Round 10 - Milwaukee Mile

The famous Milwaukee Mile played host to round 10 of the series.

I was fastest after the 10 lap practise session with a time of 30.333.
.

Could I go one better in qualifying and grab the pole? The answer was yes, a time of 30.285 was good enough!

In the race disaster struck as early as lap 2 when I spun out. I fought back to the front but too aggressiely for the stewards as I was black flagged on lap 46. Undettered I fought back to finish on the podium in 3rd place. I led 27 of the 80 laps.

My fastest lap of the race was a 30.129 which was quicker than my qualifying time!

I was now up to 2nd in the standings

Round 9 - Michigam International Speedway

Michigan Super Speedway was home to round 9 of the series.

This high banked oval which boasts speeds of 153mph in the corners is one of Nascar's fastest tracks.

The race weekend started off with the mandatory 10 lap practise session. I was just inside the top 5, placing 3rd with a time of 41.442.

Qualifying next and the question was could I get further up the grid? The answer was no as I could only manage 6th.

The race turned out to be something special for me - no black flags. I ran in the top 3 all race, mostly either 1st or second but had the misfortune to drop to third two laps from the finish. I was happy enough with an uneventful race and a podium finish.

My best time of the race was 41.448 not quite my fastest of the race weekend.

I was up to 5th in the standings.

Round 8 - Texas Motor Speedway

Round 8 took place at one of the fastest tracks on the championship circuit, Texas Motorspeedway.

The race weekend started well as I was fastest straight out of the box in practise with a time of 33.836 after the mandatory 10 laps.

I was a tad faster in qualifying and managed to claim pole position with a time of 33.858.

The 67 lap race was a success for me. In most previous races at Texas I'd been leading the race but had run out of fuel very close to the end with my opposition making it to the end. With the 5% increase in race length I was sure everyone would have to pit.

With this in mind I led for the first 34 laps until there was a caution period. I decided to take advantage of the yellow and pitted for fresh tyres and fuel. I restarted dead last but quickly began to make my way through the pack. My strategy played out during the last 10 laps or so when all of the other cars pitted for fuel. I was able to pass them and finish first.

My best lap of the race was a 33.663 which was my fastest of the race weekend.

I was 6th in the standings, 91 points behind the leader.

Round 7 - Dover, Delaware

The Monster Mile that is Dover played host to round 7 of the series.

As with recent rounds in practise I was fastest with a best time of 27.190.

Qualifying went well as I posted the fastest time and secured another pole position (27.088).

The raced turned out to be yet another fuel related disaster.

I kept the lead from pole for the majority of the laps. There were 2 yellow flag periods (not caused by me) before halfway so when I got the 'halfway on fuel' message just as I reached the mid point of the race I knew that I would either have to pit or if I got lucky run out as I passed the chequered flag.

Alas, for me the 'fuel almost out' message spelt the end of my race as I received it with only 5 laps to go.

To make matters worse I was caught speeding on the pit lane and had to serve a drive through penalty.

I ended up 36th and last.

 

My best lap of the race was 26.993.

I led 70 of the 80 laps.

I was now 7th in the chanpionship standings 154 points behind the leader.

Round 6 - Lowes Motor Speedway

The sixth round of series saw the trucks roll in to Lowes motorspeedway (formerly Charlotte) in North Carolina.

Another solid practise session where again I was fastest with a time of  32.555 after the 10 laps.

Qualifying almost followed the pattern of practise as I was fastest with a time of 32.465.

I led for most of the first half of this race and as it went on I began to confidently think of victory.
Just before halfway I was notified that I was halfway on fuel. I decided to pit after I had recieved my bonus points for leading the most laps.

I managed to recover to finish 4th however as has happened previously no one else stopped for fuel!

I led 28 of the 54 laps.

I was up to 5th in the standings, 106 points behind.

I set a fastest time of 32.420.

Round 5 - Kansas

Round 5 took place at the very fast Kansas Motor Speedway.

As usual it seems I had a very good practise session, topping the timing sheets with a time of 34.088.

Qualifying did not go so well as I could only manage a 33.823 which saw me on the 3rd row in 6th place.

It didn't take long fo me to move up the order in the race. I managed to hold the lead until I was informed that I didn't have enough fuel to last the race.

I stayed out front until lap 38 when I was sure that I had gained the 5 bonus points for leading the most laps. I then pitted. I came out of the pits a lap down and was making my way back to the front when all the other cars pitted as well. I was then in a good position to be able to claim another win.

I was up to 7th in the standings 108 points behind.

My fastest lap of the race was a 33.687.

I led 42 of the 67 laps.

Round 4 - Martinsville

Round 4 of the series took place on the tight 'paper clip' 0,5 mile oval that is Martinsville.

I was quckest over the 10 lap practise session with a time of 20.942.

I bettered that time in qualifying as I managed pole with a time of 20.875.

In the race, I led all 77 of the 100 laps. I didn't win the race because I got a black flag on lap 53 and another on the very last corner whilst leading.

My eventual finishing position was a sorry 17th.

I did set a best lap time of 20.508 which was my fastest of the weekend.

I was still 10th in the standings 146 points behnd the leader.