Race Report

Claremont Speedway, July 22, 2000

by April May Gelineau

Editor's Note: April May drives an '84 Mustang in the Mini-Stock Division at Claremont Speedway, a one-third mile semi-banked asphalt oval in New Hampshire, U.S.A.

I need to get together with Ward and try to get these g... d.... monkeys off our backs! When Ward was doing good we were doing good. Since the carb busted we have been plagued with a new curse for 2000.

Seems that once we have a problem with something we are cursed with that problem for the rest of the year. One year was fuel lines, now we have braided lines and no more problem. One year was carburetor, the guys figured out how to make that work. This year it is Throttle Linkage!!

The air filter bolt has broken three times which caused it to get hung up in the linkage, and this past week the linkage came loose, turned, and guess what? All of a sudden with about three laps to go, I look at the gauges thinking I lost oil pressure, because I ain't got no power! Everything is okay, but the car won't go, so on the last lap at the start finish line two guys get by me and I finished 7th, which means I didn't qualify and have to start in the back again!!

He along with at least two other drivers was fortunate enough to have an encounter with the same driver I did. Unfortunately for me it happened on lap 40 and when he turned right he turned hard enough to get us hung up together. I guess he doesn't like getting passed. He actually got into and spun at least one other person as they were going by on the outside.

Vic was actually yelling at me because I was giving the guy way too much room and then the next thing he knew I was going around and we got hung up. The wreckers had to pry us apart. As I said this was about lap 40. The wrecker crew said the tire was fine but my fender would probably not hold up. I figured I had better go in and have the crew rip it off so that I wouldn't get black flagged if it started flapping.

I knew that the caution laps only counted for equaling 50, not for position. Right?? WRONG!! The crew got the fender duck taped on to hold it and I got back out just as the field was going green. I look up and see that there are only 7 laps left and figured it wasn't worth going in and then with one lap to go two guys get together in front of me and I finish ahead of them so figure it was worth it… WRONG. One of the guys got DQ-ed for something else and the other guy is shown as finishing ahead of me.

I decide I should be given an explanation and am told I was scored one lap down. I didn't know who won the race so obviously he didn't lap me, so why am I a lap down?? Come to find out the caution laps don't count for position until we get to…..40!! Some days you can't win for trying.

I would NEVER have pitted, would have taken my chances with the fender if we had been told that in our drivers meeting. Oh well. I keep waiting for when my luck isn't always bad luck.

I ended up finishing 12th, my second finish of the year out of the top 10. There is one driver left with all top 10 finishes. One with 1 out of the top 10, and four with 2 out of the top 10. So that, to me, is still an impressive stat as I am one of the four!!

Unfortunately I have fallen to 7th in points by 4 points. Maybe next week we can get rid of that monkey and have some luck go our way. My luck is about like Jeremy Mayfield's right now (his last lap flat at Pocono.) Sure wish it were more like Rusty's (being there when Jeremy had the flat to take the win!!) I still believe that I WILL make it to victory lane before the year is out!!

I would like to thank all of my friends, family, and fans who made it to the show Saturday, I hope you weren't too disappointed! I hope to see you again!

22 Scratch Racing Team
April May (Driver) Victor (Owner)
Mark (Crew chief) Skeets, Denny (Dad),
Support Crew: Beth and Robin
JR crew: Matthew, Kaitlyn and Jenna and Tyler

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