CBR Bounces Back From Early Trouble, Earns Another Top 5

Troutman, NC (August 30, 2009)

The Crud Brother's Racing team traveled across Lake Norman Saturday night to the Ray Evernham and Bob Mack owned East Lincoln Speedway.  A special Raceciever National Touring Series event would hopefully be a dress rehersal for the 13^th Annual Legends Dirt Nationals in October.  With 25 cars signed in from six different states, there were a lot of heavy hitters looking to try their hand at the 3/8^th mile clay oval before the Nationals.  Also, the CBR team needed a solid finish to build upon their 66 point edge in the East Lincoln Speedway Point Standings.   

It would not take long for trouble to strike for the CBR team.  In the opening laps of Hotlaps, the #34 developed a miss.  That sent the team into a scramble to fix yet another failed fuel pump.  Luckily, the team was able to loan a fuel pump from another competitor and, with help from another, was able to get the car back together for the Heat Race. 

After a bad draw, Falcon Smith would line up 10^th to begin his Heat Race.  When the green flag flew, Smith put the hammer down and began to move foward.  Using the top shelf, Falcon worked his way around four cars in the opening laps.  After settling in there, Smith would chase down the front runners and pick off another spot before the end.  Falcon would cross the line with a 5^th place finish to set the stage for the big 20 lap A-Main later in the evening. 

The CBR team would roll off 10^th to start the A-Main, however would not stay mired near mid pack for long.  On the drop of the green, Falcon quickly moved to the top of the track passing five cars in the opening laps.  Smith would make a move to slide into the 3^rd position, but a caution flag flew, forcing him back to 5^th.  As it would turn out, the three laps at the start of the race would be the longest green flag run of the night.  The leaders jumbled up the restart, and from that point on the race was ran one lap at a time.  Many bad restarts and caution flags later, with only six laps completed under the green of the scheduled 20 laps,  track officials called for a two laps shootout to decide the race due to running over the time limit.  The front runners again got mixed up, but Falcon was able to charge into the 3^rd spot and begin to battle for second.  However another caution flag forced him to give up the positions he gained.  The final restart would see the green and white flags wave together.  The top three cars made contact, forcing Smith to dive to the bottom.  Falcon crossed the finish line three wide and was credited with a 5^th place finish, the CBR team's 15^th Top 5 of 2009. 

"That was one of the worst races I've ever been a part of," Smith commented after the race.  "The restarts were terrible.  I don't know what kind of games those guys (the leaders) were playing, but there is no room for that on a race track.  It's a shame we didn't get to run the full distance because we had at least a 2^nd place car.  I have to give a big thank you to Jan Ingram and Jeff Stover for loaning me a fuel pump and helping me get it on the car in time for the Heat Race.  Those guys helped us out a lot tonight."

With the Top 5, Smith now leads the East Lincoln Speedway Point Standings by 75 points with only two races remaining.  No matter what the competition does over the final two races, Falcon could lock up the Championship by finishing 9^th or better.  Smith also extended his lead in the Ohio State Pro Division Point Standings, now leading by 1529 markers.  Falcon is waiting for 600 Racing to update the National Pro Dirt Point Standings.

Troutman, NC (August 28, 2009)

Heavy rains swept through the North Carolina Piedmont region Friday evening, forcing Carolina Speedway officials to cancel the racing for August 28^th.  This was supposed to be the first night of a double header weekend for the Crud Brother's Racing team.

With the rain out, only two races remain for the Legends Cars at the Carolina Speedway during the 2009 racing season.  Falcon Smith finds himself in 2^nd position in the Carolina Speedway Point Standings, only 22 points out of the lead, with the season winding down.

Troutman, NC (August 23, 2009)

The Crud Brother's Racing team headed to Gastonia, NC's Carolina Speedway on Friday night looking to rebound from a DNF suffered two weeks ago at the 4/10^th mile speed plant.    The DNF uprooted the team's hold on the top spot in the Carolina Speedway Point Standings, dropping them to third in the standings.  With the season winding down, the CBR team had to get back on track to remain in contention for the title.

Falcon Smith would start 3^rd to begin the evening in the Heat Race.  The field took the green on a very fast but wet track.  On the start, Smith could not get traction on the inside groove and slipped in line in 4^th position.  With only one groove worked in early on and unable to make a move stick to advance his position, Falcon rode out the remainder of the Heat Race and crossed the finish line in 4^th.   That would lock in his starting spot for the A-Main later in the evening.

