August 29 - 30
We start the weekend of racing with three very tired boys.  When I saw the race car, my first reaction was "how did he ever drive it."  Steve replied that now I could see what he was talking about on the phone.  Everything on the front that should be straight was L-shaped.  I don't know how he raced it.  Matthew had told his Dad "If he could steer it, he could race it."  He showed him that was true.  Next came the work to basically cut off the entire front and rebuild it.  Steve had his day job, the boys had school plus Jacob had football practice.  The tools were flying when I got home from work each evening.  When it comes to organization, Steve and Matthew could not be more opposite.  Matthew wants it neat and to work from a logical, organized shop.  Steve is a tornado leaving a trail in his path.  But, the more tired and frustrated they get when something isn't going together, the more alike they become as the quiet, calm introverts yell at each other.  It is quite a show.  Laughter will follow.  Sometimes, it just takes a day or two.

To Minneapolis and home from Minneapolis.  DNF (did not finish).  Matthew was running fourth in the heat race moving up when you could hear the motor give away.  He still finished his heat race - even beat one car.  They worked on it in the pits, but it was bad.  He made two laps in the B-Feature before driving it on the trailer.  Likely a cracked block.  The overheating after the wreck last weekend has lasting effects.  The boys stay up half the night pulling the engine and Steve sees other things wrong as well.  After a few hours of sleep, Steve is back in the shop now putting in a different engine.  Randy threw one together this week as we were prepared to be claimed.  Didn't really think about using it for this!  Going to get it back together and head for Wakeeney.  Posting this blog now to get all the bad posted so later I can write a glowing review of Wakeeney.  I knew we were getting spoiled.  Too many races in a row with everything going well.  This is a good reset for the remaining races of the season.

Matthew has moved up to 7th in the National Points.  He is one point behind 6th!  He has moved up to 4th in the region.  Fourty points separate him and 3rd place, so he just needs to work to hold 4th. In the state, he has 2nd place and is 111 points behind BJ.  Nine races left in the season.  Will be trying to finish those with top five's.

Now I'm off to the shop to see what little help I can be. Steve said that when the boys yell, that is just how they communicate.  If I can't take it, I'll need to leave.  I can take it.  Just would like my yelling to count as communication as well!    

~CBR Mom