I'm standing in the middle of life...

[sid]

...with my pains behind me... but, I got a smile for everyone I meet... long as you don't try dragging my bay... or dropping a bomb on the street" Middle of the Road - The Pretenders (1983)

So the rain held up this week, but it sure was butt- freezin' out. How cold you say??? Well, my main man 'chard, who has no problem verbally taunting me as a wuss-bag if I admit being the slightest bit chilly in seasons past, told me around 6:30 he was all set with making the trip down in this weather. Tough call for the track - you could make the argument they should've called it, but I wouldn't have agreed if you did. I was glad they got the show in despite the wind throughout the day.

Paved pits were jammed up modified style this week - SK and TVMS only. Lots of big guns down - including Whelen studs Darth Teddy and Showtime Jimmy. Malave was back in the SK's and so was Ronnie Silk Shawn Monahan had cars for both shows... but there were some MIA's too - like TVMS point leader Kirk Alexander. Word has it Kirk played meteorologist and cancelled his trip down to the shoreline Also noticed Ceravolo and Ruocco MIA in the SK's. Oh, and it doesn't look like anyone took the second dib on the TVMS qualifier, with only Dennis running the 100 lap tour show.

I did notice the legend himself Phil Rondeau in the house. Sometimes, ya know, all's it takes is one trip back to the track for a crafty veteran like Farmer Phil to get that itch back... what?? ya never know... I like to go on the premis that the new ACT domination in the Late Models just might conjur up that itch to conquer something new... it might happen... ya never know...

Once again Jessica was slave drivin' and I had to work well into qualifying and I missed much of the heat race action. But the fields were decent (at least par with the rest of the season so far) and it looked like it'd be a good day of racing.

SK's started the show with the tour in da house - and in alot of ways, it was somewhat similar to last weeks feature: Fowler led early, Kid Roc racing hard up front and Dennis the Menace with a bid for the win in the final laps. But that's way to short of a recap for ol' Sid, so lemme break down a bit more for ya (or at least what I can remember): Fowler led... I wanna say til around midway or so. Da House Ronnie U, runnin' strong again in Murph's #4, got by Donnie on a restart, but his lead didn't last. I believe Kid Roc took over from there - but had some restarts and side-by-side action w/ Dennis late in the show. Indeed Keith used up some real estate protecting his lead - especially over the last couple o' laps - but as I've said many times, during the last 2-3 laps, I have no problem with the leader gettin' more leverage with protecting his lead than should be tolerable say, on lap 3 or sumptin'. Just my opinion - and soley based on the fact that I picked Rocco for the win

Nonetheless, Dennis is a factor every week and continues atop the early point standings. Yuhas held onto 3rd, then Silk and Janovic I think - all 5 in a bunch at the end. Our man JP crapped out and threw down a DNF. Another tremendous battle for the win in the SK's. Dennis told me late last year at the pit party that "all's ya need is something to watch" and indeed that's been the case with the 'bowl SK's lately

Sportsman next and that was a pretty good show too. Jonathon Avery led most of the race in the #17 which brought about one of my favorite elements at the track. With the handicap rules of short track racing, many times the cars who start up front aren't necessarily the best in the business, i.e. you might not know them all by name. But every once in a while someone stays up front, or like tonite, in the lead and it sparks this domino-style inquiry like it did today around half way:

"Hey Sid, who's in the #17"
"Jonathon Avery"
then the group just far enough away to not here that says
"Yo, who's in the #17"
"Avery"
"who"
"Jonathon Avery"
then a couple laps later
"dude, who'd you say was in the #17"
"dude, buy a program for cryin' out loud


But you get my driff... Avery made ya notice him tonite cuz homeboy was hooked up like a mutha. But late in the race, Josh Galvin (who, by the way, I had to tell everyone last week was the driver of the #18) got into him in 3 & 4, Avery spun, Galvin to the back for rough riding and both their bids for the win vanished. Set up a sweet match up of Moose and Al Stone on the ensuing restart, with the crafy 2-time champ taking home his first Sportsman win since 2002 and his 18th career in the division, 2 behind Dwayne Wayne who once again was MIA this week. Pit Stop of the week goes to Walt Hovey - dude lost his muffler or sumptin' during the pre-race pace laps, but a group effort among many pit crews got the #16 back out and then Walt drove it to a 3rd place finish... not too shabby I tell ya... and great sportsmanship in the pits among race teams

