April 14, 2007
Kennedale Speedway Park
In my qualifying race I started on the outside of row 2. I was stuck behind the guy that started in front of me for several laps and while that was going on the leader had a half a lap lead. I finally got around the driver and it was time to hammer down. Every lap I was reeling in the leader and with 2 laps to go I passed him on the front straight. I had the lead !!! On the last lap there were some lap cars and I got hung up behind them and was passed as the checkered flag came out. I ended up in second place.
So in the feature race I started 11th and raced my butt off and got up to 4th and was getting ready to jump into 3rd place when a caution came out. I was angry because I had such a good run going. When we took the green flag again I bobbled and was passed by several cars. I held my own and was working my way back up but then another caution. I was getting wore out and my arms were hurting. Then another caution, on the restart I was asleep and got passed by a handful of cars but I held my line and drove the hardest I could with my arms hurting.
I was passed by a rookie and I had no intention of letting him stay in front of me then a car spun in turn 4 on the last lap and the rookie went high and I dove under him to take 7th place. I guess that' not too bad for my first race since last fall.
My arms are still hurting, people think that race car drivers are not athletes. Well they never drive a race car. In 20 laps you find out you had muscle in your arms that you did not know you had.
April 20, 2007
Grand Prairie Speedway
April 20 was our first friday show at Grand Prairie Speedway in Grand Prairie, Texas and what a night it would turn out to be. It would be a night of highs and lows for me.
In the heat race I started on outside of the second row and by lap 2 I took the led and never looked back. I was told I had a half a straight led over the second place car. I was amazed that I won since my car had a terrible push in the coners plus the track was like driving on ice. Anyway I was pumped after the heat race since this was my first heat race victory but the excitement turned to anger before the night was over.
In the feature race I started on the 5th row inside. I was running a heck of a race but I noticed my car would bogdown going into the turns but coming out of the turns I had full power. I worked my way to 5th place and was charging toward the front. Then the excitement I had turned sour. going into turn one my car fell flat on its face and pulled of the track and onto the trailer.
When I pulled on the trailer and got out of the car smoke was coming from under my hood and I thought I blown my motor.
I went home and pulled the hood off and there was no oil, no holes anywhere and no clue what happened.
I talked with a motorcycle engine guru and he stated that he thought I was running too lean and that the carbs was starving for gas when entering the corners and that would also make my car run hot. Well this week I'll be changing the jets in the cab and do a compression check to make sure there are no other issues.
I did drop from 6th place in points to 8th place but we only ran 2 races so I am sure that will change again so I'm not to worried.
My next race will be May 4th at the same track so I hope the next time I do a write up it will be from victory lane.
Until then next time, run hard and turn left.
May 12, 2007
Cowtown Speedway
What a night this would turn out to be weird night. A heavy downpour feel on the track for at least 30 minutes and I was worried we wouldn't get to race. Well I was actually hoping we would get raced out because I knew the track was going to be aweful. That turned out to be wrong. The pits were aweful, I got stuck in the pits when I pulled in. So I parked where I stopped. Now it was time to unload the car into the swamp that was at the end of my trailer. Wow you should see my four wheeler. It got sooooo muddy and the funny part is I did not even unload it off the trailer.
We finally heat the track but it was not as bad as I thought it was going to be. I started inside second row and ran 2nd the whole race. The track was alittle glassy so I was trying to adjust my brake bias into the right spot but all I did was create a bad push going into turns 3 and 4. I drove as hard as I could but the track was soo slick. I pulled within 2 car lengths of the first place car but I just held my line and followed him araound the track.
Now it's feature time and I started 5th row inside. I had a good start and was running an awesome race stying out of trouble. I was slowly moving up but a caution came out so here were go. I don't like restarts to much. After we got going I got into one of the cars, well it was more like I banked off of him. When I did that somehow I broke off the valve stem on his left front tire, oopppsss. Hey it was a racing deal not intentional. On our last restart I tapped the car in front of me on the restart and it felt like he had his brakes locked up. I thought he was messing with me so I started pushing him down the front straight. Little did I know his car was broke and I just happened to be in the wrong place. That all happened with 5 laps to go. While all that excitement was going on I got passed by several cars but I hammer on and finshed 5th.
I finished 2 in the heat and 5th in the feature so I guess I did alright. So far this season I have 1 first place and 2 second place finishes in the heat races. At least I'm consistant.
Our race 2 weeks ago I pulled off the track during the feature and finished in 17th. That dropped me from 6th in points to 8th in points. So maybe with my finish tonite I'll move back up a few spots.
Our next race with be in a couple of weeks so maybe I can finally get me a victory. I'm getting close but not close enough.
