Post by sportf on Aug 22, 2023 16:03:35 GMT
St. Louis NDRL race wrap up
Wow, our final Victory race at St. Louis was quite a feat with 28 cars and racers showing up to try and take home the trophy. This race also determined the 2023 champion and we just didn't know who that was going to be.
Thursday was just a parking day, but watching some Indy cars test on the oval was fun. Watching these racers come off the staright away into the corner and you would think its going to wreak. But they just zip around the corner and hit it again. Pretty fun to watch.
Friday morning most racers started to show up. Although the middle of August in St. Louy is usually unbearable, this day and Saturday were really pretty pleasant. Nice tail wind breeze both days, and humidity wasn't bad. Good race weather. Of course, if you are addicted to this stuff like some of us, any day is a good day to race.
We got two test hits on Friday evening and I got to watch most of our cars run down the track as I was one of the first cars to run. Gee, I still think we are just a bunch of kids at heart still playing with cars. Big cars, fast cars. Fun stuff. Then we had our snack out and bench race session. Lots of food, lots of desserts, lots of talk. We have over 50 people at this session as we talked into the evening. From there, on to Saturday's race day.
Saturday we had our drivers meeting (more on that later) and then went into our qualfier to put us on the ladder. Weather density was actually pretty good, and a lot of us misjudged that and ran under. Well, still, 3 people ran right on, with Jasson Berens running with a 2 to take the number one qualifier spot.
With two cars out for breakage, no bye the first round. BUT, this did ladder up some pretty interesting pairings on the ladder. First round, Clay and Rosie were matched, Jason and father Russ Berens matched up, and as it turns out, both points leaders matched up in round two. Well, that is the great thing about a ladder.......taint no random stuff here, everybody earns their place.
Round 1
Well, in the last 2 races I have lined up with Bob Westhoff, and today would be another matchup again. Well, when the horn sounded, we were both one of the first pair ready, and Bob gave me the high sign, and on the way to the lanes we go, first pair.
Well, Bob turned on the "dam-it bulb", and I was quite surprised at that. Bob is ALWAYS right there, always on the number, and I get the win. Bob has been racing a long time, and none of us like to see that, but sooner or later, it is going to happen. I go down the track and park the car to run over and watch some racing (some of us had a great pit spot to be able to do that, parked right along the fence).
Next pair, John Hamer and Dalton Bruemmer line up. John cuts a better light than Dalton, and then they have a battle to see who can't cross the finish line with too much stripe. Yeah, I said that right, both run a tenth off the dial trying not to break out, John gets the better of that fight, and John goes on.
Next, Donnie Gaines lines up in his red Dodge. If you don't know Donnie's car, I would say, go look for a red Dodge, you'll find it. It will be the reddest, most striking 64 in the pits. That is Donnie's car. Donnie lines up with Bob Haberberger. As we know now, Bob is going to have a pretty darn good day here. Donnie has been fighting the tree lately, and today will be no different. Donnie will cut a bad light, and can't catch Bob at the top end. Bob skillfully backs out of it to take the win.
Next in the line up, Brian Haberberger lines up with Derek Strait in a contested round. The tower and the computer definitely were askew, the index was probably wrong, and in the end, it was re-run. After all was known, it shouldn't have been, but it was re-run. But, after the re-run, Brian takes the win, and got ready for the second round.
Points leader Bob Lantero lines up his 10 second Mopar against the 65 Plymouth of Stanley Rideout ( always thought that was a cool name). Rideouts Rocket launched first in a 11.00 pass, but completely falls off before the 1000 foot mark. Bob drives by Stanley like he's going to Walmart and drops synch with the gas pedal to coast across first. With a huge huge sigh of relief, Bob gets that win light, and is still in the champ race for the year. Stanley joins the cheering team for all the other racers that are still in.
Next we have David Fuzner and his real T-Bolt number 55 lined up with Jerry Stellrecht's real 63 Plywood real max wedge. Yeah, I said that twice because if you haven't seen this beauty, you should......it is stunning. So, Jerry gets up there and he is going to leave first, First yellow....second yellow,.....third yellow...go.....014 too soon. The Ford moves on, Jerry joins the cheering team for the Berens' gang.
