Photo Courtesy of Alan Yordy Photography

May 23rd

Source: Dave Byrd Media Relations- John LaFever

 

DAVE BYRD’S WILD WEEKEND

The last minute racing drama of Dave Byrd Racing, teamed with Greg Voight Racing in the SRL Southwest Tour Series race at Madera Speedway in Madera, California this last Saturday May 23rd was nothing short of a nonstop saga. The story line continued with the help from many of Dave’s competitors in the tour series as well as help from many late model teams that pitched in to make it all happen.

Dave Byrd Racing team volunteer, Kenny Whalen, summed up the magnitude of the effort. “Dave is a very popular and personable driver that always takes the time to help with any team”, explained Kenny. “Not only am I here to do whatever I can to help Dave pull off this deal, but there are people from probably six different teams here to help.”

The team hit the ground running in Friday’s practice and at the end of the day was listed with the sixth fastest practice time.

Saturday went fairly well in the limited practice available, but something didn’t seem quite right. That feeling revealed itself in qualifying!

“I got my two laps in and they weren’t all that bad, but something seemed to have changed, then going into turn one on the cool off lap, the rear end just let go” said Dave. “It must have gone off like a bomb in there, the rear end housing was actually puffed out where it let go.”

Dave ended up qualifying ninth fast, with his car owner and team mate Greg Voight qualifying in the 12th position.

After a 6 car invert was drawn, the team cars were slated to start the main event in their qualifying positions.

Dave was sure the story would end here, in that the team did not have a spare rear end housing. Once more the team was humbled by the generosity of the competitor’s in the series. Offers of sympathy came in from numerous teams, but the real eye opener came when Jimmy Pettit Racing offered their spare quick change rear end to Dave.

“Jimmy (Pettit) and I have raced against each other, in a neck and neck battle, our whole racing careers! Then he throws something like this at me” laughed Dave. “Once again, I’m forced to sit down and think about what a great group of guys race in this series!”

Greg Voight Racing crew members jumped into action, disassembling the broken rear end in the car, assembling the replacement rear end, installing the rear end in the car, then resetting up the car and getting it through tech just in time for the main event line up.

The team lucked out again, since it was not an impound race, Dave’s 14 car was able to start in it’s original qualifying position even though major work was completed on the car.

After an introduction on the front straightaway, complete with fan interaction, the field of cars circled the track in warm up laps. Dave reported the car felt good and it was obvious the team had gotten the new rear end mounts back to right where they should be, even though they were under such time restraints.

In the main event, both Greg Voight racing team cars worked through traffic, and climbed as high as 5th and 6th in the first half of the 110 lap race. The team strategy was to take it easy from this point and let the race come to them, while saving some of what the car had to offer for later in the race. This strategy was forced to be altered, just a few laps later, when Dave’s #14 car started having brake issues after a lap 60 restart. Dave had to adjust how he entered the corners in order to not use the brakes. Dave was able to hold position for the next 30 laps, but around the 90th lap Dave had to tip toe around the track. Greg’s #4 car passed Dave for the fifth position and went on with the leaders. Dave slipped back to the 8th position, but was still running on the lead lap. Dave started the lap, coming for the white flag, when the brakes gave up entering turn one.

“It just wasn’t going to turn. It was one of those situations when it seems like you speed up when you are trying to stop” explained Dave. “I’d been nursing the brakes for laps, this time nothing was happening. I stood on the brakes. I mean I literally was standing on the brakes, finally something grabbed, but it felt like only one caliper and around it went!”

Dave ended up being scored in the 11th position, the last car one lap down. Team owner Greg Voight finished in the fifth position.

For all the effort to make this wild weekend happen Dave Byrd Racing proudly recognizes the support of Faith Bumper Service, RH Motorsports, Auto Pro Racing Engines, Smitty’s Towing, Greg Voight Racing, “LA” Fever Logistics, Jim and Pam Garcia, LeadFoote Jim Foote, Kenny Whalen Racing, Rick Garza, JLM Motorsports and Jim Pettit Racing.

Updated June 9th, 2009

 
 


 

2009 Stats:
 3 Starts, 1 Fast Time
    1 Top-Five,
2 Top-Tens         

             Upcoming events:                 SRL Southwest Tour Series            Saturday, July 4th, 2009               at Madera Speedway                     in Madera California
                   

                   

 

 

 

           
 

 

Copyright 2009 Dave Byrd Racing & L.A.Fever Logistics