Dave Austin Austin Motorsports

Reynard/Toyota/Firestone

Points-30  Wins-0  Poles-0  Best Finish-4th

The Tcokan Cup

With a new Toyota engine behind him for the first time ever, the defending race champion was down on power and just did make the grid, qualifying eighth. Through his experience and driving skill he managed work his way up to finish sixth in the race. Not bad for a developmental engine program and a new team.

The Focd 500

Did Not Participate

Lucky Bob's Fall Classic

Did Not Participate

The Deecccoss Indy Cha.llenge

There was a little bit of rust on the MCI machine after missing two early-season races. But Austin used the Indy trip to get back into the swing of things with a fifth-place effort. Proof of the rust came in qualifying, a field low 102 laps at Deercross.

The NTB Halloween 250

Tricks and treats for these guys at their home track on Halloween. Austin put the car in the Final, but the handling went south early. The problem was so severe that Dave actually pulled the car out of the race voluntarily on the 81st lap saying he'd rather go have a beer than put people in danger out there. Wow. Fourth place.

The Hobby Town Tuckey Tcot

Forget the "D" for Dave, this "D" stood for disaster. Not even close, as Austin failed to make the grid for the first time in his career here. Ninth place in a field of ten with Austin left saying, "Nothing's clicking with this new team just yet." Understatement of the season, when a former series champ can't even make the field!

The Rapids Grand Prix-Presented by Goodyear

Did Not Participate

Heading into the holiday break...

F  Simply unacceptable for a one-time PPPG Cup winner. What a disaster. But the bigger question here is why? Two-fold on the answer perhaps. The back-to-back DNP's at the start of the season were not his fault, but they threw everything off early for the team. Add to that the fact that it is a new engine program and a new team. But Austin needs to find a way to forget it all and find the fire inside once again. Clearly, that fire has been missing thus far in the 1998-1999 season.

John Baas

Team Frugal Homebrewer

Swift/Ford/Firestone

Points-87/4th  Wins-I   Poles-0

The Trokan Cup

For the second year 1n a row, Baas never saw the finish line. After qualifying mid­ field, he crashed out on lap 24. Not a way you want to debut a new team. The team, the engine, the chassis, the tires all different from last year, but the results the same. A

ho-hum 7th place and a DNF for last season's DNF leader.

The Ford 500

If there's one thing this guy owns it's this race. Baas defended his title here with a convincing 17-lap victory over the rest of the field. He also won his heat race, the first time in his career to do that. The big night vaulted Baas into a virtual tie for second in the standings after two races.

Lucky Bob's Fall Classic

"I can't believe I didn't make this Final Four." That was driver Baas' comment about the effort on his home turf. Ironically he drove the same setup as his partner Jim Kaehny the race winner, but John couldn't harness the speed of his Swift Ford and settled for 5th.

The Deercross Indy Challenge

John had a nice effort in qualifying, placing him third on the Indy grid, a career start effort. But some things don't ever change, like Baas and the DNF bug. For the second straight year he failed to finish this race due to a crash while attempting a pass. Fourth place and still fourth in the points.

The NTB Halloween 250

Just like in the days of old, after exchanging some barbs via e-mail, Baas raced Phil Cianciola for "pink slips" or ownership of their cars. He lost. John gave up his car after placing sixth, while Cianciola bested him in third. Still, some nice PR for the team.

The Hobby Town Turkey Trot

It was a cerebral Baas at the Trot, working his way into the Final then doing only as much as he needed to do to hold off Phil Cianciola for third. But wait, that was race leader Ev Kamikawa going off on the last lap. Guess who took second? John Baas, that's who, completing the Frugal Homebrewer team's first 1-2 finish behind Jim Kaehny.

The Rapids Grand Prix-Presented by Goodyear

Baas really kept his head in a heated heat race battle for the transfer position with Phil Cianciola. It came down to the final lap and John hustled the Swift-Ford through the final few turns just fast enough to keep Cianciola behind him in fifth. He ended up fourth in the Final Four, without quite enough stuff for the others.

Heading into the holiday break...

B  It has been a near-perfect first half of the season for John. You can al most see him improve race by race. The biggest difference has been his ability to stay on track instead of DNF. Baas seems to have become a more patient, smarter driver thus far this season and it has paid off with fourth place in the points thus far. If he can keep this up he seems destined to be knocking on the door of being a top contender at every race.

Phil Cianciola

Marlboro Team Penske H. 0.

