Hard Working Driver
Tonight's hot action at Bemidji Speedway included Skyler taking first place in the Mod-4 heat, and 5th in the feature. In his heat, he started on the pole, raced out front and stayed out front. Conrad Schwinn in the white No. 6 tried and tried to catch him, but couldn't make up any ground.
In the feature, his position as points leader and heat winner put Skyler well back in the pack as they charged toward the green flag. From fourth row, inside, he ran up against slow traffic and flattened his front bumper when the lead cars slowed on a false start. On the line-up for a re-start, crew chief Bill ran to the on-track flag man and pointed out Skyler's mashed bumper. The chief pit steward and a helper took advantage of the yellow flag pause to bend the red pipe upright into a token bumper--enough to keep Skyler in the race. On the restart, Skyler got tagged in the left rear (see photos) by No. 11x, who broke a wheel and headed to the pits not to return.
The rest of the feature was choppy, with two more restarts, but a pleasing duel developed with yellow No. 42, driven by Brian Borquin. Skyler ran a strong line, and tried high and low, but could not pass the crafty Brian. The checkered flag found Skyler in fifth place. We'll take it. Some bent tin and a front bumper that looks beyond repair--but we'll see what miracles chief Bill can do.
As mentioned last week, Skyler is doing double duty at the race track. In addition to Team Weaver's Mod-4, he also drives the blue and white No. 15 Midwest Modified. When the Mod-4 heat and feature ends, he leaps out and runs to the "B Mod", which is waiting for him along with its pit crew (see photos). This extra seat time is a real gift from a couple of great guys who co-own No. 15, and like how Skyler drives.
In the big Modified, he had a nice heat run, finishing third, and started the feature in the pole position. Early in the race, after a multi-car spin-out and a yellow flag call that no one understood, Skyler ended up at the rear of the 10 car field. But he ran smoothly the rest the race, making up ground to seventh place, before eventually fading to ninth. No. 15's owners had no complaints but for the mystery penalty on the yellow flag. Neither did Skyler. "I'm a beginner in a B-Mod, and those guys are running hard for points," he said, meaning the other drivers. For Team Weaver and Skyler, some free seat time in a B-Mod is great practice for next year.
After the second feature, Skyler said, "Wow--two races is a lot of work. I'm tired!" We all had a good laugh, and then packed up to race another day.
I was checking for blogs related mini sprint racing and somehow came across yours.
Sure looks very muddy is some of those pictures. The track my brother drives at is watered througout the night, but the water truck drives quick so it never gets real muddy.
Dirt tracking is new to me as I grew up with my dad doing the late models on asphalt.
Do you have any video of the races that can be watched? I enjoy watching race videos, particularly from random short tracks across the country that you would not see otherwise.
Here's to "turning right, going left"!
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Hi Mr. Weaver, I raced with Skylers brother Billy in the Mini Stocks and I stumbled across your articles and the pictures and it brought back some of the great memories of summer and I am going to be on the lookout for your book when it comes out.
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