Steve Gantz then lines his 65 Plywood up against Shawn Johnston here. Shawn is way up in points and we all know crew chief and Dad Doug are on pins and needles. Shawn launches just before Steve on a 11.0 against Steve's 10.50. Steve tries to make it a 10.40 pass and turns on the "done right here bulb". I think I heard a sigh of relief from Doug at the starting line. But, me at the 1000 foot mark, I can't be sure. Shawn moves on, and Steve parks his beautiful 65 along side his Chapparral trailer and top kick rig. Done for now.
Next, Jason lines up with Dad Russ Berens in a "how does this happen" match up. Well, qualifying and the ladder will do that, and that is that. Both have close lights, but Jason is able to just stay ahead of that hemi powered Plymouth to take the win, and Russ goes into the cheering section. Jason is going to go on to have one heck of a good day racing. Wow, I wish that was me.
Jon Landwher then lines up with the red 64 Dodge wagon of Kurt TeVault. Kurt got some great press from the announcer all week end long and that is always good to hear. Too bad Kurt didn't hear it too, but he was busy. So, here we have two of the best looking cars at the track lined up side by side. Man, what a sight........we have killer cars, and here are two of 'em right here. But, only one wins. Jon turns on that "stinking done right here bulb" and Kurt goes on.
Next in the line up, Jimmy "gear banging Sox shifting" Ferguson lines up with Jim Hagenhoff. Ferguson launches hard, real hard, as always....but Hagenhoff is right behind him.......too right behind him, and the red bulb ends Jim's day. Always hate to see that, as Jim's launches are fun to watch. Jimmy goes on, Jim does not.
Kevin Miller then takes on Don Bruemmer in a 65 Plymouth against a 65 Dodge. Kevin cuts a killer light (yeah, he does that a lot) and he should be good right there. Don launches with an OK light and away we go. Top end and the finish line is coming up. Kevin is looking, Don is really rolling now, I mean 9.50 against a 11.75 rolling and Kevin thinks he's going to catch him....Kevin breaks out, Don gets the win. Wow, Don, as we know, is going to have a great day here. Kevin joins the cheering team. Well, that is what us Victory racers do, if ya can't win, we cheer those that do.
Then Jeff Blickenderfer lines up with Curt Hoeft's Comet, and is going to try and bump that car out of orbit. Both cut real close lights to each other, but Jeff's light is better. But, there is the "top end problem" and Jeff just can't catch Curt. The Comet stays in orbit, and the 11 second car of Jeff's doesn't. I will see Curt in the next round.
Last, Clay is supposed to pair up with Rosie, but Rosies car got a leak that just don't want to be fixed. Clay gets a bye, and on we go to round 2.
Round 2
Curt Hoeft in his Comet lines up against this writer in round 2. I've got a 10.50, Curt has a 12.25. Curt is a great racer, and I'm going to try and put him out of orbit. I have a better light, but of course, don't know that yet. Curt is screaming at the top end and I don't think I'm going to catch him. I stay into it and just take the stripe, and Curt breaks out to boot. It was close, Curt was just a little too fast, Curt joins the cheering team.
Next in this round, the T-Bolt of David Fuzner lines up with the gear banging guy driving the 63 max wedge, Jimmy Ferguson. This time, things don't go as planned for Jimmy. A slowing pass and a 4 speed shift don't go right, and the Ford takes this round. That is actually a good thing for Shawn Johnston, folks just don't quite know it yet.
Clay Kossuth lines up with his 63 Dodge, real max wedge car aganst Bob Haberbergers Plymouth. Clay's fuel pump has been some trouble today with changing pressures, and that sets him up for a slow run here. Fuel pressure probably went to heck here, and a 10.25 turns into a 10.30+ and that won't take the stripe against Bob's pass. Bob goes on to have a day the rest of us would like, Clay will go home to fix that problem.
