2/24/08

Things could have gone a lot worse in Phoenix this weekend. Just recall some of the nasty race weekends from 2007 to see things in the proper perspective. But after Robert’s win in Pomona a couple of weeks ago, the mood was pretty upbeat when things got started on Friday at Firebird.

But they didn’t really start, did they?

Rain. Not heavy rain or violent thunderstorms or torrential downpours. Just some spotty showers all day that finally stopped, just in time for the temperature to drop too low to be able to put the pro cars on the track. That left two qualifying sessions for Saturday and nobody likes that setup. Four shots are ideal, three is acc

It bit Ashley and the team right where it hurts. She missed the field. I was at the top end when she made her second qualifying pass on Saturday and it wasn’t even close. She tried to keep her sunny side up, but her interview on ESPN clearly revealed she didn’t want to sit out on Sunday.

Robert had to make the field on his last shot and he and Jimmy hit the nail on the head. Mission accomplished. John was already in (#6) when he and Mike Neff lined up for their final qualifying lap and things really got hairy before it was over. We watched the run on the monitor at the top end that ESPN provides and both John and Mike scalded the quarter-mile. Zippy went to the No. 1 spot with his 4.79 and John jumped to the 2-spot with his 4.80.

And almost collected Mike right at the finish line!

John’s Mustang pulled toward the centerline and looked for a moment as if it was going to gather up Mike’s Old Spice car, but the old pro kept from making any contact and the drama was over.

Then, Tim Wilkerson came up in the next pair and spoiled the celebration with his 4.77. But anyone out there will tell you that if you have to lose the low qualifier money to anyone, Tim is the guy you would be most happy to give it up to.

OK, so qualifying wasn’t a home run, and after the first round of eliminations, things had spiraled down a little bit further. Both John and Mike were cut down in the opener—John fell to Scott Kalitta and Mike was victimized by Jack Beckman. Three out of the four team cars off the court with three rounds to go.  But wait, not all the news was bad.

Robert threw a charge into everyone with not only his first round win over Gary Densham, but he crushed everyone else’s qualifying and first round elapsed times with his low e.t. of the weekend: 4.76 in the process! Robert was surely on his way to his second straight win.
Not.

Jack Beckman ran the race of his life—despite suffering from the flu—and beat Robert in the final. Leaving Phoenix with the points lead is nothing to feel bummed about but coming so close to another win with a car that is really beginning to show some signs of consistency and falling short will almost always lead to a sleepless night or two.

Three long weeks will pass before we race again in Gainesville at the Gatornationals. If you’re around a TV on Saturdays, I hope you’ll catch the Russo & Steele Collector Car Auction from Monterey, California on ESPN 2 at 10:00 AM EST. You may see someone who looks vaguely familiar as he describes some of the most desirable collector cars in the world and attempts to predict what they’ll sell for.

And three weeks from now, I’ll be back with more from “In the Groove” after the Gators. Until then, drive safely and don’t forget to buckle up!