July 30 2012 (Archbold, OH) Two races and two podium finishes for DJR with Driver Kyle Sauder this past weekend. As the summer winds down the points battle for the Elewer Fence track championship heats up. With just 5 races left in the racing season at Limaland Motorsports Park the top 3 in points are separated by less than 40 points which makes it crunch time to keep the AAA Eagle up front! Friday night started with a higher pill number which started the 7k machine in the 5th starting position of the first heat race. With points being payed to the top 3 positions in the each heat race and the top 3 in Elwer Fence points in the same heat race it was more crucial to get into the top 3 and collect the extra points paid. After a short rain delay right before the heat races the green flag flew and Sauder set his sights toward the front and wheeled the Terry Henricks CDJR Eagle into the runner up spot by lap 3 and held the spot to the checker. With a feature inversion of 10 Sauder would start the main in P4. ”We finally got a break on the draw and start toward the front in the main. Dave and crew had the car pretty nice and with the rain right before the heat races the track was lightening fast and narrow so I am glad we got up into a transfer spot.” Stated Sauder. With the point leader starting back in the 7th spot and 3rd place runner starting on the pole position it was up to Sauder to make up as much ground as possible. At the drop of the green and the track still very fast and heavy Sauder hits the loud pedal and steers the 7k eagle to the top of turns one and two and takes over the 3rd position and sets his sights on the second place machine. ”The track was fast and it was going to take some lapped traffic to come into play or some cautions to make up some ground.” Stated Sauder and that he got about lap 7 and started to put the pressure on the second place machine. After a few laps Sauder had worked lapped traffic and had made the pass to take over the 2nd spot and try to run down the checked out leader. While running through some lapped traffic Sauder had got caught behind a few cars running side by side which allowed the third placed machine to get by putting Sauder back to the 3rd spot. A few laps later a caution flag flew bunching up the field for a seven lap dash to the finish. With the track conditions staying heavy throughout the night Sauder made one last ditch effort for second on the restart but could not make the pass and settled for a 3rd place finish. ”The guys had the car pretty good tonight but the track just didn’t come to us tonight and we where a little tight. But I give it to these guys for putting in the hard works it takes to run one of these things and it is a privilege to be able to drive this AAA machine.” Stated Sauder after the Feature Event.
Saturday brought a short trip south to the famed Eldora Speedway for another shot at a Victory! ”We have been so close here and it has been 10 years since we have parked it on the stage and I am ready to get back to Victory Lane here!” Stated and eager Sauder. With only 21 cars in attendance for the 360 portion of the nights action it was about getting a good lap in hotlaps/qualifying to set the stage for the heat race and feature line up. ”You want to be in the top six cars in qualifying to put yourself in a position to start up front in the main.” Stated Sauder. So as hotlaps/qualifying pushes off it was up to Sauder to do his job and put together 3 good laps and see how it ends up. With 3 good smooth laps in the books Sauder comes up just short of the 6 car inversion for the main with a 7th place qualifying result. ”The car was perfect and the AAA Eagle pretty much drove itself. The only hope we have it that one of the 6 cars in front of us in time trials do not make it in the top 4 in their heat race which would put us in a front row starting spot.” Stated Sauder. So on to the heat race action we go with hopes of putting the AAA, Terry Henricks CDJR, Comer, Lone Star Pawn Shop Eagle into the top 4 which would get the 7th place time back. Starting on the outside of row two in P4 was a plus as the high line is the perferred line of Sauder at Eldora. At the drop of the green flag Sauder sets sail toward the front with a possible front row starting spot in the feature. Completing lap one in the 4th final inversion spot Sauder goes to work to over take the 3rd and 2nd place running machines to give some cushion and earn some valuable heat race points. After working the high side and a turn three slider Sauder works his way into the runner up spot and sets his sight on the leader. A caution with two laps to go set up a two lap dash for the 7k . On the restart Sauder settled into the second spot and crosses the stripe 2nd and in an inversion position. ”The car handled great and now to play the waiting game and hope someone misses the inversion so we can start up front in the main.” Stated the driver of the 7k AAA machine. With everyone in the second heat race making the inversion and the last heat race on track it was crunch time. At the fall of the checkered flag Sauder got a break and one car did not make the inversion spot which put the 7k on the pole for the main! ”We finally got a good break so now it is up to me to finish it!” Stated an excited Sauder. So pushing out for the main event Dave and crew put their knowledge to work and made some last minute adjustments to the 7k. At the drop of the green flag Sauder gets the jump and leads the first lap while under pressure from Horstman running second. A few laps of slide jobs and Sauder comes out on top and takes the lead and focuses on hitting his marks on the rough half mile. ”The top was a little tricky with the holes but you had to hit your marks and be ready if the car makes a right turn on you.” Stated Sauder. So coming up on lapped traffic Sauder steers the 7k machine around the top of the racing surface while in the mean time taking a rock to the left front brake line loosing his brakes on the rough racing surface. With no brakes and laps winding down Sauder keeps the car out front while in the mean time defending NASCAR CHAMPION Tony Stewart was reeling in Sauder. With 3 laps to go Stewart shows his nose to Sauder on the bottom of turn two and make a run for it into turn three sliding in front of the 7k machine to take the lead putting Sauder back into the second spot. Making one last ditch effort going to the bottom of turn two with two laps left Sauder could not make the pass and settled for another bridesmaid finish at the famed Eldora Speedway. ”I really thought we had this one tonight! I lost the breaks about half way and it made me change my line a little bit to stay out of trouble on the cushion and it cost me the win. I really hated to give that one away it has been a long time since we have won here and this is one really get to me. I kinda feel like an Andretti at Indy here lately with so many second place finishes here!” Stated a frustrated Sauder. So the DJR team leaves with another second place finish at the BIG E and goes into the last 3 races of the NRA schedule in the runner up spot in points hoping to gain on the leader.
DJR with Driver Kyle Sauder would like to thank everyone that makes this racing season possible
AAA-Miami Valley Allied Group / Terry Henricks CDJR / Lone Star Pawn Shop / Rick and Lori Comer / Ohio Wire and Cloth / Brookville Auto / Banshee Graphics / Hoosier Tire / Outerwears / Allstar Performance / Fusion Health and Fitness / SST Shocks / Duncan Oil and Racing Fuels / Engler Machine / PPC Powder Coating
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