting we were told the Luck Dog would be released at the Kink to catch up which isn’t enough time to catch up to the field as they are coming to the green.)My hesitation paid off when I came around The Kink and quickly had a windshield full of street sweeper … right in the groove. Hit the brakes hard and was able to get around it. (NASCAR doesn’t use the universal “white flag” to indicate slow moving vehicle on track.)On this lap I realized I wasn’t going to be able to finish the next stage (another 10 laps or 25 minutes, with probably a lap or two under caution and no air circulation). Heat was taking its toll on me ??. So I told the spotters to relay to George I was coming in to get out of the car and Timmy Hill should be ready to get in. So we made the switch under the caution for the Stage Break.Once out of the car I felt fine in what seemed like cool air. The crew gave me water, I headed to the trailer to change clothes and call Cathie to tell her where I was.So in addition to all my Midwestern Council starts, class wins, and Championships; running with SVRA on the oval and road course at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway; one ARCA race at RA (full race!), two ARCA starts at Madison, and the ARCA test at Daytona … I have one NASCAR Xfinity start to my credit (NASCAR should give me credit for the finish and the points). Not too bad for starting racing at 52 and following Chuck King’s advice to run with Midwestern Council!Thanks to John Nelson, Scott Green, and Rich Carlson for spotting. Thanks to Jerry and Elaine Mueller and Brad JJ Mueller … Elaine for pictures and negotiating a last minute addition of a sponsor on the car with NASCAR, Brad for arranging the sponsor, and Jerry for worrying about me.Thanks to all the family and friends who came to watch me race, watched on TV, and listened to MRN on satellite radio.Thanks to my wonderful wife Cathie for sticking with me on my journeys.Now what …
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Looking good out there, Dick. Watched on TV. Congrats!
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Dick
congrats and great memories!!!
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Well don Dick and thanks for the play by play and the pictures. Really terrific stuff!
Harry
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