This past weekend saw Eric race at Beaver Dam Raceway and Angell Park Speedway. Beaver Dam didn't start so well. Eric fired the car after we arrived at the track. I didn't notice anything, but he said it didn't sound right. One of our friends, it was either Tim Zellmer or Wayne Hutchison later told me, "It sounded like a Modified."
Eric scrambled to the Mueller pit, who suggested it was a carb issue and sent him to Warren Ropp. Warren had a new carb and since Justin had to work at his "real" job a little late, Eric, Bill, Brady, Mary Jo and Stephanie had to change the parts out. Warren's wife, Denise Ropp came over to help also.
We didn't get it done in time for the heat, but it was set to go for the feature.
Eric started 18th in the 22 car field. On one restart he was in 19th. But he did a great job of avoiding three spins and made a couple of good passes to finish 13th.
AND THEN THERE WAS ANGELL PARK...
As most of you know, Angell Park Speedway is our home. There's nowhere else we want to do well at, especially with so many people there cheering Eric on.
This was a Wisconsin Legends Racing Dirt Series Event and their formula had Eric on the pole for his heat. He took the green and led every lap. The veteran and previous feature winner at APS, Warren Ropp tailed him the whole way and got under Eric a couple of times as Eric tried to hug the bottom. Eric cut Warren off at least once, but Warren backed off keeping them both out of trouble. Eric thanked Warren after the race and Warren confirmed that he was concerned about wrecking Eric. Eric knew he cut Warren off because Eric's buddy Owen Leatherberry sent him a video of the race right after it happened. "I'd won a heat last year at Beaver Dam, but this was Angell Park," he told Warren, "I really wanted to win here."
Cody watched the track prior to the feature and Justin figured out the set up. Eric started on the pole again and led about six laps. He was hugging the bottom and survived a caution or two and ended up 3rd. It's his best Legend feature finish ever, 8th was the prior best.
Thanks to everyone for the words or notes of congratulations.
The vast majority of sponsors and people who have had a hand in the car were in attendance.
As always, a big thanks goes to all of our sponsors: Dog Guard Out of Sight Fencing, Storage & Handling Systems, Quest Civil Engineers LLC, Club LaMark (Madison’s Race Car Bar), Bullseye Games, BRS Radiator Machine & Fabrication, Ground Up Lifts, Wilcenski Farms, Grandpa Blumer, MyRacePass and Blumer Antiques.
And thanks to the crew and those who have had a hand in the car this year: Justin Hoium, Cody Weisensel, Mike Hughes, Greg Leatherberry, Joe Wipperfurth, Brian Benisch, Bill Tefft, Brady Kruchten and Stephanie Blumer.
Also, thanks to Bill and McKenna Berg, John Huss, Lyle Fox from our neighborhood and Chris Eull (one of Eric's first sponsors in the karting days) for stopping by. Lastly (and we're sure we forgot someone) it was special to have Eric's God Parents, Craig and Deb Bursaw in the stands.
It's a BDR/APS double header again next week.
Stand by for a new sponsor announcement on Wednesday!