By: Fast Time Media
10/26/23… Tulare, California: This past weekend, Drake & his team would make the trip to Tulare California. He’d be in action at the Tulare Thunderbowl on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday Night to take on Trophy Cup 29!
Night one would start out with time trials, he’d go out late in his group & would end up 28th quickest in Group A qualifying. That lined him up to start 7th in his heat race. After another car wrecked, Drake would end up going on to finish in the 6th spot.
The B-main saw Drake roll off from the 19th starting spot. Early on, he’d grab a handful of spots as would start moving forward. As the race went on, the track got dusty & made it hard to race in the back. Drake ended up falling backwards & going on to finish the B-main in 17th.
“In qualifying we weren’t too good, I was running a little too low & just cheating the corner a little. In the heat a guy wrecked at the start so we gained a spot. I was just trying to learn the track & didn’t get anywhere in the heat. Actually passed like five cars or something like that in the B. The track just got dusty in the back & im still trying to learn & figure out this track.“
Friday Night got off to a better start for Drake & his team. He’d go out early & ended up 20th quick overall in Group A for qualifying. That set him up to start on the front row for his heat race. On lap one he’d try & go up top but the top hadn’t come in yet & he fell backwards. A few laps later, he’d have some engine issues & that ended his heat race.
In the B-main, Drake rolled off from the 17th starting spot. Early on, he’d once again start moving forward in the B-main. Drake got to around 14th, but his motor issues returned. Drake didn’t want to cause anymore damage or risk blowing it up, so he pulled off and ended Night Two early.
“We qualified better tonight, ended up 20th which put us outside pole for the heat race. I went to the top first corner but it just wasn’t there & I fell back a few spots. Out of nowhere I had a motor issues & that put an end to my heat race. Went out for the B-main after changing some ignition stuff & it fired off. Made some passes & got up to around top-14, but the same motor issues came back. It wasn’t at bad but I didn’t want to chance blowing it up so I pulled off.”
Entering Night three, Drake would be in the mid 50’s for the points standings. That would put him into the D-main. He started 3rd but every car would transfer. In the D, they didn’t push the car too much as the track was super greasy. Drake ended up finishing in the 3rd spot.
That put him into the C-main where he’d roll off from the 11th spot. He’d rip off some solid laps early as he battled around 10th. Unfortunately, his arm restraint would get caught in the seat. He’d end up spinning backwards into the wall, & getting upside down. That would destroy the car & end his Trophy Cup.
“Started 3rd in the D-main. Fell back to 4th & ran their for most of the race then finished 3rd. Started 11th in the C & was running good laps around where I started. Then my arm restraint got caught in the seat & I couldn’t grab the steering wheel. That put us into the wall backwards & destroyed the car.”
Overall, it was a solid weekend for Drake before a tough ending to the finale. He got some valuable laps at a track he hadn’t been to very often & improved as the weekend went on. Despite some motor gremlins & getting upside down, Drake took a lot of positives out of this weekend.
Drake would like to thank his sponsors; Golden Valley Auto Body, Yuba City Scrap and Steel, Vanlare Steering Repair, and Standley Bros Hot Rods.
Next Race: TBA
2023 season stats: 26 events, 11 features, 0 wins, 4 top-5's, 5 top-10's
Comments