Racing Recap of events from 07.24.11 to 08.03.11...

 

Hard on the throttle at Big Diamond Speedway for the ROC Series Event.

Photo by Bruce Thomas © 2011

 

August 9th, 2011:  Catching up with Team Lineman we have race news from the Big Kahuna event at New Egypt Speedway, followed by the ROC Series event at Big Diamond, then it was back to New Egypt for the "Friends of Mike" benefit/memorial event, and last up was the TOTH event which was held at Grandview Speedway in Bechtelsville PA.

 

A special afternoon of racing was being held at New Egypt Speedway, as the track played host to the Tobias SpeedSTR, "Big Kahuna" racing series. The Sportsman Modifieds were on hand with help from Lineman Racing, who was one of the series backers for the Big Kahuna events. Bob showed up with the I'm going to win attitude which he has worn very well in 2011. Since putting together the 2011 Troyer chassis, and having the power plants which are built by Jerry Glenn from Medford Speed and Machine performing like a well oiled clock, Lineman has been turning in blistering laps on any given night, at any given speedway. With that being said it didn't take long for Bob to go out and post yet another heat win and with the luck of the draw, Bob pulled the pill for the pole position in the Big Kahuna feature event. Lineman powered his Cenco Heating Oil sponsored USA-1 to the lead on the opening lap and appeared to have another feature win in the bag. As Bob tells me, " I made a driver error on a last lap restart which gave enough room to the second place driver to just pull out the feature win by no more then 18 inches". All things being equal it was a great race, and another top 3 for the season was posted, so everyone was very happy at the end of the day.

 

Traveling time up to the coal mines of Pennsylvania, more to the point Big Diamond Speedway, where another in a list of Race of Champions events was about to take place. Team Lineman unloaded on this very hot and humid race night and Bob would start 5th in his qualifying heat race. Things didn't go as planned though, even though Bob had made his way up to 3rd, contact with another driver saw both drivers spinning out and being sent to the rear of the field. On the following restart both cars made contact again, which prompted officials to send Bob to the pits when the displayed the black flag. It was a racing deal, nothing more and nothing less, but we guess the officials didn't want it to become something else. Lineman ran in the consi but stayed in the back of the pack because the action up front was filled with more spins, and accidents, and knowing that he had a guaranteed feature starting spot why get into a wreck if you don't have to. A large task would have to happen as Bob started in the 25th spot. The crew used what they had learned in the consi to help prep the car for the feature event. It worked because it took Lineman know time at all to race into the 14 spot with only a handful of laps showing on the board. All the wheeling and dealing was short lived as a major accident in front of Bob took place and with no place else to go Lineman got collected in the wreck which forced him to take his car into the pits for the night.

 

With repairs made to the Troyer chassis, it was back to New Egypt for the "Friends of Mike" benefit/memorial event. Bob started 7th in his heat and laid back for the first part of the event just to make sure everything on the car felt alright from the damage that happened at Big Diamond. With the halfway single being displayed Lineman stomped on the throttle and quickly made his was up to 4th which was good enough to secure a spot in the nights feature event. Bob started 11th in the feature and was looking good until lap 6 when he got caught up in a crash which sent him to the pits. The crew checked out the car and had him back on the speedway and picking up the tail end of the pack. With the inside groove being really rough Lineman took a chance and decided to try the high side around the speedway. The move paid off big time as he put the USA-1 up into the top 5 and would wind up taking home yet another top 3 finish by crossing the line in 3rd place. Yet another great night of racing for the entire crew and driver. The winner of the event was Pat Wall, who's car is kept and maintained at the Lineman Race Shop. Congrats go out to Pat on a job well done.

 

Time to travel once again, this time to the thrill on the hill, Grandview Speedway. This was one of the special nights of racing that combined the Thunder on the Hill race series with the Race of Champions race series. By the luck, or we shall say no luck of the draw Bob picked #96 for his heat race, which meant he had to start in the rear of the field. By the end of the heat he managed to finish in 7th which put him on the pole for the consi. Fast work by the crew in the pits had Bob ready for the consi where he went out and won the event with no problem. The feature saw Bob starting in 20th and was filled with some early race accidents. Bob didn't really want to push the envelope to much early and have another night like he did at Big Diamond. A bunch of cars were carried, not towed off of the speedway, and by the end of the feature Lineman was happy with the 14th place finish he was taking home with him.

 

Next up on the schedule will see the team back at New Egypt Speedway. Come on out and watch Bob in action, and stay after and go in the pits and get an autograph, and have your photo taken with him.