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The sound of
horsepower and the smell of fuel and rubber was thick this year
for SCC at WBC 2001! Sixty racers competed in 13 races during
the four preliminary heats to make up the final 12 that ultimately
drove in the Sunday morning finals. While there was no separate
junior event this year, a young driver, Devin Flawd, took the
checkered flag in the 250 lap Final. It should be noted that
Devin had a near flawless performance throughout both qualifying
and in the finals as he won both of his qualifying races before
out-distancing the other competitors in the final. His performance
reminds one of another young but magnificent driver, Jeff Gordon,
who continues to tear up the track in the real NASCAR circuit.
Heat races were composed of eight or nine drivers in a 200
lap race on the one-mile oval. The one-mile oval was used because
it offered the best chance for a racer to advance from worst
to first during the course of a race, something that is often
difficult on the Super Speedway. For the heats, the basic rules
with single file racing was the order of the day. No pit-stops
(except under the yellow flag and unless someone had damage to
repair) were used. There were several cases of drivers falling
way back during the race only to make up huge gains during the
heat to finish either first or second. Included in that category
were John Weber in the first heat who spun out early in the race
and then clawed his way back to third place; Carol Caler who
in the second heat went from eighth to first and took the race,
ultimately leading the last 50 laps; and Devin Flawd, who in
the finals fell from first back to sixth with but 70 laps to
go, roared ahead in the final 24 laps to take the lead and hold
on for the victory.
The final, of course, took place on the 60 foot oval, and
in a fitting tribute to the fallen NASCAR great of this year,
Dale Earnhart, Devin Flawd was driving the number 3 car. Makes
you wonder whether or not he had a little help from above, or
at least a guardian angel whispering racing tips into his ear.
Of particular note in the heat races was Dan McGowan's pulling
off an incredible two consecutive challenges by blind flipping
two 990 speed ratings to defeat his intended passer in Heat 4,
and the good nature and great sportsmanship of Jim Bell who was
one of only a small handful of participants to race in all four
heats. Jim was plagued by bad luck throughout his races but laughed
them off and was very congratulatory to the winner of each of
the races in which he competed. We hope to see him back next
year. Thanks to all who participated and we hope to see you next
year when the pedal goes down to the metal. Keep your RPMs up
but your engine cool until then!
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