Penske/Mercedes/Goodyear

Points-91/Jrd  W ins-0  Poles-1  Best Finish-2nd

The Tcokan Cup

The car and driver were ready for a win, setting a record in qualifying for the pole and winning the heat race. It was almost a win too, but alas no name on the cup named after his late grandfather, as Phil and company missed catching race winner Chad Sorce by just a half lap. Solid start to defending his series title.

The Ford 500

The gearbox on the Penske Mercedes had a problem here, yet Phil bravely not only made the Final, but fought hard out in Red lane to move up from fourth to third, on the podium for the second time in a row. An inspection of the car would show a chipped crown gear tooth the culprit. A second and a third add up to first in the points.

Lucky Bob's Fall Classic'

Classic Cianciola. Not the fastest car, but skillful, patient driving and clean pit stops add up to second place and stiJJ first in points. The Penske team and Phil with their best start ever: Three Final Fours, three podium finishes, three heat race wins.

The Deerccoss Indy Challenge

Did Not Participate

The NTB Halloween 250

Missing his first race ever at Indy didn't seem to effect Phil one bit. A nice piece of work to finish third here, and it could have been even higher had he not made a stupid mistrake by locking up the brakes and sliding into his pit box. The car was too far away from the fuel hose and it cost precious seconds to put things right.

The Hobby Town Turkey Trot

This race was the stuff he built championships out of years before. Not really fast, certainly not flashy, but fourth place and points once again. Another building block toward the big trophy and the big picture. In the Final in every race he entered thus far.

The Rapids Grand Prix-Presented by Goodyear

For the first time this season, Phil watched a Final Four. The heat race saw a great battle with former teammate John Baas, who managed to take the transfer spot by less than a quarter of a lap on the big street course. Fifth place.

Heading into the holiday break...

B  Solid effort thus far this season from a guy who has made a living out of coming on strong in the second half of the season. No wins in the first half of a season would be a first however. In a position to challenge once again for the PPPG Cup.

Pat Jarvis

Marlboro Team Penske H. 0.

Penske/ Mercedes/Goodyear

Points-0/13th Wins-0  Poles-0  Best Finish-10th

The Tcokan Cup

Pat was a wild card coming into this race. Away from the series since he won the intial race in it back in 1993, his return to the Penske H.0. team was being watched by many with a close eye. There was no former glory, as Pat struggled with qualifying and ended up tenth, out-paced by a rookie, which never feels too great.

The Ford 500

Did Not Participate

Lucky Bob's Fall Classic

Did Not Participate

The Deeccross lady Challenge

Did Not Participate

The NTB Halloween 250

Hopes were high and there was some talk about the standard of making the field being set. Penske's number two driver came close, but that only counts in horseshoes. When all was said and done his qualifying run was good enough for only 11th place in a field of twelve.

The Hobby Town Turkey Trot

Did Not Participate

The Rapids Gcand Prix-Presented by Goodyear

Did Not Participate

Heading into the holiday break...

I Incomplete. We knew Pat was only going to participate part-time this season, but we thought we would see the veteran a little more than we did in the first half of the season. If we don't see more in half number two you have to wonder what the Penske

H.O. team was thinking when they fired Baas and hired Jarvis.

Jim Kaehny

Team Frugal Homebrewer

Swift/Ford/Firestone

Points-111/lst  Wins-3  Poles-3

The Tcokan Cup

Decked out in his new team colors, same old result for Jim on this twisting track.

Two dozen laps and a DNF, not exactly the stuff dreams, or a championship, are made of.

Still, a Final Four appearance and fourth place is better than most, and he did it with a car that he said "just never felt right."

The Ford 500

Jim made it two-for-two when it comes to making the Final Four. A former winner here, he drove to fourth, complaining that the Ford was down on power. In fact he said in a TV interview afterward that he would ask his car owner John Baas for a new machine before the next race so he could be more competitive.

Lucky Bob's Fall Classic

Not only does the Final Four streak go to three in a row, Kaehny cleans up with every point possible and the pole award money. He set records in both qualifying and the race. And he sends a message that he means business this season with his new team. Impressive indeed. The win bumps him up to second in points, just back from the leader.

The Deerccoss Indy Challenge

Did Not Participate

The NTB Halloween 250

Right back to the top at Halloween, as Kaehny defended his title here by nine laps.

