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3/28/08
Well the race this past weekend at Lanier Speedway wasn't too good of one. However I can say that I learned some more about the car as we tried different setups on it. The day started off with me drawing eighth for the second heat race which started me on the poll. I started the heat race fairly confident with the setup under my car but quickly found out it was a little bit off. I quickly fell back a few spots and found myself riding in fifth place pretty much the entire heat race. With two heat races for the Pro/Masters division, my finish had me starting tenth in the main race in a field stacked full of good racecars. I knew I was going to have my work cut out for me but with the changes we made on the car prior to the main race I was confident it was going to go well. Little did I know my fortunes wouldn't last long in the main event of the night. Coming to the green flag, the two cars in the row in front of me got together and shot straight up the track into the outside wall. I tried slowing down enough to where I could make it past after the carnage got over but I think I locked the brakes down too much and I went straight into the wall just shy of the other two cars. There wouldn't have been very much I could have done but if I could do it again I would definitely try something different. We are heading back to Lanier this weekend to try again and hopefully luck will be back on the Aaron's Dream Machine's side this time around.
-Trey
3/18/08
Well the first official INEX race of the 2008 season was an exciting one for sure. It wasn't only exciting for myself in the Aaron's Dream Machine, but also for the entire Bill Elliott Racing Team. It was Chase's first Legends race in the Semi-pro division. As for the racing, it was exciting but more so than usual. We had quite a crowd down there even for the Pro/Masters division. I drew 38 for the start of the heat race and that put me starting fifth. After our one session of practice we made an adjustment to the right front camber to get the car to turn a little better in the middle of the corner and it seemed to help. I also made a wedge adjustment to loosen the car up because it was pretty tight in practice. Well we went out for the heat race and I was confident about the car. I got a great start and drove it off into turn one making it three wide on the inside. I got by both the fourth and third place car before the entrance to the corner and then it was time to run down the second place guy. I got right up on the second place car with about three to go and just ran right behind him to let him know I was there. Going off into turn one of the final lap I pushed the second place guy down into the corner but just didn't push him far enough. Instead of nudging him up the track I gave him more of a boost and I ended up finishing just behind him in third place.
With two Pro/Master heat races, that started me on the third row inside. The final race started off pretty normal and there wasn't anything too exciting. I started fifth and held onto it until I started moving forward. Myself and another car got under the third place car pushed him from third to fifth. After we made that pass it turned into a green flag run for a while. Here I was just trying to run consistent quick lap times and it turned out myself and the third place guy were running down the leaders. Then we got a little help and a caution came out for a two car spin in turn two. When the green flag dropped again we got real racey. The second and third place guys bumped tires right in front of me and I thought we were about to have a wreck, but they held onto it and we kept charging. Myself and the third place guy started racing and swapping spots back and forth. Fortunately for us the top two cars were racing hard too so they didn't get too far away. I was running in forth place right on the bumper of the third place guy when on the last lap, just in front of us, the second place guy spun coming out of turn two. I got way sideways through turns one and two just before the spin and I felt like I was driving a dirt car. Well me getting so sideways allowed the third place guy to get under me on the backstretch and we sailed off into turns three and four running two wide. It was a drag race to the line but I had the momentum coming off of turn four on the high side and took third place in the main race. It was a great start to the 2008 season and I can't wait to see what next week holds for us. We are going to throw a different setup under the Aaron's Dream Machine and see if we can't pull off a win. I want to thank everyone for helping out with the car at the track this weekend and I cannot wait to go racing again next weekend!
-Trey
3/14/08
The twelfth and final week of the Georgia Winter Series was a cold one to say the least. To start things off, we only drew and raced during Cup Weekend. So we had no practice and were not sure how the cars would be as we rolled onto the track. By the time the pro race came around, we were well into the night and it was absolutely freezing cold. Well I drew the pole position for the race and I knew what I had to do. I was sitting second in points: twelve points behind the leader. I had to go out there and finish 5 spots ahead of the first place guy in points to capture the Winter Series Championship, but there were only 8 cars, so I had my work cut out for me. The race finally started after three or four pace laps and it was off to the races. I jumped out to the lead and held it for twelve laps. On the thirteenth lap the leader in points passed me and held on for the win. I came home second in the race and in overall points. For not having any practice, my car handled very good. I was just getting beat rolling through the center of the corner, I had a great time in the Georgia Winter Series and I have to thank all of my sponsors: Aaron's, ABF, the Dawsonville Pool Room, and the Georgia Racing Hall of Fame. I cannot wait until the upcoming summer season. Hopefully we'll be competing for a championship in the pro division.