The CBR team would roll off 8^th to start the A-Main, however, Falcon would not stay mired deep in the field for long.  On the drop of the green, Smith shot to the outside and picked up two spots before getting to the first corner.  Then, on lap three, the Oak Hill, OH wheel man pulled off an impressive move to pick up another position and move into the Top 5.  The field was slowed only once by the caution flag which came out just before the half way point.  On the ensuing restart, the CBR #34 looked like it was shot out of a cannon and used the top shelf to move into the 3^rd position entering Turn 1.  However, the leaders made contact and Falcon had to check up, lost momentum, and lost the spots he had picked up on the restart.  Smith was able to find his groove once again, but it was too late.  While chasing down the leaders, Falcon was able to move into 4^th place on the final lap, earning his 14^th Top 5 on the 2009 season.

"That was a wild one," Smith offered.  "We made a nice adjustment after the Heat.  I was able to get two or three cars on every start.  On that restart, I had a huge head of steam and the leaders were almost parked in the middle of Turns 1 and 2.  Without another caution, that killed my shot at the win.  We'll take that and dig hard the next couple of weeks to finish off the season strong."

With the 4^th place finish, Falcon was able to move into 2^nd place in the Carolina Speedway Point Standings, only 22 markers out of the lead.  Only three points races remain on the Carolina Speedway schedule.  Smith continues to lead in the Ohio State Pro Division Point Standings, now with a 1435 point advantage.  Falcon is waiting for 600 Racing to update the National Pro Dirt Point Standings.

Troutman, NC (August 13, 2009)

The Crud Brother's Racing team was originally scheduled to be in action on August 15^th at the East Lincoln Speedway for Round 2 of Hot Summer Nights.  However, speedway officials have altered the schedule of events and dropped the Legends Cars from the program.  The change brings a weekend off for the team.  Now, only three races remain at ELS in the 2009 season.  Falcon Smith still holds a 66 point edge in the East Lincoln Speedway Point Standings.  The next race at ELS will be a special Raceciever National Touring Series event on August 29^th.  The winner in each division will be locked into the starting field for the 13^th Annual Legends Dirt Nationals at ELS in October.

In addition,  the Carolina Speedway has added a race on Friday, August 28^th, making it a double header weekend.

Falcon and the CBR team will be back in action at the Carolina's Action Track, Carolina Speedway, on Friday night, August 21^st.

Tough "Break" Costs Smith Carolina Speedway Points Lead

Troutman, NC (August 8, 2009) 

The Crud Brother's Racing team made the trip to Gastonia, NC's Carolina Speedway on Friday night riding the momentum of six consecutive Top 5 finishes.  The CBR team held a 34 point edge in the extremely tight Carolina Speedway Point Standings coming into the evening.  The top four drivers in the standings were only seperated by 37 markers.  It would be hard to believe that it would be even closer at the end of the night.

Falcon Smith would line up 3^rd to begin the night in the Heat Race.  On the drop of the green flag, Smith got a slow start and dropped two positions.  With very slick track conditions and only one groove worked in early on, Falcon ran in a four way battle for the second spot.  The #34 was able to slide into the 4^th position at the finish to set the stage for the A-Main later in the evening.  

The CBR team would line up 7^th to start the A-Main.  When the field took the green, Smith fell back a spot and let the field begin to sort themselves out.  Coming into Turn 3, Smith took the CBR mount to the top shelf and began to move his way through the field.  Just before halfway, the Oak Hill, OH driver dove to the bottom of the track to make a pass that would have propelled the #34 machine into the Top 5.  However, a hole in the track would break the right front suspension and force an early exit from the race, resulting in a disappointing 12^th place finish.

"I hate to have something like that take us out of a race," Smith commented.  "The track was one groove in the Heat, so that got us behiend early.  The top side was a lot better in the A-Main.  It was either go to the bottom and go through the holes towards the front, or ride around in line on the top and wait for something to happen.  The car was really fast and I think we could have had another great finish.  A parts failure is something you just can't control."

The DNF was the worst finish since the opening night of the 2009 season and cost the CBR team the lead in the season standings.  Falcon fell to 3^rd in the Carolina Speedway Point Standings, but is only 12 markers behiend the new leader.  Smith still remains atop the Ohio State Pro Division Point Standings with a commanding 1344 point edge.  Falcon is waiting for 600 Racing to update the National Pro Dirt Point Standings.

Troutman, NC (August 1, 2009)

Due to rain thoughout the week, East Lincoln Speedway officials were forced to cancel the racing action for Saturday, August 1^st. 

No racing means no change in the East Lincoln Speedway Point Standings.  Falcon Smith remains at the top of the heap with a 66 point advantage.  After the rain out, only four races remain for the Legends Cars at East Lincoln in 2009.