He also became only the second man in history to score the 'double/double', winning both the pole and the race for two years in a row. Clearly, this crew was one of the hottest in the series at this point in the season.

The Hobby Town Turkey Trot

Nothing changed here. Second win in a row and boy it was close. Last lap...six seconds left and still wheel to wheel with Kamikawa. They got to turn three and Kamikawa spun his car into the grass leaving Jim atop the heap again and points leader for the first time in a while.

The Rapids Grand Prix-Presented by Goodyear

A record-setting pole position put Jim in place for yet another win. In fact, he led this race going into the final lap, in another heated battle with Kamikawa. But something funny happened on the way to victory lane. Dan Margetta, who was quietly close by in third, snuck up and passed Jim for the win. Still, second place and his points lead extended to seven.

Heading into the holiday break.. _

A- The   "minus" only comes because this guy has been here before so many times before at this point in the season. And what's happened every season? Not a championship, that's for sure. But this season more than ever Jim seems at ease with his new team and is smelling more and more like a champion. We'll see in the next half of the season if this ti me he really means it.

Ev Kamikawa Team Ferrari

Ferrarif Ferrari/Goodyear

Points-104/2nd  Wins-I Poles-3

The Tcakan Cup

This track has never been a strong point of Kamikawa's, and the new season opener proved that once again: After qualifying mid-field, Ev promptly was taught another tough lesson on the twisty bits of the Shrine road course. He crashed out on the 25th lap of his heat race, leaving him in eighth place and ready to move on to the next race on an oval.

The Ford 500

He had the photo finish here leaving him in second a year ago, but this year his second place was 17 l!ips down to the same man, John Baas. An uncharacteristic fumble by the Ferrari pit crew with the jacking of the car cost Ev a half dozen laps at mid-race, something he could never quite come back from.

Lucky Bob's Fall Classic

You never know what might go wrong to hurt your chances at victory at any given race. At this one, Kamikawa admitted it was driver error. The Ferrari had plenty of horses, but proved too quirky in the corners. Kamikawa's impatience showed not only in the corners, but pit lane, where he was blag-flagged for a speed violation. Fourth place.

The Deercross Indy Challenge

No mistakes here. Eighth career win and 11th career pole. Kamikawa successfully defended his title in Indy rather easily. His first victory of the season pushed the team into second place in the standings. Ev set records for both the race and qualifying.

The NTB Halloween 250

Another problem in the pits at Halloween, as the Ferrari had an electrical glitch at mid-race, forcing the crew to replace the black box. Kamikawa lost by nine laps. Things might have been different without the problem. Still, they emerge the points leaders.

The Hobby Town Turkey Trot

Somebody hire an electrician! Once again the Ferrari's electronics mis-fired and the 'black box' had to be replaced in a lengthy pit stop. Had that not happened, it may have been enough to push him to the top. In a battle with Jim Kaehny until the last lap, Ev lost the car pushing too hard and DNF'd, settling for third place and losing the points lead.

The Rapids Grand Prix-Presented by Goodyear

Hosting at the return to his home track after a one-year hiatus was a blast for Ev, and he had a good run on the track as well. This time there was a better pit stop and another fight with Jim Kaehny into the final laps. But a blistered tire and some slipping and sliding through the corkscrew allowed both Kaehny and race winner Dan Margetta to get by in the last laps. Third place.

Heading into the holiday break...

B+   Clearly, these guys have become a threat to win at any race they enter. The botched pit stops are a bit of a mystery and need to be worked on if Ev is to continue to contend for a title that this year, unlike last year when he played an "I don't care about the title" game with the media, he admits he wants. He could get it too.

Dan Margetta Dangerous Racing

Reynard/Ford/Goodyear

Points-51/6th  Wins-1  Poles-0

The Trokan Cup

What a strange start. Dan qualified the Miller Lite car fifth and advanced in the heat race. But the pain from his recovering broken leg was too much to make it through the Final Four, so he called on veteran Tony Perkins to drive for him. Overall, a podium finish and plenty of points to start the season, although Dan didn't earn most of them.

The Ford 500

Sticky situation, and the strange start to the season continued here. Dan broke half his front wing off and the crew tried to glue it back on. First of all, the handling was such that Margetta could only finish eighth. But he couldn't even finish the Consi because the glue got into the engine compartment. Like we said, strange.

