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PERRIS, Calif. (Dec. 3, 2013) – Andrew Felker was on point to earn the most prestigious victory of his career before a cut tire derailed him last Thursday.
Felker led the first half of the 98-lap Honda USAC National Dirt Midget Series 73rd annual Turkey Night Grand Prix at Perris Auto Speedway before he brought out the caution on Lap 50 because of the left rear tire issue.
“Definitely bittersweet,” he said. “I felt like we had one of the best cars there through practice and the main night. Honestly, we were pulling away from the field early until the tire went down. We had an awesome car. It just sucks the way it had to end.”
Felker broke the track record before finishing second in qualifying on the half-mile track.
“When we unloaded on Wednesday for practice I think we were within the top two or three every time we hit the track,” he said. “On Thursday we were the first one to break into the 16-second bracket and had the track record until about nine cars to go.”
That locked him into the feature, which he started on the outside of the front row. Felker powered to the lead at the start and quickly distanced himself from the field.
“I pulled almost a straightaway on the field at one point,” he said. “I was on cruise control until we hit lapped traffic around Lap 20. We must have ran something over. Under yellow the left rear tire started going down.”
Felker said the first of several cautions came around Lap 25.
“I held off (Darren) Hagen for two or three restarts,” he said. “We needed a long run. We kept getting cautions every two or three laps.”
Felker maintained the top position for the remainder of the first half of the race before Dave Darland took the lead.
“Darland drove around us on the outside of (turns) one and two and I followed him to the outside in (turns) three and four and the left rear tire exploded on us,” he said. “I knew the tire was getting low. I was trying to overdrive it to keep the tires spinning.”
After the tire blew, Felker went to the work area to replace it. However, the event mandates that a driver is automatically one lap down when he or she changes a tire.
“No matter what if you change a tire you’re down a lap,” Felker said. “The second half (of the race) we ran through the field a little bit. We picked off quite a few cars. We drove up close to the top 15 and then the air cleaner got pushed down and started hanging the throttle. So I pulled off on Lap 80-something.”
Felker ended with a 22nd-place result.
He will compete on Saturday at Du Quoin Southern Illinois Center in Du Quoin, Ill., for the 4th annual Great Clips Battle at the Center presented by K & N Filters with the POWRi Lucas Oil National Midget Series. Felker finished second to NASCAR star Tony Stewart in last season’s event.
“I’m definitely looking forward to getting to Du Quoin,” he said. “I felt like we gave one away last year. I made too many mistakes. I feel like we have a good shot at it this year.”
QUICK RESULTS –
Nov. 28 – Perris Auto Speedway in Perris, Calif. – Qualifying: 2; Feature: 22 (2).
SEASON STATS –
51 races, 1 win, 19 top fives, 34 top 10s, 44 top 15s, 48 top 20s
UP NEXT –
Saturday at Du Quoin Southern Illinois Center in Du Quoin, Ill., for the 4th annual Great Clips Battle at the Center presented by K & N Filters with the POWRi Lucas Oil National Midget Series
MEDIA LINKS –
Website: http://www.AndrewFelkerRacing.
Twitter: https://twitter.com/
VIDEO –
Here is a link to XSANTV’s in-car footage of Felker finishing second at Jacksonville Speedway in Jacksonville, Ill., on April 26: http://youtu.be/tSwLTs5L1Zk
SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT – Fontana Automotive
Located in Brownsburg, Ind., Fontana Automotive has built high-quality, affordable race engines for more than 25 years. For more information, visit http://www.Fontana-Automotive.
“I’ve been with Fontana Automotive for two years now,” Felker said. “They’ve helped us out a bunch here lately and I’ve been really strong with them. We’re running one of their Spec 7 motors this year and we’ve had a lot of success with it.”
Felker would also like to thank Auto Xpress, 66 Truck & Foreign Salvage, MelMark Pipe & Supply, CSI Shocks, Schluckebier Farms, Momo’s Racing Engines, Pro Powder Coating, All-Pro Auto Interiors, Aggressive Graphics, KBR Performance, Weld Wheels, KMK Enterprises, Heath II, Wilwood, Maxim Racewear and Leading Edge Composites for their continued support.