From Craig Revelle – Finish Line Web Design
Sometimes racing can be like a roller coaster ride, filled with ups and downs, twists and turns as we go through the duration of the ride. This past weekend, Chris Raabe's ride lasted 3 days, and saw many twists and turns in the road as the weekend progressed.
The weekend started of on Friday evening at the Can-Am Motorsports Park in Lafargeville, New York, just minutes from the 1000 Islands Border Crossing.
Raabe started from the 24th starting position, but swiftly moved his Scott Industrial Services, Kingston RV, Tyroute Telus, Corcoran Excavating, McColman Media, Kwik Load Products, Canadian Tire Cataraqui, Kingston Hyundai, Word for the World Ministries, Aaron’s Sales & Leasing, Endura Paints, Brunet Plumbing, Waste Management and Finish Line Web Design sponsored TEO car up through the field at a blistering pace.
Through the halfway point of the event, Raabe positioned himself into the top 5. An unfortunate caution slowed the pace in the closing laps, allowing the field to realign itself for the final shootout. As the race resumed, The 01 car fought hard for a top 5, but on the final lap, contact with another car locked up the steering, and sent the car spinning towards the infield.
“We made contact with another car and the steering just locked up”, says Raabe. “It broke a tooth off inside of the steering rack, and once it locks up, I am just along for the ride”.
On Saturday evening, the team headed to the Thunder Alley Speed Park in Evans Mills, New York. The track is located just outside the Fort Drum Army base, and is just a few miles up the road from its sister track, Can-Am.
Raabe started the race in 13th place, and once again wasted no time making his way towards the front of the field. Raabe took the lead on lap 19 and held on to win his first of the season at Thunder Alley, and third victory in total for the Napanee, Ontario driver know as the “Teenage Tornado”.
“This is a great way for the team to bounce back. We were not very good in the heat race, but we made some changes, and got a lot more forward bite for the feature”, says the 18 year old superstar.
On Sunday afternoon, the team headed to Elbridge, New York, and the Rolling Wheels Raceway. Rolling Wheels is 40 minutes west of Syracuse, and is arguably one of the most challenging tracks on the DIRTcar circuit.
“The track is good shape tonight”, says Raabe. “There is a lot of tough competition here, and it is tough to win”.
It was a tough night for the Raabe team, fighting an ill-handling racecar the entire night, as well as battling track position, and a fiercely competitive field of cars. Raabe started the race from last place, and finished 25th.
This coming weekend, the 01 team will be back at Can-Am and Thunder Alley as they look for a smoother ride throughout the weekend.
The team will be unveiling its new line of merchandise later this month. Don’t forget to stop by the 01 hauler, or visit chrisraabe.com to make your purchase.
Photo Courtesy of Rick Young (www.rickattheraces.com)