Lucky Bob's Fall Classic

Oh the heartbreak. Oh the hurt. A blistering 144 laps puts Margetta second on the grid. Poised to advance to the Final Four, he suddenly and violently loses the car in turn one, hitting the wall so hard he blacked out momentarily. When he came to it was eighth place and his quote, "How could this happen to me?" That's racin' as they say.

The Deeccross lady Challenge

Did Not Participate

The NTB Halloween 250

The unlucky streak continued at Halloween, as Dan could muster no higher than seventh. He was black-flagged for failing to slow down for an area yellow, but refused to come into the pits. Upon appeal, the flag was recinded, but it wasn't enough to help Margetta make it into the Final Four.

The Hobby Town Turkey Trot

Did Not Participate

The Rapids Grand Prix-Presented by Goodyear

Well, well, it finally happened. The word brilliant was used by several other drivers and observers refering to Dan's come-from-behind win, his first since March of 1995.

Everything came together for the team at the big street course-speed, luck, (which Dan had so sorely missed) and patience to come from third to first, making the pas for the in on the final lap. Nice job.

Heading into the holiday break  _

B- The grade bumped up with that outstanding effort at the Rapids race. A couple of DNP's hurt him in the first half of the season. No doubt, the crew has the car and the experienced dri.ver to be a contender. The key with this guy is developing or maturing as a driver. Always known for "crash or win" in the past, it was a different Margetta at the Rapids Grand Prix, and look what happened!

Phil Marich

Team Frugal Homebrewer

Swift/Ford/Firestone

Points-34/7th Wins-0  Poles-0  Best Finish-5th

The Tcokan Cup

His second season of racing started out with a career night at the Shrine. Phil put his new car fourth on the grid, his best qualifying effort ever. He followed that up with his best finish ever, a solid fifth place. This was a very nice way to start the season.

The Focd 500

Reality set in on the tight bullring oval. It wasn't pretty. Phil fell from a glorious start to missing the field. He finished 10th and out of the points here, unable to get into any kind of speed. Still, the young driver committed to a full-time season, upping the stakes from his original part-time entry.

Lucky Bob's Fall Classic

Everyone knew Marich may have had the fastest car in pit lane. Question was, could the second year driver stay atop the mount? He failed and failed badly. Marich was 17 laps from even making the field, finishing ninth and out of the points again.

The Deecccoss Indy Challenge

Did Not Participate

The NTB Halloween 250

Keep in mind this was only this guy's seventh career start. Nice effort, taking home fifth place with what many felt was one of the best-prepared and fastest cars on the track at the event. On the up and down season, this was certainly an 'up.'

The Hobby Town Tuckey Trot

Eighth place, but the numbers do not tell the story. Marich was fast, qualifying fourth on the grid and then leading the first half of his heat race. Two quick de-slots in the first two laps of the re-start put him out. He was stuck in a lane he didn't like in a de-slot race, not a thing you want. Better results would surely be around the corner.

The Rapids Grand Pcix-Pcesented by Goodyear

Fifth on the grid. Sixth in the race. Another solid performance on the track by this up-and-coming driver. Keep in mind the guy had never been on the big street course before, making this run all the more impressive.

Heading into the holiday break...

C+ Showing flashes of what he's capable of doing twice so far this season, Marich is perhaps the most unknown commodity in the series today. Our read is he's at the fork in the road and the question is--will he go down the road to mediocrity or down the road to greatness? Only time will tell in the second half of the season.

Tony Perkins Player's Racing H. 0.

Reynard/Mercedes/Goodyear

Points-21/12th  Wins-0  Poles-0  Best Finish-5th

The Trokan Cup

This was not what the Player's team wanted. A lowly 11th place and never up to speed, Perkins' finish here was the lowest of his career. The only bright spot came from the Final Four, where Tony got a chance to drive for the injured Dan Margetta and brought the car home in one piece and on the podium in third place.

The Focd 500

The Player's H.O. Racing crew came here with a determination and a focus not seen in a while. Their car and driver were ready too. Perkins ran wheel-to-wheel with the

front-runners the entire night, and just missed making the Final Four. He takes fifth place and a bucket full of confidence-building into the next race.

Lucky Bob's Fall Classic

Did Not Participate

The Deeccross Indy Challenge

For whatever reason, hosting this annual Indy trip has not been kind to Tony on the track. His home street course offered no breaks, as he finished dead last in a small field of six. The Reynard Mercedes crashed out of the event with a bang leaving him in sixth.

