Truck
racing kicked off in Victoria BC with cloudy skies hanging over the
brand new racetrack. Tony Pizzaro set the pace stealing the pole from
Frank Womack. After the green fell it wasn't 10 laps in when the #33 of
Ken Joynt and #29 of Ben Geer made contact giving the #29 engine damage.
Geer would manage to complete a few more laps before the damage got the
better of him and the engine expired. Shortly
after the green flew for the 2nd time the caution would be returned to
the track as the rains started to fall just 31 laps into the event.
Trucks were ushered down pit road and tarped as officials worked
feverishly checking the radars. Fortunately it was only a quick shower
lasting only about 5 minutes. Track drying wouldn't take very long as
FDTS officials had brought the Air Titan to assist in this situation.
After track drying trucks would be moved back to the racing surface and
after a quick caution period that found JT Armstrong moving to the point
we were back to racing. Unfortunately J.T. would bring out the first
caution on the green racetrack when he spun leading collecting a few
trucks including TEX Perry's #7. Perry's truck would sustain engine
damage but he would be able to limp it to a 10th place finish. Battles
would ensue up front between series winners Pizzaro and Daniels along
with Frank Womack, Alex Crapser, Tim McDonnell, and Rod Weston making up
the lead pack. As the final green flag pit stops approached Pizzaro
would find himself in the lead when the final caution flew trapping many
trucks a lap down. Crapser would find himself in the hotseat as he was
exiting the pits as the caution flew keeping him on the lead lap with
Pizzaro. McDonnell would be the lucky dog and many other trucks would
take the wave around since they had already completed thier pit stops.
Final green would fly as Pizzaro jumped out to the lead with McDonnell
and Crapser in tow. Pizzaro would ultimately pull away by 1.43 seconds
over McDonnell to take the win uncontested. Trucks
move back to the states this week as preparations for FDTS' first
contest on the Dirts of Eldora on 11-25 for a non-points exhibition race
for Ohio dirt track fans. Tony Stewart has assured FDTS officials a
perfect racing surface for our first trip to the dirt. Although this is
just an exhibition race, racers should be able to enjoy themselves and
relax a little and let the track come to them. Watch for the underdogs
as no one can be counted out for this race. If all goes well Eldora could
end up on future schedules as a points paying event.
Sunday: Sunday Series season opener starts tomorrow night at 8:30 PM ET Monday: Truck Series start time moved to 9:00 PM ET. Thursday: Racing at new track Monza Oval, please practice!
In a Veterans
Day race that seen at least 3 veterans take the green at Iowa. Retired
Navy Seabee Veteran, Dave Daniels, would be the first to the checkered
flag after 175 laps of wild racing action. Vets in the field would
include Dave Daniels, in the #4 Kingsford Dodge. Army Engineer Veteran
TEX Perry in the #7 BadWolf Dodge. And US Air Force Veteran Ben Geer in
the #29 Cheez-It Chevrolet. Dave Daniels would take the pole for this
event and chose the outside line to start the race. Alex Crapser would
jump out to the early lead with Tony Pizzaro and Dave hangin not too far
behind. TEX Perry battled early to try to lead a lap but would fall
short due to the #29 of Geer spinning early. Tex would eventually lead
his 1st lap under caution. Battles would ensue at the restart between
the #10 of Crapser and #12 of Pizzaro with Daniels close in tow. Shortly
after the restart the #7 of Perry would contact the #29 of Geer headed
into turn 3 as Geer was avoiding contact with drivers in front of him.
Both would head to the pits to repair damage from the incident. The long
run would find Pizzaro with the lead and the #31 of Tim McDonnell close
behind. Daniels and 2 place points runner, Rod Weston would follow
shortly behind with TEX Perry and Crapser rounding out the leading pack.
Pit stops would make the race as leaders cycled through under caution
when the #29 spun and eventually retired. Pizzaro would again find
himself in the lead with Daniels 2nd and Crapser 3rd followed by Weston
and Perry. Weston and Perry would find their way by Crapser as quick as
possible to try to close on the 2 leaders. eventually Daniels and Perry
would find themselves at the front. Tim McDonnells solo spin would set
up the final run tossing fuel mileage out the window. As Daniels and
Perry would find themselves followed closely by Pizzaro and Weston to
battle to the checkers. Daniels was asked afterwards about the final few
laps and replied,"I looked in my mirror on the restart and I knew who
was behind me so there was no way I was going to make it easy for
them." Perry when faced with the same questions remarked, "We were in
radio contact the whole race. When Dave and I made it to the front and
the final caution came out, I asked him [Daniels], You aint gonna make
this easy are ya? And he said 'Oh he*l no.' and we both laughed. I knew
he wanted his first Iowa win badly and I'm still looking for my first
FDTS series win and had been really looking forward to getting here. I
really think we had the truck to beat. We just got beat by tires tonight
and a little Dave Daniels magic never hurt either."
Trucks head North to Victoria British Columbia this week to a brand new
track to the series. Preseason testing has proved Victoria to be a very
fast very competitive 2 lane track that should produce some of the best
racing we'll see all season.
