By T.J. Buffenbarger
Paul McMahan continued our thought that one never knows who might show up at any GLOSS event. McMahan took advantage of Kraig Kinser’s crash while Kraig was leading the feature event handily before crashing in turn three.
TJ: Did you know that Kraig had crashed while leading?
McMahan: “I saw (Kraig) after he got into the fence, but I didn’t see how he got into the fence. I mean the kid was fast as heck, and I don’t think I could have caught him. The one shot I might have had was in lapped traffic, but I wasn’t having the best time with lapped traffic either. He was real fast, it was just unfortunate for him to get into the fence. I’ll tell you what though, the kid has a long time to race and a lot of wins ahead of him.”
TJ: That was quite a move in traffic you made over in turn one. Did you know how close that was?
McMahan: “You just have to get in and go. I had plenty of room getting in the corner, but you never know what it’s going to be like coming out. If you hesitate in this sport you are going to get passed. I didn’t know how big of a lead I had because we don’t have radios or mirrors, so when you get a hole you just have to shoot in there and try to get out. Lapped cars usually try to stay out of the way, but that doesn’t always happen.
TJ: This also has to be a bonus to win in the car owner’s home state?
“Yes it is, we didn’t know we were coming here until last night. Warren (Johnson) gave me a ring up and told me we were going to Hartford. I said ‘Okay, we’ll be there tomorrow’. I don’t really care where I race, I just like to race and win races. It can pay $100 or $100,000, I just love to take home the checked flag.” Tim Norman had a strong run in second position with Joe Gaerte’s Mopar powered car. Norman was somewhat pleased, yet somewhat disappointed with his runner up finish. The former full time All Star Circuit of Champions driver was still deep in thought after the 30-lap main. v
TJ: Nice run tonight, just came up a little short.
Norman: “Well, Paulie (McMahan) has a lot more time in the seat than we do. The car was fast; felt really good, I’m not sure if we could have run him down or not.”
TJ: It appeared your car worked really well on the bottom.
Norman: “Yeah, we like this place. We have run here enough that we should know what to do. I was kind of confused a little tonight. The bottom was so wet, but my car would through that and not get too carried away. So that seemed to be the answer for me. I thought the top would be the answer, and that’s where Paul ran, so I don’t know…” Brett Mann came from deep in the pack to run third. Mann had to uncharacteristically run the bottom. Mann’s run was right to form as his car started to come in after the red flag for Kraig Kinser and moved up to the final spot on the podium. Mann might be patent through traffic, but like many racers thinks that running the bottom is like having a job.
TJ: Tell us about your run through the pack.
Mann: “I was kind of stuck a way back and had to take my time picking through traffic. I just got one here and there. I got out in the open probably about 15-18th lap and got by Daggett. I started making some time then, and I started to real Norman in. Then the nose wing broke on the 26th, 27th lap. So I had to hang on from there, but we were pretty good. I’m not sure if we could have run with McMahan or not. I didn’t really know where he was, but we definitely could have run second if wasn’t for a few problems.”
TJ: Did the bottom surprise you tonight?
“Yeah, the bottom was way to good tonight * laughter * I really ended up having to run there the entire night, and that’s not really where I like to run around here. It held up really good, it was rougher than a cobb, but it was fast. You just had to cowboy the thing around there as hard as you could. I know a lot of guys got around, and they just kind of fell out of the saddle, it got so rough and stuff, and wore them out. That was good for me, but I prefer to run the top of the race track if we could”.
Dustin Daggett’s 360 successes are well documented, but Daggett’s luck in the 410 sprinters has not been a stellar. Daggett has been cursed with bad luck for the better part of two seasons in the 410’s, but a solid 4th place run was a small victory and gave Dustin more confidence before going into the season finale for SOD and GLOSS where Daggett will compete in both classes (baring any major equipment failure or crash).
TJ: Dig you learn anything by following Paul McMahan?
Daggett: “I learned that he’s got a lot more horse that I’ve got * laughter * My car was good tonight, we had it setup good, we were just out horse powered”.
TJ: You had had some mechanical problems with the 410, but things seemed better tonight.
Daggett: “We’re happy to get a couple of good nights with this car and this motor” Brandon Wimmer’s sprint car education continued on Saturday night with a strong run. Wimmer had to overcome a broken driveshaft in hot laps that sent the team thrashing to get ready for their heat race. Wimmer won his heat and finished third in the dash to Kraig Kinser and Paul McMahan.
Then during the feature Wimmer had a spectacular battle with Tom Busch that lasted most of the event for various positions. Wimmer and Busch almost made contact on several occasions coming off turn four.
TJ: Tell us about that race with Tom Busch.
Wimmer: “That was really tough. I’d catch up to (Busch), and then I could not get around him. I’d try to go low, and he would have momentum coming out of the corner. I tried, but I couldn’t get around him”
TJ: What happened on the start?
Wimmer: “I’d don’t know, I probably didn’t take off fast enough. It’s a learning thing. I’m trying to learn how to use the gas and the brake at the same time and learning how to do that well.”
TJ: How much did you learn tonight about racing in lapped traffic?
Wimmer: I haven’t had to do that must this year, but it will help me to learn. I’m still learning how to do a lot of this stuff. This helped me how to get through traffic better and how to run with people that close. It will help me later on.”
TJ: Racing on this big track is also a new experience for you.
“Yeah, lately I’ve been able to keep a lot smoother on the track and battle with people going this fast.” Overall the program started on time, ended during the 10:00 hour, and was highly entertaining Saturday night at Hartford. It was a ‘hold your breath’ as the top drivers raced hammer down against themselves, the track, and the traffic in a high speed ballet on the wicket 9/16 mile oval.
Next week our Friday destination is still TBA, Saturday we will be at the Berlin Raceway for the USAC Midgets and Auto Value Super Sprints., and Sunday will take us to Attica Raceway Park for their big $10,000 to win All Star Circuit of Champions event. If the weather holds a trip on Monday to Fremont for the 305 Nationals could be worked in.
Until then I will see you down the road, and have a safe Labor Day weekend.