July 25th, Pete Waddell memorial recap

OK, I've been slacking on the whole blogging thing..can you blame me? Didn't think so. I've been tossing and turning on writing this...and finally decided..yes I am. Our last race at Summit Raceway in Elko, Nevada was both the most exciting and adrenaline pumping race I have seen in years. It was the Pete Waddell memorial, July 25th, 2009. I will first let you read what was posted on the Summit Raceway website (direct link here), which also ran in the Elko Daily Free Press.



"It looked as though the IMCA Modifieds didn’t want the pro’s thinking that they were the only ones that raced door to door until Rookie driver Kevin Nelson got the lead early in the race. Kevin never saw another car except for when the caution came out. Once Kevin was in the lead no one challenged him for it again until the very end when Wade Taylor was on the hunt but ran out of laps before he was able to make a move on the 22k car. This was Kevin’s 2nd career win and both have come in the last two weeks. Saturday night of the Bruce Crowley Memorial was his first career main event win and the Pete Waddell Memorial marked his 2nd.

The Pete Waddell Memorial is a traveling trophy going to the IMCA Modified winner for the night. Kevin Nelson will have the honor of keeping this trophy for a year and then he will have to compete and win again to keep possession of the trophy. If a driver wins the trophy 3 times, they get to keep it permanently and the whole process will start over. The other big mover on the night was the number 85 Ward Amberson who, because of missing the last two races had to start in the rear of field, worked his way up during the 30 lap race for a 4th place finish on the night. Another rookie who has quietly been moving up in the last few races is Dennis Pruitt in the #45. Dennis took home a 4th place last Saturday (7/11) and a 5th place this Saturday. Jim Lester last years IMCA track champion is holding his own with the IMCA group. He had another strong 3rd place finish this weekend."



So here's our chance to tell you what the article forgot to mention. Chris (49C), in his I.M.C.A. modified lead a whopping 26 laps of that 30 lap race in his Big Dog Chassis. Kevin actually did see a two cars, for those first 26 laps and that was the tail end of Dennis' #45 (in second place) and Chris' #49c (in first place). The caution lap was Chris shutting off his engine because he was overheating after slowly blowing out all his antifreeze. Kevin did lead the last 4 laps of the race and Chris congratulated him on his win after the race by saying "you're welcome" *chuckle*, it was in a light hearted manner. Inside, of course, we were wrenching our guts out, that we toasted yet another engine, but who's counting?

Unfortunately the Waddell trophy did not stay in the Steensen family, which has been won 3 times by Corey (49T) and three times by Scott (49K). I like how the article mentions that a driver gets to keep the trophy...but forgot to mention the two people who actually "own" a Pete Waddell trophy.

At the end of another night at Summit Raceway, Bobby (49A) finished 6th and Chris (49C) finished 7th. You can look forward to Corey and Bobby racing at Summit Raceway on August 8th. Chris will be sitting the rest of the season out, that is unless a generous sponsor would love to give him the chance to lead a full 30 laps with a healthy donation for new engine parts!

Hope to see you at the next race!