With just six races completed, I feel satisfied with my progress. I also feel very fortunate that I have been able to concentrate just on racing and not have to worry about prepping my racecar while at the track. Working on your own car has its advantages, because everything you work on, change or repair delivers a sense of accomplishment. Not having that as a way for me to pass the time between sessions on track has been difficult though.

Pocono International Raceway is a track I arrive at with some trepidation. It's not the driving on a banked oval, but past memories of what's happened during my races haunt me. The infield section of the track has also seemed cobbled together and it seems that every two years, the track layout changes.

This year was no different. Two years ago, they adopted a clockwise direction around the track, utilizing the same infield, front and back straights as before and now, a new infield section where NASCAR Turn 1 is. The original infield has always been bumpy and more like an autocross, every driver just wants to "get through it" and get out. The newly added infield is very fast, smooth and has a nice flow to it, which you can tell by my compliments, I liked.

Practice and qualifying

The weather forecast for the weekend was not favorable. Although the cooler temperatures were a relief for many easterners, the hovering clouds foretold wet conditions.

Being a double national weekend, I opted not to do any testing beforehand. I also didn't know about the new configuration of the track, so I thought I would be fine without the seat time. I was wrong.

Running the old infield in the opposite direction consisted of corners with no real visual cues and also a lot of slow down, point and shoot. Not a good combination for me or the SRF, where use of momentum is preferable. Of all the turns I was struggling with, Turn One proved the most annoying.

With it's high speed entry off the front straight, off camber exit leading into a very slow left hander, most of the racers I spoke to felt it was their least favorite. Practice was exactly that, I had to learn the new "track".

Getting into the car again felt comfortable, it ran very neutral and fast with the cooler, damp temps. Qualifying went fine, with drafting and getting onto the straights my big priority. Using the same strategy as previous weekends, I positioned myself to run with my teammates, hoping that we could all help each other out. I was able to stay close, but Turn One was still not a comfortable place for me. I tried many lines, and settled on one that resembled the line I used going counterclockwise. The result: I qualified 9th out of 23 cars with a 1:47.00 and would hold for the second race if it rained for the second qualifier on Sunday. I was pretty happy because I was right in the thick of the most experienced drivers.

Saturday--Raceday--Race Five

The clouds had gotten darker and SRFs were Group 4. We had all the warmups and three races before we raced. It started drizzling early and all of the warmups were in the wet. Seeing an opportunity to figure out the rain line, I went out and posted a cautious, but respectable 1: 56. The rain stopped for the start of the races, but the clouds just circulated around the track. Since we are a spec class, all of the cars would have to be on either dry or wet tires.

Group three got through their race mostly in the dry, with sporadic drizzle. On went the dry tires and up to the grid we all went. The Pace Car didn't have gas, so they sent us out without one. As we approached the last two turns before the back straight, we saw that the drizzle had left that portion of the track pretty wet. I was glad I had gone out for warmup. As we came around for the green, the field really checked up for a very slow start. As the green flag flew, I darted way to the inside on the straight and was able to pass a couple cars before Turn One.

As others were jockeying around, I stayed in line, preparing for the wet portion of the track. Knowing there was a lot of grip to the inside of Turn Five, I was able to brake deeper and pass another car onto the back straight. For the next four laps, I was able to improve my position again before the rain started in earnest. Visibility became a real issue for me, and when a car went off the track in a bad spot, that brought out the black flag on lap 6. In pit lane, I realized I was in 5th! They held us there for a long time, trying to let the rain lighten before sending us out again. Believe me, I wanted the race to be called right then!

Well, my wish wasn't granted. With one pace lap, we all headed for the green flag again. I could see the flag and as it fell, was able to move past another car before Turn One to 4th spot. In warm up, I saw that a lot of water runs across the entry of the turn, and was prepared for it at the start. But then I spun coming onto the front straight. In search for grip, I had found a line onto the straight that was allowing me to open up on the others, who were still close. I was driving defensively and ran across wide portion of a paint stripe and the back end started to come out. As I was still trying to catch it, I saw the line of cars behind me and knew if I didn't stop it, I would take someone out or hit the wall. So I let it go and five or more cars passed by.

I rejoined, not too far back, but as the race wore on, the rain would lighten and then pour, making the river at Turn One change. Cars started to go off there regularly and eventually, I joined the crowd.

Not once, but twice!! I was so frustrated, but wasn't about to give up. After regaining some lost positions, I radioed for a lap count. My visor was almost completely fogged and dirty, the Rainex had worked for a while. Coming around for another lap, the checker fell and I was

simultaneously glad it was over and bummed that I didn't have a chance to get some of my positions back. I finished the race in 10th spot and with the fourth fastest time!

Sunday--Raceday--Race Six

Woke up to a partly cloudy day, but the threat of rain gone. I was happy and ready for another chance to improve my qualifying time in the dry. The track was greasy and I was struggling with an oversteering car. I knew I didn't have a good session but felt better hearing that my teammates were all struggling with the same thing I was. A couple guys qualified better and my previous time held which left me in 11th for the start.

This time, we had a Pace Car and the pace to the green was faster, keeping the cars farther apart. I didn't score as well as Saturday's start, but was able to hold my position into Turn One. Turn

Two was much more crowded this time, and with a little love tap from one of my teammates, I pressed hard to make something happen. By the time we all got to Turn Five, the lead group started to open a gap. I got a good jump onto the back straight and was able to pass a car there. Still working with an oversteering car, I was passed by Andy Shobel and teammate John Steinmetz. They took off and opened up a gap in Turn One. I was still too tenative there and it showed. My strong point was sticking with people in the infield sections and onto the back/front straights.

With Shobel still in front of me, I noticed his car starting to smoke. As it got worse, I also noticed a stream of fluid behind him. He didn't notice and kept pressing hard, with myself and Shepley in pursuit. It was definitely oil, as I got loose coming off the back straight. Finally, he realized what was happening and pulled out of the way. I was intent on catching the cars just in front of me, and noticed that Steinmetz was behind me again. As we went into Turn One side by side, I was trying to stay with him, but the edge of the track was coming up fast. My left rear tire was just riding on the edge of the pavement as I watched Steinmetz bobble. Finally, the tire dropped off the pavement, sending me around! I rejoined in 24th (last) after everyone went by!

My crew radioed looking for me and I told them I spun and asked how many laps were there. I had 13 laps to work with, so I put my head down and managed to reel in my competitors one by one. It was a passing fest, with me concentrating so hard to get back up to the front. Not knowing what my position was and not really caring, I saw Steinmetz again as I was heading down the back straight for the final lap of the race. I caught him easily, but coming to the front straight, he moved over to help me out. I finished the race in 9th! I found out later that his brakes had seized and even though he was going full throttle, the brakes were slowing him significantly.

On to MidOhio and Mosport!