Early Rocktoberfest Accident Doesn't Slow Lineman..

He Rocketed His Way From 20th to 5th at New Egypt..

 

Lineman Jr. dives low to make the 2 car pass at New Egypt Speedway.

Photo by Brent Smith © 2011

 

October 15th, 2011:  Coming back to New Egypt Speedway almost a month to the day after Bob Lineman Jr. rallied to snag the 2nd place in the 2011 points title, the team was feeling on top of the world. That mood didn't last to long, because during warm-ups on the wet and tricky track surface a fellow competitor got loose and spun right in front of Lineman. With no place to go because the track was so slippery, Bob just hit the hooks and eventually ran into the spun car. They got the car back into the pits and worked hard to get it ready in time for the qualifying heat that was coming up very shortly.

 

The crew finished the work and Bob was able to make the field, but when the green came out Lineman noticed right away the engine was down on power. He took the USA-1 into the pits and shut off the engine, as things seemed to go from bad, to good, back to bad on this wild night of racing. Now the crew worked on the engine, which has produced some amazing finished in 2011. They discovered a broken rocker arm, which might have happened during the warm-up contact which was made. The never give up attitude of the crew had a new rocker arm installed, and the valve covers back into place in time for the consi.

 

Lineman new this was go time, either go forward and qualify, or go home on the trailer. Bob started 10th in the field and was a man on a mission, as he sliced his way up through the pack of cars to finish in an impressive 4th spot, which was all he needed for a feature starting spot. Lineman quickly took the Troyer Chassis pit side and had some idea's of what he wanted to change on the set up for the feature. He knew he was going to be starting near the rear of the field and in order to go forward he would need every edge he could think of. Bob and the crew went to the books to see what had worked in 2011 on a track that had these conditions. The crew agreed with the calls and they went to work preparing the final touches on the car for the feature.

 

Feature time watched the Cenco Heating Oil Sponsored, Jerry Glenn powered small block Chevy, from Medford Speed and Machine starting in the 20th position. The green was waving and a fast paced race was under way. Lineman was hoping to catch a break and have a few cautions come out in order to make the move forward a little easier, instead of having the field getting spread out so much on a green flag run. It wasn't to be though, as the laps kept adding on the scoreboard, but that didn't stop Lineman, nobody bothered to tell him that he wasn't in contention for a top ten finish. In fact with a handful of laps left Bob was up to the 8th spot and was closing the door on the 7th place car. Then he took the car high and went from 8th to 6th in an awesome sweep through turns 3 and 4. With only one lap left the hard charging Lineman made another great pass and dove into the 5th spot where he would finish. Another top 5 finish in a banner season for Lineman racing. After words in the pits a tired, but happy Lineman said, "that car was really fast, we hit the set-up on the head, and I know if we would have caught a caution I would have definitely had something to say about the outcome of who won." He continued, "my hat goes off to my crew, they rallied hard to give me a fast car tonight and I think I delivered a pretty good finish."

 

SYRACUSE NOTES:

Bob wanted to let everyone know that he had a great time being the crew chief for Peter Britten at Syracuse, as Peter became the first Australian to enter "Super DIRT Weeks". Peter timed 14th on Thursday and Bob gave him a great set up for Friday as Britten went on to win the "Futures Race". Sunday wasn't as kind to the team, as Syracuse did what Syracuse usually does, and that is collect a bunch of cars and send them pit-side from accidents. Peter got tangled up in an accident, and came into the pits, but the crew was able to make some fast fixes that had Britten back into the race. Although the repairs went well, Peter did go a few laps down, but he still managed to pick up a 24th place finish which for his first time at Syracuse is pretty darn good. Bob told us that Peter and his family are a great bunch of people, and he had a great week with all of them.