Best Wishes and remember RUN HARD AND TURN LEFT.
James Armstrong
June 9, 2007
Cowtown Speedway
Well I don't really have alot to say about last nights race. In my heat race I started inside second row and finished 2nd. In the feature race I started outside 5th row. I was running a great race and worked my way up to 5th. I was eyeing the 4th place car then when I was entering turn 3 some guy decided he wanted to be in the spot I was in. He slammed my left front tire and that caused me to spin. When I took off my car did a donut and I thought I had a flat tire so I went back to the pits. Turns out my tire wasn't flat but since I went back to the pits I would not have been allowed back into the race. I was really angry and like all racers should do I made sure not to have any contact with the other driver. I finished the race in 21st place.
What's bad about the whole thing is I would have moved into 2nd place in points. I will not be racing till July 21 so I guess if I would have moved into 2nd place it would have been more of a ego boost than anything else. At least I'm still 3rd place in points so I guess that's enough of a boost.
Last night James Lewis slammed the front wall and broke his arm in a couple of places.
I would like to wish him a quick recovery and look forward to seeing him on the track again.
Until next time remember to RUN HARD AND TURN LEFT.
James Armstrong
July 21, 2007
Cowtown Speedway
Hello again, I would like to start off by saying It's was great to be back in the seat again. It's been over a month since I last turned some laps and I was having withdrawals.
HOT HOT HOT and Humid !!!! That's what I have to say about saturday night. I think that I picked the wrong night to start wearing my nomex hood.
I drew a 1 and that put me in heat 3. I started outside 2nd row and finished where I started, 4th place. That was my worst finish in a heat race this season but I knew it was coming. Oh did I say it was hot? I made sure I drank alot of water but I don't think that helped.
Feature race I started on the inside of row 3 and was passed by several cars on the start but that's all good.
I just let them go cause I knew if I could work my way back toward the front. I had to drive my butt off, there were cars everywhere. I have never ran in a race where there was a car on every spot of the track. You would have thought it was a Nascar race with 43 cars on the track and the track only being 1/4 mile. It was wild and I would have hated being a scorer !!! There was so much action on the track, I was driving my butt and just when I thought I had a good run going I got stuck behind a lap car and some time cars. One time I got stuck behind three lap and that's no big deal but these three lap cars were three wide. It was great to know that there was some good racing going on throughout the field. Oh did I say that nomex hood was hot?
We ran green to checkered without a caution and that was awesome. The racing was awesome, the track was awesome. The racing action was so awesome that when I pulled of the track I had no clue where I finished.
I pulled into the tech area just in case I cracked the top 5. I asked if anyone knew where I finished but nobody had a clue. I went to the announcers stand and asked if they knew where I finished and the announcers wife said she didn't but she did say she would have hated being a scorer with the way the cars were in every spot on the track. After the scorers heads stopped spinning I found out I finished in 4th and that's alot better than what place my wife said i finished. 4th place is the best I have finished this season and I was excited but that was short lifed. I think I might have burned a piston. YUCK, but it's all good I might have to sit out a few races until I can scrap some funds up to have new pistons install but when I do I'll be back in full force. I might see if anyone has a car I can drive until I get my rolling again. I missed one race and dropped from 3rd in points to 13th and the last race I finished 4th in the heat race and 4th in the feature and only moved up two spots to 11th place in points. I sure moved down alot quicker than moving up so maybe I can find a ride.
Until next time remember to RUN HARD AND TURN LEFT,
James Armstrong
July 26, 2007
I have decided to pull the engine out and have it freshed up. I have been having some blow by and that's a sign of bad ring(s) so I feel it would be better to fix it before I have a major problem. Hopefully I'll have it up and running by my next scheduled race on August 11th.
I was informed on July 27 that I would be working 6 days a week at 12 hours a day for the next 60 days so that really screwed up my racing for the year. Well I guess I don't have to pull the engine anytime soon.
Thanks,
James Armstrong
October 14, 2007
My car is officially for sale and this will be the only place I have it listed. This car is race proven and
anyone buying this car will have no problem running in the front. The only issue I have right now is the engine needs rings. The car will run and run hard but I don't feel right racing the car until the new rings are installed. Pics of the car are althoughout this site.
The reason for the sale is mama wants another travel trailer but having the car is hindering that cause.
We want to be bleacher creators and travel around to different tracks. My kids seen that I could race so that's all I needed to prove.
My asking price is $4500.00 car only or $5000 with 18 foot trailer.
If interested send me a email. Click on the email link to contact me and if I have no takers I'll be back next season giving it all I got. I love dwarfcars and eveything about racing them. This one of the bet cars I have driven.
