C I C Race Notes

[Pat Joffrion]

Man, what a race. Here it is the Wednesday after the event and I’m just getting to turn on my computer. First, thanks for your support of Sportsman racing. Congrats to Bad Brad Zaskowski for his continued tradition of check collecting at NPR. Our fans really enjoyed the action you guys and gals put on for them. The big rain on Monday night (8-inches in 14 hours) put a damper on our parking and pit prep, but all in all, we got everybody pitted without too much trouble.

Over 500 racers were able to safely make it down the track, with John Brimer and Mike Crutchfield picking up the Wally’s. The sheer number of cars kept us racing into the late evening each day. Attendance is growing, and I have to do some tweaking for next year to make the schedule work a little better.

I am throwing this out for comments. If we ran the free CIC race on Thursday, we could make it open to all entrants, and whittle the competition down to 16 cars, prepare a ladder based on best reaction time, and finish the CIC race on Saturday. I want give the thousands of fans what they want to see, and that is first-to-the-finish-line racing.

My plan is that we can run two qualifying hits on Friday and then go right into class eliminations. We can run first round of eliminations early on Saturday, and then finish the CIC race on Saturday afternoon.

What it all boils down to is this. I never heard of McDonalds telling a customer, “I’m sorry, but we already sold our quota of hamburgers for the day.” I will do whatever it takes to make changes to accommodate increasing entries. By moving the CIC race to Thursday, every driver will have the opportunity to get at least one free hit the day before the qualifying begins.

Finally, I had one racer complain to me that after four days of partying and passing a good time, he was really upset that NHRA ruined his weekend by making him drag race on Sunday. That’s how it goes sometimes. Thanks again for ya’ll support, and we look forward to seeing ya’ll next year.

[GEORGE PETERSON]

Pat,

Thanks for another of the great races that we've gotten accustomed to and especially for the use of your facilities for our engine swap. We really appreciate it.

George Peterson
D/S 4448

[Jack McCarthy]

george, in case you all didnt notice that was a pretty good bullet you guys were putting in when i arrived thursday...

another great time was had by all...
worked wednesday night closed and headed south at about 1am...on the way down, 795 miles alone, $330 into tow gas i was thinking what in the hell am i doing ??
i arrived at 2:45 thursday, i was greeted by the gatekeeper with "your Captain Jack, theres a bunch of people looking for you, ill find pat"... pat parked me and patsy and larry hill picked me up and we were on the bus to the swamp tour and drinking cold beer by 3:15
hell i got to spend 4 beautiful days with friends, won a few rounds (friends who redlight) had a crayfish boil friday night right in my pit area (more friends) had killer bloody marys in the only dragstrip bar i know of (with friends)...my friends zasko & patrick won the CIC race, and wade owens made the final in stock ... i am pretty sure i have answered my question, and i assume i will be back next year for the 10th ANNUAL !!

oh and did i say another great time was had by all

captain jack

p.s. jimmy hutto > sorry i did not wait longer for you, when first track guy said go on up and i took off >> hell guys have waited for me a bunch of times and i should have slowed it down for you... anyway you won !

[BobUnkefer]

Capt. Jack,

You SIR, had a pretty good weekend, Congrats!

Unk

[BobUnkefer]

Pat,

Thanks to you too, for giving us the sportsman race of the year!

Unk