The NTB Halloween 250

The Player's car was racey at Halloween, but not quite at the level of the big boys. Perkins showed veteran patience in a runoff with a rookie to secure ninth place. He went on to show the Consi participants how it's done, gathering his first Consi win of the season.

The Hobby Town Tuckey Tcot

Did Not Participate

The Rapids Grand Prix-Presented by Goodyear

Out of the points at this big street course, and it was a frustrating night for the Blue Crew. Perkins was four laps off the pace to put him into the field. That's one thing. But losing out on ninth place points to a rookie is quite another.

Heading into the holiday break...

D+ Perkins and the Player's team should be in a fight for mid-pack at a minimum at every race they enter. Instead, this season has been a struggle to simply make the field. Word is the Mercedes/Reynard has the muscle, Perkins needs to step up the concentration and focus on the task at hand: The grade would be higher except just like your grade school teacher used to say, "Tony has yet to perform up to his potential. 11

Mike Prelozni

All American Racers H. 0.

Eagle/Toyota/Goodyear

Points-23/l0th  Wins-0  Poles-0  Best Finish-3rd

The Tcokan Cup

Did Not Participate

The new Eagle/Toyota developmental racing program of Dan Gurney's wasn't quite ready to debut yet.

The Ford 500

Big crowds of fans gathered around the new Eagle's paint job. They oohed and ahhed at its good looks. True, it was quite a pretty sight. But looks don't feed the SlotCART bulldog and the rookie's debut fell far short of making the field. Last place and his first real taste of the competition and pagentry that is an official race night.

Lucky Bob's Fall Classic

This was a benchmark night for the Toyota-Eagle boys. Mike put the car in the show in just his second race, tying a series record. Then thanks in part to attrition, collected his first points with a seventh-place effort on the big tri-oval.

The Deecccoss Indy Challenge

The rookie seemed to really enjoy his first trip to Indy, bringing his girlfriend to the track, touring the IMS museum (and other Indy hot spots!) and racing quite well too. The Eagle landed in third place, the first podium finish for Prelozni, giving him the lead in the battle for Rookie of the Year honors.

The NTB Halloween 250

After the race one writer penned the line, 'from the penthouse to the outhouse.' Well put. From third at Indy to dead last at Halloween. Maybe it was because Mike didn't bring along his good luck charm girlfriend this time?

The Hobby Town Tuckey Trot

Very tricky track+de-slot rule+no seat time=lOth place. Expected results here for the rookie who has shown less patience than his rookie competition in the series.

The Rapids Grand Prix-Presented by Goodyear

Mike brought the team home in the points with a ninth-place finish, followed up with his first Consi race victory in the series. Not bad for a guy rumored to have been tipping a few barley pops prior.

Heading into the holiday break...

C- Always tough to grade a rookie. This grade was raised by the Indy performance. Outside of that the other solid effort of the season came at the Rapids, even though it was ninth place. A consi win is still a win, and it is a taste young Mike needs to remember as fuel for doing better in the second half of the season. Word is he'll need to learn how to calm down in the cockpit and focus. He's an emotional hot/cold, on/off kinda guy, something that usually doesn't translate into a top-contending driver.

Larry Rotter Rotter Racing

Penske/Toyota/Goodyear

Points-24/9th Wins-0  Poles-0  Best Finish-5th

The Trokan Cup

Driving one of the most radical car combinations ever seen in the series, rookie Rotter did a decent job, picking up two championship points for finishing ninth. He didn't make the field, but he out-qualified the likes of veterans Tony Perkins, Tom Spehert and Pat Jarvis. All in all, a nice effort for the rookie in his debut race at the tough Shrine.

The Ford 500

What's that buzz you hear in the paddock? People in racing circles talking about rookie Larry Rotter! In just his second career start he made the field here, setting the record for soonest a rookie has ever done that. Why stop there? He even climbed from eighth to finish seventh and collect six championship points. What a start.

Lucky Bob's Fall Classic

Did Not Participate

The Deercross Indy Challenge

Did Not Participate

The NTB Halloween 250

Not a bad comeback here after being away for about a month. Ninth place and points

on the line in a runoff with veteran Tony Perkins. Rookie nerves showed in the runoff and Larry settled for tenth, out of the points. A good learning experience none-the-less.

The Hobby Town Turkey Trot

Consider what the rookie quietly accomplished here--a career-high sixth on the grid, then pushed it up to a fifth-place career-high finish by passing the likes of veteran Chad Sorce and Tom Spehert. Well done Valvoline team ... well done indeed.

