Spira Racing – Post Race Update #2014-19 – July 26, 2014 Sunset Speedway

The Spira/Gunk Race Team gathered at the shop to depart for the first of two, back to back races of the weekend at Sunset Speedway. All four drivers would attend the second and final Home and Home series as Sauble Speedway cars would travel to Sunset. It looked like Jake was not going to make it to the track as his father, (Wade) had made a trip to the hospital at 4:30am to find out that he had pneumonia. A call went out to crew member, and Late Model driver, Steve Laking to see if he would tow Jake’s car with his truck and plans were soon put in place to have Jake at the track and ensure that he would have all the help required. Billy was the winner of the first segment of the Home and Home Series that was run at Sauble Speedway earlier in the season and claiming title as the series champion, was high on the drivers priority list this season.  Although Jake did not arrive in time for the first practice session, he did get onto the track and was pretty happy with the cars set-up as was Samantha and Scott. Billy pulled into the infield during the final practice session with an unknown
motor issue and had to be pushed back into the pit area, where the crew found that the distributer had broken, causing the motor to shut down. Jake was in the first heat race where he started 11th and finished 8th. Samantha also started 11th in her heat race and gained 8 positions to finish 3rd. Billy and Scott were in the same race, where Scott started 12th and Billy behind him in 13th. Billy gained 11 positions to finish 2nd and Scott gained five to finish 7th
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The top 6 out of each heat race would move into the feature as the balance would run two conci’s, with the top 5 out of each 15 lap race moving into the feature, while the rest of the 40 plus cars in attendance would load up without racing the feature event. Scott started 2nd in his race and took over the lead for the win as Jake also started 2nd in his. Despite a last lap challenge for the lead, Jake finished 2nd my a nose. Billy lined up to start 2nd, Samantha 8th, Scott 16th and Jake 18th for the 30 lap feature where Billy moved into the lead early and hung onto the position until the #64 took over the lead on lap 14. The #35 took over 2nd from Billy just prior to a caution on lap 18, where Samantha was now running 9th, Scott 14th and Jake right behind him in 15th. The top four ran side by side for multiple laps and with ten laps remaining, Billy fell into 3rd, where he would run for the balance of the race to finish there as Samantha dropped back a position to finish 10th, Scott gained a position to finish 13th and Jake finished two positions back in 15th. The team headed back to the shop to do minor work on the cars and then regroup to return to the track for the 35 lap invitational race the following day