Now, the round of the year lines up. Points leader Bob Lantero lines up with second in points Shauwn Johnston. See, this is where a ladder has everything right over this "chip draw" stuff. This line up and positions are all determined by qualifying and that pro ladder. This is racing here, and this is the round that may make all the difference for the whole year for both of these guys. Well, not maybe, but it is the round that will decide. Shawn cuts a better light and launches on his 11.00 pass. Bob launches on his 10.00 pass but just can't catch him. He tries, but Bob doesn't see the win light, and once again, I believe I hear a sigh of relief from the starting line. Doug Johnston, crew chief, father of Shawn, relieved. But, it ain't over yet. Shawn is still 8 points behind Bob.
Don Bruemmer then lines up with his nuclear powered hemi against John Hamer's Barracuda. Yeah, the song "Barracuda" comes to mind. Well, Hamer cuts a good light and he has got the lead at the top end. But, Don's 9.50 pass is coming on strong! But, John has got this in the bag at this point.....except maybe a little 'too in the bag". John breaks out by .008 and astounds all of us watching at the 1000 foot mark. Don goes on.
Brian Haberberger then lines up with Kurt TeVault in a Dodge on Dodge race. Rookie of the year Brian, is just off a re-run, and isn't quite cool yet, car or driver. This doesn't help. Kurt is ready and relaxed. Brian launches, but just doesn't have the light to stay ahead of Kurt. Kurt catches Brian and takes the stripe and Brian goes on to cheer brother Bob in the remainder of the race.
Last guy down the track this round, Jason earns his number one qualifier bye run. He had to get past round one to do it, but he did. This is another point of ladder racing, you get what you earned, and Jason takes a test pass and shows us his skill.
Round 3
At this point, all Shawn Johnston has to do is stage his car to become champ. But when he gets back to the pits after the round with Bob Lantero, he has a flat. Well, let's borrow some tires. Well, that didn't work with the first two cars as those tires wouldn't fit the offset on Shawn's car. Hey, we are running out of time here. Doug runs down to Jimmy Ferguson's pit and says "we got to have your tires!" I'm not sure he asked, but Jimmy understood the situation and jacking up the car commenced. Jimmy's tires are huge in diameter, but they fit, barely. The team work and effort to get Shawn's car to the line was a true testament to this Victory gang. And it all came together for the Johnston team. Shawn couldn't run Bob Haberberger in this round as the tires grew enough in the burn out to rub, so Shawn staged, and cruised down the lane while Bob took the easy win. Shawn is the champ at this point, but the race ain't over yet.
Next pair I line up with Don Bruemmer in a 63 Plywood against a 65 Plywood. Don wasn't really interested in giving me a chance this race. That showed when he hit me with a .004 light. My light was not that close, but it was within .003 at the line. Don goes on, I go to the cheering section.
Then, Jason Berens lines up with the red wagon of Curt TeVault. Something happened here I haven't seen in a LONG time. Curt turned on the "dam it" bulb. Jason goes on, he is having a pretty good day.
Last guy, David Fuzner and his T-Bolt make a bye pass and he takes it easy down the track getting ready for the semi's.
Semi finals
Well, David and the T-Bolt line up with Bob Habergerger. We know Bob wins this round, and he did so with a worse light. David takes a little too much stripe (.004) and breaks out. Bob goes to the big money round, David collects some great semi money, and goes to the cheering section.
Last pair this round, Jason Berens lines up with Don Bruemmer. Don killed me on the tree, and that is pretty much what he did to Jason here too. Jason had a great foot break light, but no comparison to Don's. Don takes the win, and gets ready for the final.
Final round.
Well, we know Don wins this round, how did he do it? Well, Don cut a better light and took the stripe by .03 over Bob Haberberger. And that will give you a win. Both these guys had a great day racing, and the rest of the Victory Gang cheered them on.
Wow, what a season, what a day, what a gang to race with. We thank all that raced with us through out the year, and we all look forward to racing next year. We are Victory, Victory NSS!