By: JFR_LastPlace
Gaffney, SC (September 14, 2014)- Team VLR rolled into town for the annual Blue/Gray 60 at Cherokee Speedway. With Team AIR taking last weeks win, many wondered if this was a one time fluke. I am here to tell you that the era of Team AIR has begun. In a short time, they have become a force to be reckoned with, ranking with the upper echelon of DTR2 teams such as VLR, BLS, XCR and seem to be quickly headed to heights not seen since team SRF was in its heyday.
As the drivers took the track for qualifying, thoughts were on what time BLS_18 would take the pole with. Predictions ranged from 8.50 seconds to around 10.30. However, it was the tire master himself, AIR_RB, navigating through the treacherous turns 3 and 4 minefield of tractor tires and picking up a stunning pole award, his first at VLR in 4,227 starts. RB turned in a time of 13.035037 to take the pole. In a rare turn of events, Shock and Wheel had matching lap and TRT times. I wonder if they get their monthly periods at the same time as well. I think the answer to that question is a resounding yes. Shock was awarded the runner-up spot by supplying race officials with coupons for Popeye’s Chicken. VLR_JW and JFR_LP rounded out the top 5.
VLR_JW, VLR_Shock, and BLS_18 took the heat wins. A lot of body work was needed after the heats.
AIR_69 had this to say about his heat. “It was like riding in an elevator with Ray Rice, lots of beating and banging with nowhere to run.”
The B-mains were won by AIR_69 and DO!T_10.
With the preliminaries in the books, it was on to the Main Event. The Annual Blue/Gray 60. It was a team AIR front row with AIR_777 on the point with AIR_RB on the outside pole. At the drop of the green it was all RB as he powered around the highside to take the lead.
A hard fought battle for second ensued with Dirk, Wheel, Shock and JW. When the dust settled, Wheel was in second with Shock drafting on his tail. Meanwhile, RB had built up a nice lead while the drivers in second anxiously waited for RB to inevitably take himself out of contention by hitting one of the tires on the inside of turn 3. Wheel and Shock were closing fast when the VLR_49 machine blew up on the straightaway, spilling oil and feces all over the track after a midrace bout of diarrhea overcame the Indiana driver.
On the restart, it was the RB show again, with another battle for 2nd allowing him to open up an nice lead on the field. AIR_RB kept the hammer down the rest of the way to get his first VLR A-main win and second win in a row for Team AIR. Wheel got shuffled back a little but came back to finish second. Doit_10 drove a nice race for a hard earned 3rd. Shock settled in for a fourth place finish. And Mr. Consistency, BLS_BW came in a solid 5th to keep close to Wheel on the points battle. AIR_69, AIR_777, Simon, VLR_JW and VLR_Gage completed the top 10.
Simon made his first VLR A-main since season 15, and had his best ever finish. Also congratulations to AIR_777 for making his first ever VLR feature.
The Battle for the points championship still ensues. With Wheel in command, but BW is only 11 points behind with Shock in third, 14 points behind. It only takes one bad race for Wheel to even things up. And with how VLR_Shock loves absolutely wrecking the shit out of the 18 car on a regular basis, it's only a matter of time before BLS_BW43 takes over the points lead.
With a New Yorker taking the win, the North gains bragging rights at least until next years race at the South Carolina track. After a hard fought night of racing, all the drivers held hands in a semi-circle and sang We are the World.
Next week, Team VLR heads Lawrenceburg Speedway for the Hoosier 60 for more great racing action, with some shitty slidejobs sprinkled in throughout the night.