Today I took my trophy to work to show my friends, walking in the break room I said "Who'd da man now!!??" Every Monday after a race my co-workers ask "Well, did you win?" And the answer was always the same, not today but, today I came home with the checkers.
Wow! You're comments and congratulations mean a lot to me, I mean that. I have know many of you for a number of years now and you know the hurtles I've overcome in racing but, it's only made me a better owner, mechanic, engineer, and with all those hurtles I've learned a lot about racing and how to drive, when to go high and when to stay low. This past Saturday nights racing was the biggest hurtle to date, racing against my long time rival on the track, "Wild Bill" Tripp of Shallotte, NC. Tripp and his #21 Chevy didn't make it easy on me either, getting under me on the first lap, showing me that he ain't about to roll over. We raced nosed to tail for a number of laps, Bill running low and I taking the high grove until I finally caught a break and Bill left a hole coming through turns 1& 2. I put my foot in it and pulled out of two with the lead but multiple cautions kept giving #21 more chances to overtake the #45 in the finally laps. With a Bruce James Racing V8 blocking my lane I had to rely on protecting the low line where I could see Wild Bill's white steel bumper lurking a couple of car lengths behind. A final caution put the race over it's time limit and the green/yellow caution light came on just as I got a nose up under the Bruce James V8 center of the front stretch. I had just WON THE RACE!!! Pulling in the pits I was met by my long time racing buddy Bobby Williamson who literally met me at the entrance to pits, congratulating me and pointing to the victory circle, a place I had never paid attention to before. Passing the pit tower I looked up and saw my pit crew waving the thumbs up and I returned a fist pumping gesture only a race fan would recognize. Rounding the tower were my friends and competitors waiting to congratulate me, Pete, Sherman, Jack, Brad, a few more that I can't recall in all the excitement. I did it, I finally got my first win. What a rush of excitement and adrenaline, I finally got to hold the checkered flag and a really awesome trophy and get my picture taken.
Thank you all for the congratulations.
