On a mild summer Saturday
night that brought the 2008 Super Late Model Division at Toyota
Speedway to a close, D & D Construction Specialties/Dan Moore Racing
had a roller coaster of emotions. Dan Moore, driver of the #9 D & D
Construction Specialties Ford Fusion was trying to finish out the year
with his best points finish in the highly competitive SLM series at
Toyota Speedway.
Dan has raced for 6 years in the SLM division, and has a pair of
4th place finishes in 2003 and 2006. Dan came into the night third in
points, just 54 points out of second, and 58 points ahead of the 4th
place competitor. Dan was looking to bring home a win, or a couple of
top fives to secure his third place finish, or, if luck was in his
favor, a second place finish in the points. After a year long battle
with second-generation driver Travis Thirkettle (2nd in points), the
2006 Late Model Champion and 14 year veteran and former Southwest Tour
competitor Nick Joanides, (2008 SLM Champion), Dan has had a tough
fight on his hands all year.
For the last race of the season, Team owner Denise Moore had given
the green light for Dan Moore to bring his shop guys out as a way of
thanking them for all their hard work over the season. D & D
Construction Specialties/Dan Moore Racing mechanic, Rod Johnson Jr.
(RJ) would be making his debut in the SLM division, along with Rip
Michels who is the chassis specialist/ Team Manager for D & D
Construction Specialties/Dan Moore Racing Team.
The team was pumped as Friday night’s practice had Dan the fastest
in the session, with RJ second fastest. Rip, with a brand new car
identically prepared to Dan’s, and a motor provided by D & D
Construction Specialties/Dan Moore Racing Team, was experiencing some
new car blues that would have the team working all night, and most of
the day on Saturday. Saturday’s practice times were equally
impressive. As RJ had a quick time with an 18:522, and Dan Second with
an 18.622, Rip continued to have problems and was only 12th on the
speed charts.
As qualifying began, RJ was first out, and in his first SLM
qualifying attempt, put down a lap of 18.399, good for 8th. Rip, after
working out the bugs, went out second and posted a lap of 18.059, good
for 1st, and Dan went out third from last and posted the 5th quickest
time of the night with an 18.322. The team was happy as all three cars
were in the top ten, and Rip’s qualifying lap was the fastest
qualifying time of the year.
The invert was a one, which would put Rip on the pole for the first
of the twin 25 lap races. At the drop of the green flag, Rip and
outside pole sitter, David Ross, took off and by turn two, Rip had a
commanding 5 car length lead, a lead he would not give up. Dan battled
hard and was among a five-car battle for third place for most of the
25 lap race. Dan would finish 6th in the first race after a
side-by-side battle with series champion Nick Joanides. RJ would be
dealt a mechanical issue that saw the young driver’s night end from a
right front shock mount breaking on lap 8. He would finish the night
in 21st.
The second race starting position was determined on where you
finished in the first 25 lap race. Rip was on the pole, and Dan would
start 6th. At the drop of the green flag, Rip jumped to the lead only
to lose the lead to Andy Allen. Rip would regain the lead on lap 15
and went on to capture his 57th win at Irwindale Speedway, increasing
his lead on the all time wins list to 17 victories. Dan would again be
in a five-car battle for third. He wound up finishing 4th, which gave
him a career best 3rd place finish in the series points standings.
“I am a little bummed out that we did not finish all the laps,”
said RJ. “My goal was to finish all the laps, we did not do that. But
I know that this is racing, sometimes things work out, and sometimes
they don’t. I really want to thank Dan and Denise for giving me this
opportunity. All in all, I had a blast and it was a huge learning
experience.”
“I am also thankful for Dan and Denise allowing me the use of one
of their motors, otherwise this brand new car would still be sitting
in my garage,” said Rip Michels. “I am glad that some of the members
from my championship teams were able to come out. Since we only raced
once this year back in April, they were a little rusty, but put
together a hell of an effort which brought home the two wins.”
Dan was equally excited, “I am happy for Rip and my entire team,
although I would love to win. I know the team works just as hard as I
do to accomplish this, this is a very competitive series. A lot of
great drivers race here, and it is not an easy task to win. I am
thankful to my wife for allowing me the opportunity to race, but also
my family, who comes out every weekend I race to support me. If this
were easy, everybody would do it. I am just more determined than ever
to get that first win, but more importantly, a championship.
Consistency is the key, if we are in the top five every week, will
have a chance to win,” commented Dan.
D & D Construction Specialties/Dan Moore Racing Team would like to
thank the following sponsors. Stock Building Supply, Victory Circle,
Peters Racing Engines, Performance Friction Brakes, Ringers Gloves,
Orme Brothers, Brown & Miller, Quarter Master, Circle Racing Wheels,
Aurua Bearings, BC Sportsimages, Schroeder Torsion Bars, Rock Solid
Designs, Ron's Rear Ends, Naake Suspension, Apache Rental Group and
Works of Art Johnson
For more information about Rip Michels and his sponsors, please visit
www.ripmichels.com
Source: LRM Sports Marketing, Inc. |
