Spira Racing Post Race Update #2014-20 – July 27, 2014 Sunset Speedway

The Spira/Artik Ice Team returned to Sunset Speedway for a 35 lap Invitational, following the Home and Home Series with Sauble Speedway the previous day, however Scott did not make the trip to the speedway. Billy had the duty of driving Steve Laking’s truck to bring Jake to the track as Wade would be out of commission for awhile with pneumonia. Although there was less cars in attendance than the previous night, there were still 30 cars and despite qualifying for position, the track would run all 30 in the feature event. Samantha and Billy were in the first heat race, where Sam started 2nd and Billy 9th out of 10 cars. After the #400 car spun and brought out the caution on the 3rd lap, Billy moved by Samantha on the outside to take over 3rd and then by the #49 to take over 2nd behind the #64. Samantha also got by the #49 and back into 3rd, where she would finish and Billy would finish 2nd,
behind the #64. Jake started 6th in his heat race and after falling back to 10th, regained three positions to finish one spot back from making it into the feature without running in the consi, where he would start 3rd. On the first lap, Jake moved into 2nd and after a great side by side battle, moved into the lead on the last lap. Unfortunately as the youngest driver at the track drove the car for all it was worth coming off turn four and heading for the checkered flag, the car got loose with the #400 on his bumper and Jake spun out bringing out the caution for a two lap green, white, checkered finish. Jake was obviously determined to make up some positions on the final laps and after gaining some on the outside, made a veteran move to slide into the inside lane to take a few more and finish 5th
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For the 35 lap feature, Billy started 4th, Samantha 7th and Jake in 23rd. On the second lap, Billy was up to 2nd as Samantha fell to 8th and Jake gained a position in 22nd. There was a caution on the 6th lap and Billy remained 2nd for the restart as Samantha remained 8th and Jake was up two positions in 20th. On the 10th lap, Billy was battling for position with the #35, however the motor shut down on the #86 and he quickly piloted the car out of traffic and into the pits without drawing a caution. It was later determined that the coil wire had come off and although an easy fix, was not worth returning to the track as Billy was out of the car and many laps down at that point. At the half way mark, Samantha had worked her way up to 6th and then she pulled ahead of the #33 after a side by side battle before the caution came out with five laps remaining. Jake was running 17th when the caution came out and he maintained the position through the remaining five laps and Samantha, despite brushing the outside wall coming off of turn four while battling with the #33 for position, hung on to finish 6th.