Race Report

WGGT - Round Six - Las Vegas Speedway

October 28 - 29, 2000

portrait of Terri Hundertmark

I just had the busiest weekend in my entire life! I raced this weekend, and then got married on Monday. That's right, married. I will tell you all the dirt later, but now, back to my race report.

Practice didn't go so well. In my second session, on the infield section after the S's, I early apexed and sent my car to cement city. I tried to turn the car but it headed straight on the slick Vegas grass and into a Jersey barrier, knocking it back a foot, and destroying the car. I had to take a ride to the medical center because it hit so hard. As the car impacted the barrier, I yanked my hands off the wheel to protect my hands from being injured from the steering wheel, but in the process, I badly bruised my left hand and jammed my middle finger. (My hand bruises and swells up easily from and old jet ski racing injury). No worries though, my ring finger was ok.

With the help of my friend at KML Racing, I climbed in another car to finish practice, but the day turned to rain, and the remainder of my practice sessions were in wet track conditions. Qualifying was ok. All of our times were so competitive that it was hard to find where I could go faster. I settled into 11th on the grid.

Come race time one of the entrants pulled out and I was gridded 10th, an unfavorable side of the grid at this track. On the start, I got pushed out and five cars got by me. It was my worst start ever! I pushed back, but had nowhere to go so I had to slowly work my way back through the pack. I worked my way up to 11th within a few laps, but 10th place took more effort. She was as fast as I was on the exit on the back straight and after the chicane, so my easy passing spots were blocked off. I worked her for 8 or so laps before I got by her.

I needed a yellow...

She had been driving her mirrors and I faked a pass, she drove off line to block me and spun. By that time, the pack had driven away, and I had to settle for 10th. I needed a yellow to catch up, but it wasn't meant to be. I wanted to finish much better than I did. My parents and brother, and a few friends were in town because I was getting married on Monday. The weekend's wet weather didn't help my wedding plans.

My husband, Dave Popielarz, is a crew chief for CART’s Mo Nunn Racing, and their final race was being run at the same time as mine, but at Fontana, CA. Unlike road racing, CART does not run races in the rain on ovals, so our plans had a rain delay. While in the lead early Monday morning, Mo Nunn’s motor blew up and Dave and I were able to resume plans as scheduled. I was only able to survive such a busy weekend because we really didn’t have Many plans.

Dave and I got engaged the day before I raced in Texas. When we met, which happened to be at the track, we joked about getting married at The Elvis Drive-Thru at Vegas, and that we’d get married if we survived the silly season. Well, the season ended, and our life together is now beginning. We got married at Circus Circus Chapel at the Fountain, and surprised our guests with Elvis singing "Love Me Tender." So "Viva-Las Vegas!" friends, my new name is Terri Popielarz!!!

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