Racing Recap of events from 08.13.11 to 09.10.11...

 

Lineman Jr. takes it high and makes the pass stick at New Egypt Speedway.

Photo by Jim Brown © 2011

 

September 12th, 2011:  Picking up the racing action on August 13th at New Egypt Speedway saw Bob trying to rebound from a 14th place finish just days before at Grandview Speedway. Starting at the tail end of the field for his heat race Lineman found the track to be a little heavier then usual and fought to gain the needed spots to qualify into the main event. The crew worked their magic during the break in the action and had the USA-1 ready to rock n roll for the consi. Lineman sprinted to the front of the field in the consi and never looked back on his way to picking up an impressive qualifying run, and more importantly a spot in the nights main event.

 

With the crew making some quick changes before the feature was called out onto the speedway, lineman visited the pit board and saw he would be starting 20th in the pack. The crew had the car working from the consi, and with Bob feeling confident behind the wheel he powered his way into the 15th spot in first 3 laps. Then with 5 laps in the books Bob lost the power steering the car which would force him to drive like racers of old, and really have to man handle the wheel. This didn't slow Lineman down, as he used the high side of the track and showed just what the 2011 Troyer chassis can do as he charged his way into the 10th spot, and you could tell he wasn't going to settle on staying there to much longer. With the laps ticking down Bob was a man on a mission, and before the crowd knew it he had made his way into the 6th before the track conditions finally caught up with the lack of not having power steering. Lineman held on to finish a solid 9th, and was happy with another top 10 finish.

 

September 10th finally saw the return of racing to many speedways in the north-east. With record rain falls over the past 3 weeks it was a wonder if anybody would be racing anything but motor-boats, or rubber ducks. Once again it was a trip to New Egypt Speedway and Bob would start 7th in his heat race. I guess the few weeks off had everyone learning how to go in a oval as passing was a premium in the heat. Bob moved up into the 6th spot which would send him through to the nights main event, and that is what matters first and foremost.

 

The crew set up the Troyer chassis for the feature and Bob took to the speedway and would start in the 12th position. Like back on August 13th Lineman once again was a man on a mission. He quickly made it into the top 10, and by the halfway point of the feature Lineman raced into the 7th spot. Working the high and low sides of the track Bob picked off the 6th spot, and then a few laps later he reeled in the 5th place car. Working on making a move on the last lap and going for the 4th spot, Bob and the 4th place car both spun, which would see Lineman spinning out, and thus ending a great feature run. It's just one of those deals, if your not racing your going home, and sometimes you when you are racing hard accidents will happen and you will be going home. Hats off to Bob, going into the double points race on September 17th he is in 5th in the points chase. Mathematically Bob can't win the title, but he could pull off a second place in points if all things fall his way.

 

SIDE NOTES:

Lineman racing will not be taking their car to Syracuse this fall. Like many others they have felt the decline in parts, and chassis sales in 2011. Both Bob Lineman Sr., and Jr., and the entire Lineman Family will miss taking another run with Rich Tobias behind the wheel of their Troyer Chassis, but lets all hope for a better economy and hopefully we will see them return in 2012 for a run at the crown.

 

Good luck to Bob Jr., who was hired to go to Syracuse with Australian race driver Peter Britten. Bob will be working as Peter's crew chief. Peter's cars are kept at the Troyer Chassis Shop, and are ready to attack the "Moody Mile". Britten is a multiple time track champion in Australia. Good luck to Bob Jr., and Peter.