Race recap 6/20/09

 Jeff made a front suspension change for this week and it really worked out well. The car was the best it's been so far this season. In the heat race he finished 2nd behind the #03 of Scott Moore. The week before, Jeff had passed Moore for the lead in the feature and then was spun, causing a caution. Both drivers restarted from the rear of the pack. This week, Jeff took the lead early in the feature and led for several laps.

He radioed in to the crew that something was wrong with the engine. It was skipping. Scott Moore passed Jeff for the lead and Jeff settled into 2nd place for the next few laps. After a few laps he decided the engine was only running on 7 cylinders, but he didn't think it would blow, so he mounted a challenge for the lead. He and Moore raced side by side for several laps; Jeff taking the outside groove. The car was going very good, although the engine was skipping. With 4 laps remaining, going into turn 1, Moore got into the side of Jeff's car and Jeff spun out in front of the field. Unfortunately, Chuck Colby got collected in the spin and hit Jeff's car in the left rear, ending the night.

Much action followed that. Jeff, having been spun out of the lead by Moore the week before, had decided he'd had enough and went running across the infield to have a chat with Moore. Of course, race officials put the skids on that plan. Jeff and his car went off to the pit and Moore was sent to the rear for rough-riding. During the caution for cleanup, it began to rain and the race was called complete at 31 laps. The car ended up having a bent left rear shock, the battery dislodged and the rear end moved. The engine was found to have a broken rocker later in the week. Mid-week, Jeff was contacted by Doug White.

He had reviewed the race video and had seen Moore get into Jeff in turn 3 and 4 prior to the hit in turn 1 that caused the spin. He determined that Moore had caused the spin. He also told Jeff that Moore had gotten himself a copy of the tape to watch. Hopefully this coming week will be the end of any future conflicts. The engine and car repairs will be done by the end of the week and Jeff is looking for a win this weekend.