In the feature, Skyler got a fast jump from the outside pole position, and led for 12 of the 15 laps.  But Schwinn gambled low in turn four, getting his nose alongside Skyler and forcing our No. 16 high.  Schwinn completed the pass, and went on to win the checkered flag and $500 along with a giant trophy.

Team Weaver wanted that win, but we were happy with the evening--until news came that someone had protested our engine.  In racing, there are various methods to prevent cheating, and a "protest" means that another driver suspected that Team Weaver was cheating.  That our engine was not to Mod-4 specs.   A protesting driver must put down $200 cash, and then racing officials and technicians completely take apart the engine and measure everything.  If the engine passes inspection, the protesting driver loses his $200--and a lot of a face.  Making a protest, or in other car classes, an engine "claim" (which actually involves competing drivers swapping engines) is a serious matter.  

In our case, the protesting driver is Brian Bourquin, who drives yellow No. 42, from Grand Rapids.  Bourquin finished a close second behind us in the season championship.  The best we can figure out, is that Bourquin hopes the officials will find something amiss with our engine--which means Team Weaver would forfeit all our points for the season--and then Bourquin would be the track champion.

Because this weekend's racing is a two day event, our engine inspection will take place at the conclusion of tonight's race.  In the mean time, our car was impounded and had to be locked up (just like NASCAR) in our trailer and left at the speedway overnight.  Crew Chief Bill Smith, to make sure there was no tampering with our trailer or car, slept at the speedway last night to keep an eye on our equipment. 

If you've read earlier entries, you'll remember me speaking of Brian Bourquin and his yellow No. 42 in friendly terms. Well, no more of that.  That ship has sailed.  Nobody is happy about what Bourquin has done.  And while we are confident of passing the engine inspection (we bought the engine from a professional engine builder and have never had it apart), there is a still a shadow of doubt and anxiety until we know for sure.    Stay tuned.  I'll have the results of all this later tonight.