Late Models next - I think there were 15 in the feature. Considering Coates, Marcino, Ernie and Goss were MIA, that ain't too shabby. Goss team told me they were waitin' on parts to put the #6 back together and ran outta time before race day, but Larry would be back on the track next week. Vin Esposito ran strong early - had a couple car lengths lead on the field. Timmy lookin' good too... but soon it was the big 3 so far this year to the front: Eddie, Ronnie & Bruce. Eddie took the lead and checked out a bit, but the #96 and #35 were a-comin... sounds like last week, don't it?? But this time no late caution to shrink Eddie's lead and the 1997 LM Champ took home win #1 this year - and #11 for his career in the Late Models, breakin' his tie with teammate Larry Goss among others on the all-time list.

Then the minis and would ya believe for the 3rd straight week they went green-to-checkered with side-by-side action throughout Freakin' love the minis, man!! No side-by-side action up front though as my man Soup-a-Dupe checked out on rails and drove the #93 to career Mini win #2 Soup's a good dude - total Speedbowl diehard like many of us. Can't say Soup gets wrapped up in expectations each week, and from what I can tell, it gives him great perspective. On the Danko-phone last week, he admitted it was hard to keep up with all the Young Guns in the minis. I dunno, it's easy to root for Soup - a feel good win similar to Uncle Buck's the week prior. Good stuff!!

"Roll over, right... Keep it through the night... Keep it through the night... Right in my sight, keep it through the night... I'll smash right through your spotlight" She Builds Quick Machines - Velvet Revolver (2007)

Big Boys of the TVMS next and I really dig their set up. 12 lap heat qualifiers and 100 green laps of racing. During an early caution I ran to get my one and only beer of the night with the Cassidy crew (who I owed a round from a couple weeks ago) and wouldn't ya know as we're walkin' back Ken Sr said "ruh roh, someone's on there roof" "Son of a " Can you believe I missed Blewett's wreck... well of course you would at this point, but I mean seriously... how do I miss something every freakin' time!! So can't say I have much on that other that when I came back up through the tunnell, it was a scary sight. Shawn C. got some great pics and quotes on his blog: http://blogs.courant.com/autoracing/2008/05/jimmy-blewett-walks-away-from.html

Quote that struck me most from Showtime was "lucky to have a good track crew". The track crew has taken some grief out here in Forumland, but they can take too long to clear speedy dry everytime (but probably won't with this fancy new blower on wheels I saw this week ) but as long as they're on top of there game when this stuff happens, that's cool with me. Glad to hear Jimmy was OK... although his car ain't lookin' too good.

Back to the race and it was former 'bowl SK'er Ed Dachenhausen leading... He battled with Hinckley's #06 and at one point they touched, Dach went around and amazingly no one wrecked and everyone else kept it straight and moving forward... but... the caution came out anyway. Dach to the back as an accident car and Hinkley too as the instigator kinda wierd that 2 cars went to the back when ya probably didn't need a caution in the first place - but I've seen wierder things. Dwight Jarvis inherited the lead and looked poised to take the win until David Pinkham got him late and went on to win in his first ever trip to the 'bowl. That's pretty impressive Chris Pasteryak ran well and finished 3rd or 4th I believe.

Despite the cold, can you believe Jen & the Boys Pearl made it the trek to see Daddy race. JP himself brought the Fox Hill crew up later in the night. Pro-Kart 13 and my man Salami puttin' in some FS time too, which was needed w/ 'chard, Big Joe and even Burton MIA. CT Nat'l Guard set up was very cool. Only gripe on the whole event is lack of promotion for how the Military got in for free Didn't see it on the website all week prior.

Wouldn't ya know it started raining right after the TVMS Victory Lane session wrapped up at the end of the night.

LL Night is 2 weeks - I think I got a full squad of Speedbowlers, but I make it official next week with the lineup.

[Freddie12]

as some may know i spot for jimmy. i just wanna go a little further then thanking the track crew, and send a special thanks to tommy fox for jumping in there and getting jimmy out of his hans and out of the car when he was getting a little restless, after hanging upside down for a while. its nice to have a former driver working in that capacity that has a knowledge of the safety equipment, and how to get it off quickly.

[ARMY_SFC_RETIRED]

Most important, I breathed a sigh of relief and thanked GOD when I heard Jimmy was alright... bad move by Alexander trying to play meteorologist, costed himself some points...nice win for Soup...good to see the military recognized, CT Army National Guard did a good job with the displays.

[Salami]