Re: Most exciting race of the weekend
 

That definitely was a fun race! I am glad that everyone enjoyed it. If only I had thought to tap the brakes just a little.....

Re: Most exciting race of the weekend
 

Got to love the little cars.

Re: Most exciting race of the weekend
 

Bill, Good job! Describe the sensation and how you were trying to figure out the strategy as you watched this CJ in your rear-view mirror. Did you feel you had cut a good light as you moved down track?

Re: Most exciting race of the weekend
 

Hey Jeff, As soon as I picked my spot on the tree and left, there is that split second where you wait to see if the light will go green or red. When I saw green, I knew it was a terrific light. I went through the gears and just just tried to pretend it was a time trial run, so I did not get myself distracted. When I was in high gear, I started looking for him in the mirror and he looked so far away! I immediately thought that he was never going to catch me, but he was coming up on me real quick. Around five feet from the finish is where I started to seriously consider what I needed to do. I was sure I had him at the tree. I figured he had to wait on me for 7 seconds, so the odds of him having a good light were pretty slim. However, I thought I had dialed the car really hard. I had a .59 on the window, then changed it at the last minute to a .57, thinking that was absolutely all the car had. When I hit the stripe, I was ahead by a bunch, but never thought my car would run too fast, so I was sure I was safe. He blew by me so fast at the finish, that I could not even tell who got there first. And then he was gone, I could barely even see him in the shut down area. It was just amazed at how quickly he was there at the finish. My car is slow, but the way he passed me made me fell like I was parked at the finish and was not even under power. When his win light came on, I thought I had dialed too hard and did not run the number. When I saw my time slip, I could not believe that I had broke out. When I passed him on the return road at the scales, he looked over at me and he looked absolutely worn out. He had the "deer in the headlights" look, so I knew at least I made him work for it. He was a real nice guy and did not mess with me at the tree, like alot of the stockers do. Then he goes and redlights in the next round! That is what I cannot figure out. He was able to wait seven seconds and go green. But then redlights in the next round!

Re: Most exciting race of the weekend
 

Congrats to both for a great race,just proves there is a place for new and old cars in nhra stock eliminator racing.

Re: Most exciting race of the weekend
 

How very , very true ! ! !

Re: Most exciting race of the weekend
 

congrats bill -we were all rootin for you[being a chrysler guy] but is what it is-------dave mann ss/e

Re: Most exciting race of the weekend
 

Bill,

I would like to thank you for your rendition of how you saw the race. There is no better way than direct from the racer himself(or herself). While a lot of spectators may not understand a race like that your fellow sportsman and a few of us hard core fans/wanna be racers, DO understand AND enjoy this race just as much as a heads up. You did a great job. Please don't anyone stop racing because you think some folks don't understand.

Re: Most exciting race of the weekend
 

I was lucky enough to be in the suites behind the line watching the race and when those two came up, all I saw was confused looks. I being the former announcer, stood up explained who Bill was and who the mustang was and the factory racecar deal. The next thing I realized was the whole suite was rooting for Bill. Going for the underdog !!!! It was a great race from behind the line, I bet it was even more fun being in the race !!

Re: Most exciting race of the weekend
 

Great story Bill!
Did that CJ make your Horizon move when it blew by you? And since your car is relatively quite, I'll bet you had the best seat in the house to really hear that CJ scream through the lights!
I remember when I first started racing I had a Challenger that ran 14.00. And there was a VW bug that raced regularly. I think mid 21.00's. I raced him 3 times and beat him every time but I had to have everything right to do it.
Love your story!