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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
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