The Rapids Grand Prix-Presented by Goodyear

A pair of sevens here and plenty of points. Seven on the grid and seven on the finish chart added up to taking the lead for Rookie of the Year honors. Another solid effort.

Heading into the holiday break...

B Look, he's a rookie and he's only six points behind a former series champion. Quietly, in his own businessman-like style, Rotter has really gotten the job done and would be even higher in the standings perhaps if you take away the double DNP's. Watch this team closely as they get a second shot at some of these tracks now with a little experience under their belts.

Chad Sorce Team Sorce

Reynard/Ford/Goodyear

Points-70/Sth  Wins-1  Poles-0

The Tcokan Cup

Chad had put the Leinenkugel 's car on top of the speed charts a week earlier, so the fact that he won the season opener shouldn't have been a huge surprise. A very solid effort for the third win of his career, holding off the always tough Phil Cianciola by a half lap in the end after swapping the lead numerous times down the stretch. "Points leader Sorce."

The Focd 500

No string of Final Fours to start this season like last. Alas, Chad grabbed a solid yet unspectacular sixth place here. One of the highlights came when his newborn son made a visit to trackside and posed with dad ... controller in hand and all!

Lucky Bob's Fall Classic

Hats off to the team for a podium finish here in third. First of all, Chad clearly had the slowest car in the Final (not helped by the fact the crew had a mixup with the boost control which was set at half!) and Chad had to fight his way up to third. Secondly, he was able to keep his driving head as Ev Kamikawa charged at the end. Nice job indeed.

The Deecccoss Indy Challenge

A new rivalry in the series continued to develop in Indy, where Chad again battled Kamikawa in a final grudge match, this time coming up short by 16 laps. Still, the second-place finish, the first of Sorce's career, put him atop the points standings.

The NTB Halloween 250

The team may have come in as points leader, but that fell apart in a lackluster eight­ place effort at Halloween. The weak, unexplainable finish dropped the Leinie's boys back to fourth in the standings, scratching their heads as to what happened.

The Hobby Town Turkey Trot

The unraveling continued at Thanksgiving, where Chad could muster no higher than unlucky sevens... seven on the grid and seven at the finish. This time it cost him fourth in the points. Down to fifth with so many questions left unanswered.

The Rapids Grand Prix-Pcesented by Goodyeac

Bad went to worse on the long street course. Car and driver were never in the hunt from the opening qualifying round. How bad was it? Eleven cars entered this race, Chad finished dead last.

Heading into the holiday bceak...

C- There is a pattern here again this year. A great start to the season, then things begin to fall apart once Halloween rolls around. Happened last year, happened this year. Question is, why? He can win, as proven in the opener, but this roller coaster stuff has got to be growing old with the crew and sponsors.

Tom Spehert Team Spehert

Reynard/Ford/Goodyear

Points-22/llth  Wins-0  Poles-0  Best Finish-6th

The Trokan Cup

A flat-out terrible start to the season, bringing up the back of the field in 12th. But in Tom's defense, his mind weighed heavily on the new Ortega Timing and Scoring system he developed ... the same one that broke down on opening night. No doubt a major distraction to his on-track efforts that night. Better things should be ahead.

The Ford 500

Those better things never came at the bullring oval, where Tom and the crew never found the setup and settled for ninth place. Still, he beat out two other drivers in qualifying and managed to pick up his first couple of championship points of the new season here.

Lucky Bob's Fall Classic

Success at last. Spehert made the field for the first time and managed to climb all the way to a sixth-place finish despite just arriving back in the country after a testing session in Switzerland. Things seemed to on the right track for last season's top rookie.

The Deercross Indy Challenge

Did Not Participate

The NTB Halloween 250

Did Not Participate

The Hobby Town Turkey Trot

Tom equaled his season best of sixth place here. Not bad considering being away for two races. In fact, he was acually only a single lap away from finishing even higher, so this was a solid effort from the Harley-Davidson camp.

The Rapids Grand Prix-Presented by Goodyear

Eighth place in a field of eleven wasn't bad, but this group has set the bar higher in its second season now. This was a new track and there were horsepower and handling problems with the car here, never a good combination.

Heading into the holiday break.

D   We'd like to think Tom is one of those underachievers at this point in the season. His hard work on developing the now-delayed computer scoring system has no doubt taken away from some of his focus on the racing itself. Once that's settled he should be at least a mid-packer at any race he enters.