After getting the front end knocked off last week, my decision to go through with most of the rest of the maintenance on the car, no crew help until Sunday, etc., preparations went down to the wire (even later than normal).  We would have been ok though even still, but the handle on the make shift pit cart broke while we were getting ready to load.  As late as it was, with the car all but ready for whenever it went to the track, negative numbers in my bank account, bald tires on the truck, trailer, and racecar, general distain for the lack of interest from any crew, stress from the weekly grind of all the preparation, etc., I ALMOST thought that might have been enough to throw the towel in for the week (It’s mid-season, and BMARA still has not had a rainout).  Not wanting to give up on our effort to get into the top ten in points, I did not want to give up that easy though.  At first I did not have a clue how to fix the handle (which controlled the steering on the 1000+ lbs tool box on wheels), but after the obligatory words of frustration, I thought of buddy Ronnie Morse’s welder (which he had left in the shop after some work on the 4-cylinder stock cars this spring).  While I jumped the back fence in hopes of catching the welding neighbor, uncle Tom was able to patch enough globs of weld onto the handle to make it work.  We were finally ready for the hour + drive at 4:52!  I previously noted 4:30 was the latest we had ever left, but did not get too excited, as I knew the car count would be low again and all should have been glad to see us.

Dwight was able to draw and everything, so after getting set up and ready to go, we were ok on making the second session (early ranking had us scheduled for the first round, but I would rather run the latter anyway, as the track conditions are similar to how they may be in qualifying).  Still being the last car to push off, things just did not seem right with the fuel system while behind the pace truck.  Pulling into the work area, I ignored the methonal feeling I thought I felt on my left leg this week (last race, a loose fitting on the right side – excuse previously posted – soaked my right foot) and questioned if Andy again left the notorious rear fuel valve off.  He was confident that he had opened it after he did re-install the fuel lines and pump after I had cleaned most of those components.  However, the officials notice a leak out of the underside of the car.  With only a couple cars before we were to qualify, and having missed the hot laps entirely, we found another loose hose on the top of the fuel pump (thinking I had money early in the week, I had wanted to send that out for inspection/rebuiling and loosened everything.  While cleaning the lines, I normally leave the pump hanging and do not include those connections in my normal nut & bolt check.  Andy put all that back together, and none of us gave that any thought…I did however remember to check the other ends of the lines I was waiting for help on the fuel valves on).

Qualifying:  Anyway, before we went out for time trials, Mr. Dull got the officials to approve a couple warm-up laps.  I could tell right away the track was fast and tried my best to hold the throttle down.  I failed to acknowledge the loss of traction (my car experienced anyway) in the low “qualifying groove” through one and two during the hot laps and (having got away from re-acting with the brake pedal) I got out of the gas on one of the laps there.  I also screwed up the other lap with one blip of the throttle too.  Managed a 15.8 and 15.5 though.  While on the better side of my recent “average”, I knew right away I gave up way too much (quick time ended up being a 14.9).  Not to mention, through-out most of the run, I continued to feel the cold methonal sensation on my left leg…same deal as above, this time the top hose (and last remaining potential)) was the culprit!  Being an idiot, I ran the four laps anyway and then dealt with wet safety wear.

Heat:  Back to working on the set-up, we adjusted the car somewhat to the conditions, but only had worn out RR tires to put on.  I started on the pole, but let Courtney Erfurth get the jump on me from the outside (Mr. Dull and Dwight continued to discuss and chase the notorious fuel issue that inhibits me on initial take-offs, but I was not so sure this was the issue this time).  I did not feel I was asleep at the wheel or anything, but she pulled me going into one.  Conceding, I ran the bottom through one, forgetting about the push I felt during qualifying.  While again letting the car slide out from under me, champion Scott Hatton had to utilize all his skills to drive around the outside of me up above the cushion and all (later, he offered a deserved tutorial in the pit area).  After that, I did get enough of a rhythm going to hold off Brad Loyet and quick timer          Bubba Altig.  It appeared Loyet was going to give me one of his famous “slide for lifes” in turn three, but we were actually fast enough to hold him off.  I was surprised when I noticed the orange car trying to get under me, having forgot that he was in the race.  Apparently he had enough though, as I believe it was just the next lap coming out of four, that I got a tap in the rear.  Heading my position, I all but gave him and Altig the spot, eventually.  I did race fellow stateline resident David Budress for a lap or two, but in the end, I fell all the way to the back.

B-main:  Started outside row two - last.  Chad DeSelle and Budress pulled away at the start (I decided that I still WAS NOT happy with the fuel system on take-off)