The summer has been extremely busy and this week has probably been the busiest so far so I apologize for being behind schedule. We don't have a race this weekend but Aaron did race about 180 laps in less than a week so it will be nice to have the weekend off.
Friday, July 3rd - Elko started a new 7 race series for the Raceway Mini-Stocks. Originally Elko said we couldn't race both divisions so we had been praying for wisdom whether to continue racing Super Hornets or just race the Mini-Stocks. Aaron had decided to just race Mini-Stocks but at 3:30 while we waiting to get into the track, we got a phone call saying that we could race both. We unloaded the racecar and Aaron quickly drove the truck home to get our Super Hornet tires. Elko set it up so we had just enough time in between divisions to change all 4 tires and change out the air filter/cold air intake as each division has different rules. Aaron practiced using the Mini-Stock tires, we then changed tires and set up the car for Super Hornets. Aaron started 1st in the heat and he took off and won the race. We then changed tires and set up the car for Mini-Stocks. The Mini-Stocks race on the inside track for turns 1 and 2 and the car wouldn't turn very well so Aaron started out 8th in the heat, quickly went to the back and then started getting the hang of it and ended up 7th. We then changed tires and set up the car for the Super Hornets. Aaron started 3rd in the feature and was making his way to the front when another car got into him and I remember thinking "We're done for the weekend" as he headed toward the wall but we thank God that Aaron was able to pull out of it and although he got sent to the back he ended up 5th. We then changed tires and set up the car for the Mini-Stock feature where he started out 1st. We had to make some big changes to the tire pressure because we needed the car to turn especially with Aaron starting out front. Two of the faster cars ended up passing him and we were really thankful for a 3rd place finish! We were then able to go up into the stands to watch a few races and ended the night with fireworks. The Assistant Pastor, his wife, their 3 children and 2 of their nieces came out to watch Aaron race. There was also another couple from church that came out. My parents were also there. It was a very exciting night. We ended up handing out a lot of candy, toys and literature. We ended up giving one lady a small bag full of our stuff so she could share it with her nephews.
Saturday, July 4th - Aaron raced a 100-lap Enduro race at Raceway Park. These races usually scare me as I watch Aaron squeeze through lots of other cars. Around lap 40, Aaron shifted and the car ended up jumping up on the back fender of another car but he bounced right back out. I jumped up and got up to the fence to see if he had any damage. The right front fender was sticking out but it looked like he was fine. At lap 50 there was a 10-minute mandatory pit stop in which we usually just get lined up back on the track. However, I told him to go to our pits. As I was running to our pitslab, a fellow racer from Elko went flying past me and beat me to our pits. He asked for some duck tape and he used that and a sledge hammer to get the fender away from the tire and bent back in. I scanned the tires and they all looked amazingly good. So, Aaron went back out on the track and finished the Enduro in 9th place (unofficially). We watched the rest of the races and some more great fireworks. We handed out more candy, toys and literature and hung out for a little while. My Mom was there and so was a couple that used to go to our church as well as there son.
Wednesday, July 8th - Rousch-Fenway night at Elko Speedway. Jack Rousch, Greg Biffle and Erik Darnell were there for a meet and greet autograph session and Erik raced with Elko's late models. Aaron raced in the Super Hornet division. He started out 6th in the heat and ended up 4th. He started out 1st in the feature and finished 2nd after several laps side by side with #33 who ended up 3rd.
ALS Walk Update - Thanks to Jan Moen, Tom Hakala, Pam Wolfe and Denise Bowe I have already raised $275 which is 55% of my goal. I thank God for all of you!
Michelle
July 22nd: Dirt Nationals! It was really exciting to see dirt on Elko's asphalt track and to share the pits with Modifieds and Sprint cars. However, the way the CRX is set up now, it wasn't super fast in dirt. Aaron finished 11th in the heat and 9th in the feature. There were a few Super Hornet cars that showed up from local dirt tracks that dominated in the heat but it was exciting to see our Elko guys finish 1st, 2nd and 3rd in the feature! We are very thankful that the car is still in one piece.
