August 5 - We return to Hays and the heat race was a good indicator of the weekend ahead as Jacob raced side by side with Cheeeseburger for several laps.  It was quite exciting for most of that race until water was spirting from the car as he pulled through tech after the heat.  The boys changed the radiator cap and everything else looked fine but that had me worried.  It did not seem to be anything though. 

Eighteen cars in the feature and Jacob started 3 row inside.  He ran in 4th place for most of the race.  He got spun out getting hit in left rear quarter panel coming out of turn two but the other guy was charged with the obvious and Jacob got his spot back.  We teased him later that he spun in circles about as many times as he had rolled.  Jacob is tiring of the rolling jokes.  The top four cars to finish are top four in points at this track and very few points seperate them.  Jacob was right there with them and while Pfannenstiel got him on last lap coming out of turn four, we were proud of that 5th place finish.  Perfect driving with the big dogs.  He showed his talent racing them clean and never giving them a centimeter!  He left some orange paint on the front stretch wall a couple of times that night.  They can try to push him up but he isn't backing down!  Too much fun to watch.

On Saturday, we travel back to Mayetta.  Matthew couldn't get off work on Friday, but him, Ty and Rylee drove up to meet us there.  Ry had a blond moment when we went to visit Grandma Effie and Grandpa Carl in the stands wondering what had happened to her name on Matthew's car.  They were mudding in the track going backwards, so her name was on the other side.  I teased her that was how she would find out if they broke up - if her name was no longer on the car.  It was a good for a laugh and later, when we were watching Matthew race, I said, "hey - you're name is back!"

Ty and Uncle Rich were both huge help in the pits that night.  We just had a fantastic night with both boys making it to post-tech!  (That means you score in the top 4 in the feature).  Matthew ran first and had 22 cars in his feature.  He drove a fantastic race earning the 4th place finish.  He dodged several wrecks and it was exciting to watch. 

Jacob had nine cars in his feature and started in the middle.  He drove it up to first place and I'm not really sure what happened as he was coming out of turn 2 pretty early in the race, but him and another car got together.  Jacob held on to it but dropped back several positions.  He then drove it up to third and it was looking like that would be it when the front two cars got together and the one spun out which moved Jacob up to second.  Unfortunately, then we ran out of laps or I am sure he would have battled back for first.

Both boys are in tech.  Thanks to RPM for giving us such great motors to be able to race!  What a great night.  Nothing tore up.  That reminds me, Andrew Towne posted some great pics that he took of Jacob's roll.  I added them at the bottom of this page.  Just scroll down:

http://www.crowellracing.com/photos/2011_Season/UpdatesandRollPics/index.html

If that doesn't make you cringe, I don't know what will!  Boys went through every inch and every bolt of the car this past week after seeing those pics just to make sure nothing was bent or goofed up.  It is hard to believe, but the damage is really just the roof and sheet metal.  In the end, the hard work paid off with great finishes.  Hope we can keep this momentum going!  Next weekend, we will return to Mayetta on Saturday and then Wakeeney on Sunday.