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Ty, Amsoil and Daniels Auto Care
The day started off hot and hazy with temperatures hovering in the 90’s. Mike and Dave left the house at 9:15 AM to conquer the 3/8 mile at Old Dominion. I hung back knowing that the weather was not my friend and caught a ride with my brother later that day. As we arrived at the track, I realized that Dave was running his practice laps with the Legends field and quickly ran up the bleachers to watch. It didn’t take long to see that the track was tricky and slick. Drivers struggled to find balance and were having difficulty keeping their cars under control. I watched in horror as Dave’s hands were working the wheel to keep the car off the guardrail. I was impressed as he saved the car a couple of times on the front straight away, which could have easily been disastrous. Although he was running top speed, the car broke loose, and before I knew it, the back straight-a-way guardrail reeled him in. The impact of the crash was so hard that at first glance we were sure the car was totaled. Although I was happy that Dave was safe, I don’t know what hurt more, seeing the car we had just repaired from the previous race wrecked, or knowing that our night was over, or was it?
We contemplated our fate and decided to load up and head home. On our journey home we discussed and debated the events that had just taken place. Dave felt rejected and the need to vindicate himself. Mike, always thinking, suggested that we go to the shop and load up the 52 car and finish out the night. I came to the realization that I had enough excitement for one evening and decided to go home. I knew Mike, Dave and our friend Jimmy Pritt had their work cut out for them and I would only be in the way. Once we arrived at the shop it was like a Chinese fire drill. The 04 car had to be unloaded and the 52 car took its place on the trailer. Jimmy removed the transponder from the 04 car, which had to be placed in the 52 car for scoring. There was talk about what had to be done to the car in order for it to be race ready. Time was of the essence, they had to arrive back to the track before the gates closed and the green flag dropped. Dave had already missed time trials, which now meant he would have to start at the back of the field. It would be a miracle if they arrived in time, prepped the car and started the race.
As I waited for the call to come in telling me they had arrived at the track on time, something kept playing over and over in my mind. Mike had made a comment that stuck with me throughout the evening. He said, "we are racers, we don’t give up, and that’s what racers do!" Although at first I did not understand, later I interpreted it to say, "I know we are better than this, we owe it to ourselves and our sponsors to put on a show and that’s exactly what we plan on doing." As a mom I could have easily insisted and encouraged them to wrap it up and come home, but as a mom of a racer, I understood the driving force behind the need to RACE!
Finally, the call came in at 5:47; they had arrived at the track with minutes to spare. I could hear the adrenaline in Dave’s voice. I offered a few last words of encouragement, told him to be safe and wished him well.
I paced the floor and noticed that the clock ticked slower than usual as I waited for the final outcome. The story, as told to me, was as the green flag dropped, Dave drove through the field during the 30 laps and took his practice car from 23rd to finish in the 13th position. The race would not be without incident, the Ty, Amsoil, Daniels Auto Care, 52 car would be involved in an accident. A car would spin out on the track causing a pile up, which Dave was collected in. He simply had no place to go! A lot of beating and banging went on for several laps. Several cars spun out during the race, and there were two incidents involving wrecks in the Legends division. This night would be filled with trials and tribulations, but despite track conditions, we did finish the race.
