6-21-08 Saturday night was a 40 Lap race. We started out qualifing 5th with a time of 17.613. There was a field of 11 cars, with 2 Drivers that had not yet raced with us this season.  I started toward the rear of the pack and stayed there the first 10 laps or so, I didn't want to get tangled up and wrecked early on. I was really excited to be racing in a race this long. After the first caution, I started working my way to the front. The last 15-20 laps or so I battled the #15 car for 3rd with the #30 car trying to get around me. I had plenty of engine power, my car was faster than the #15 car,  but with my old tires I lacked grip and just couldn't get by him. With 3 laps to go, I got spun out by the #30 car.  The caution flew, my car wouldn't start because it was to hot. It overheated spilling water all over the track. The push truck got me off the track as the safety crew cleaned up the water. Back at my pit, I thought we were out of the race, I started to unbuckle my belts and take off my helmet when my crew chief said, get back out there and cool down your car and see if you can gain a spot. I got the car restarted and went back on the track just as the race resumed. With 3 laps to go, I noticed the # 30 car wasn't on the track,(he had an oil leak and was sent off the track) I worked hard and was able to pass 2 cars and ended up with a 6th place finish. Its not as good as a 3rd or 4th place finish but it was better than the 9th place finish I thought I was gonna have. Gotta thank Larry for that! I checked the points and I'm still 4th in points. BTW, one of my Best Sponsors saw my need for Tires and said he would make sure I got them! Thanks Doug & NW Construction!  

Looks like our next race is July 5th.........See ya then, Benjer #81

It was another cool night at Douglas County Speedway. We started off our night by qualifing 3rd with a 17.670 sec. run. This week they decided to run the Trophy Dash with the Fast Heat. Since I was 3rd fastest I had to start near the rear of the 6 lap dash. I was stuck behind a slow car for a lap and by then I didn't have time to catch back up to the leaders. I ended up 5th out of 6th. The main Event was definately an Event! I started in 7th and by lap3, I was up to 3rd. Thats when things started to happen. The #7 car that was in 1st place, blew an engine, spreading oil all over the track and causing it to spin out between turns 3 & 4. The 2nd place #38 car, lost control in the oil and clipped the #7 causing the #38 to flip over on its roof. I was lucky and stopped just inches from the #7 car and the #16r truck had managed to stop just inches from my car. Then our luck ran out as the #25 truck couldn't get stopped and rear ended the #16r which couldn't help but shove me into the #7. All the cars had barely stopped before the Safety Crew was out checking out all the Drivers. All the drivers were OK, except for a few bumps and bruises. After the Red Flag and the #7 & #38 were hauled off the track and the #16r truck had gone to the pits. I restarted the race in 1st and the 16r can back out as the green flag flew. I kept the lead for 4 or 5 laps holding off the 2nd fastest car, the #77. Finally the #16r got around me bringing the #77 with him. I continued the race in 3rd trying to hold off the # 39 veteran sprint car driver. I did hold him off, finishing 3rd. It was a great race and I was so excited as I made my way to Tech. It was my best run of the year so far. I race with a great bunch of drivers and I was glad everyone was OK. I learn something every race and I guess you could say I learned A LOT this race! I am now currently 4th in points!

Benjer #81
 

May 17, 2008 Saturday Night, my car did great in my first real race in the Street Stock  Class (last week we had to only run 5500 rpm to break in the motor). I qualified 4th .0003 behind the 3rd place veteran. I made it into the trophy dash and got 3rd. We were in the fast heat and I got 5th and to top off the night I got 5th in the Main Event! I also got to drive my Dads 'Hornet' in the high school races......Daniel and I were racing for Oakland....It was a fun race and I ended up 2nd and Dan was right behind me in 3rd. That made Oakland High in the lead!

It It was a cool night at Douglas County Speedway

 I mean cool as in cold, high 50's to low 60's. I got there just in time to see Benjer's 2nd qualifing lap. It was 17.84 seconds, the last race he qualified @ 17.68. his car was really loose. They made some adjustments and his car got better for the heat race and he almost won, but he got 2nd by about 2". 1 more lap and he would have got by the veteran driver.

In the main he started 3rd and quickly went to first. His car was finally hooked up good. Then the really fast guys caught him. He stayed near the front with the fast cars and then a caution came out and he was behind the 15 car which is slower than his.....it took him about 3 laps to get around him and when he finally did the 15 car hit him in the right rear when he was coming out of turn 2......it bent his rim & axel, but he kept racing. On the last lap the 2nd place truck wrecked trying to get by the 1st place car. He was just off the wall coming out of turn 2 and Benjer had to squeeze between the wall and the truck missing it by "Whiskers". Benjer ended up 4th for the night.........It was Cool!