NEW SMYRNA, FL - The Hooker crew discovered that they had too much front sway bar as a heavier crew member than the usual one had set it and that may have contributed to the steering problem on the previous night of racing. The camber and caster were checked and adjusted as well as the sway bar was replaced with a lighter one in preparation for the third night of racing at New Smyrna Speedway.
The practice session proved that the adjustments were just what the car needed to get around the corners with a little more speed and the team looked forward to a good run. Prior to getting in the car for the nights race, Kirk and the crew helped out fellow Ontarians, Justin McLellan and Shawn McWhirter with a bent rear end housing that was affecting their car. With a little heat and ice, the rear end housing came into line and it was hoped that it would help the team advance from their 8th and 13th place finishes on their two nights of racing in the crate late model class with Justin behind the wheel.
The #38 Bai Cor Logistics Chevy lined up 11th in a field of 15 cars for the 3rd race in three nights and as the green flag was brought out, the #08 and #51 got together on the main straightaway putting up a cloud of smoke that covered the track at the starters stand. Kirk piloted the car through the smoke with closed eyes and to his benefit there were no cars hidden and he came cleanly through the smoke without a scratch.
The #38 would now start 5th behind the #26x, #63, #26 and #4b on the inside lane. On the first lap of the restart as Kirk got past the #63, the #27 and #2 managed a pass him on the outside before the caution returned for the #92 who spun on his own in turn two. On the restart, Kirk was pulling away from the #60 behind him however; the #08 and #63 were coming on strong. The top six cars including the #38 pulled away from the rest of the field by the 5th lap and the #63 behind Kirk looked like he was not gaining any ground. At the half way mark, the leaders were running two and three wide allowing Kirk to gain a little ground on the front runners.
The crew were all on the radio giving encouragement to their driver as the caution came out for the #63 who spun on the backstretch on lap 19, putting the field together. Under caution, Kirk reported that the car was starting to come in real good and that he was ready for the final 6 lap shootout. With 5 laps to go the #08 got on the outside or Kirk to make the pass as the #2 got past the #26 for the lead. With three laps remaining it was the #2, #26, #26x, #4b, #27, #08 and the #38 Dig R Wright Chevy who would maintain their positions to the checkered flag bringing the #38 Hooker Brothers Team home with a respectable 7th place finish and a damage free car.
From Ken Spira