- Trey
3/2/08
The eleventh week of the Georgia Winter Series has come and gone. We unloaded the car on a beautiful Saturday afternoon at Cordele and weren't too good to start off with. I went out for the first practice and couldn't even drive the car so I didn't stay out long at all. I came in and made a wedge adjustment to tighten the car up and went back out for the second practice hopeing it would fix my problems, but all it did was make the car a tad better. So during the driver's meeting, between the final practice and heat race, I found myself thinking about what to do with the car the whole time. After te driver's meeting I hurried back to my car and made the adjustments that I thought were necessary to fix the car, just hopeing that it would be good enough for the heat race. Heat race time came around and I rolled up to the grid not having a clue what the car was going to do. I took the green flag in third place and before we got to the line I had my nose under the pole sitter, but he chopped me off going into turn one. I stayed right on his bumper and coming onto the back stretch we were nose to tail. Right before we dove off into turn three I cut down on him and took the spot. From there I was in the lead just running consistent laps when all of a sudden with two to go the second place car blew by me on the front stretch. I led four laps and brought the car home in second place in the heat race. I came back in and went through tech and my right rear tire was worn out so I changed it and was ready to go back out. With the amount of stagger the new tire put in the car I was bad loose in the main race. I started on the outside pole and before the end of the first lap I was running third. I finally fell in line in fifth place and was barely hanging onto the car just hopeing for a caution. When I got the caution I hurried into the pits and had my uncle make a small wedge adjustment, but it turned out to be a little too bit of one. I went back out in the back of the pack and drove the car back up through the field until catching the 26 car. He was tough to pass and kept chopping me off every time I would make a move to pass him. The car was real good after the pit stop and I wish I could've gotten by that guy so I could run down the rest of the pack. It was definitely a hectic day for the Aaron's Dream Machine but I learned a lot out there this weekend and that's what we're here to do: learn about what we're doing and have fun while doing it. I came home in third place in the pro division and considering how the day started out; I was proud of run we had. I cannot wait until next weekend for the race at AMS.With the way we ran at the 1/4 mile last time I'm confident we can bring home a win with the Aaron's Dream Machine. It's going to be an exciting race to conclude the Georgia Winter Series.
- Trey
2/25/08
Well the third and final road course race at Atlanta Motor Speedway was definitely an exciting one. Maybe not from from everyone else's standpoint, but from mine it was awesome. It initially looked like we wouldn't get the race in due to the weather but mother nature stopped just soon enough for us to get the race in. Due to the low number of legend cars there, we just had our practice/qualifying and then our main race. So they lined us up by our fastest times in qualifying and to my surprise they didn't invert the field. That turned out very good for me since I had the pole position so I wasn't worried about getting caught up in an early accident. Well the main race started and we were two by two going down the front stretch and off into a fast turn one left-hander. By turn three I had cleared the second place car and had the preferred line goin through turn three and into the S's. Before the end of the first lap there was a big pile up and yes, knowing my luck, I would have been caught up in it. Well since we had not made one complete lap, they restarted us double file again and this time I got a better start. I had the second place car outrun before the exit of turn one. From the time I got out front it was just like any other race. I was just trying to click off fast and consistent laps, which I did. I ran 9 laps at one minute flat and the other lap I ran just about 5 tenths slower than that. Myself and the second place car stayed together out front, but I had a few car lengths on him the entire race. It was pretty much a follow the leader deal after we got going. There were no more cautions and I got into a groove. I just about wrecked the car three or four times coming out of the last S-turn but I held onto the car and drove it home for my first Legends Pro division win. I knew we were good enough to get it done, and I knew it was coming to us soon, but I was still ecstatic about the win. It was definitely and spectacular weekend for the Aaron's Dream Machine. I want to thank all of my other sponsors as well: ABF, the Dawsonville Pool Room, and the Georgia Racing Hall of Fame. Hopefully we can carry our momentum here in the last two races of the Winter Series and bring home another victory.
- Trey
2/11/08
Race nine of the Georgia Winter Series was a decent weekend for the Aaron's Dream Machine. We got the car put back together after the accident at the road course in Atlanta thanks to the guys back at the shop and I can't thank them enough. We unloaded the car and went out for the first practice. I wasn't sure what I would have for a car after changing the whole rear end, and I found out real quick it wasn't how it used to be. We came in and between practices made an adjustment to free the car up middle-off and that helped the car getting into the corner. I started fourth in my heat race and ran fourth the whole race, which started me seventh in the main. Between the heat race and feature I made a slight adjustment to tighten the car up but it turned out the adjustment was not the right one. I should have just left the car alone and ran it a tad loose. But we started seventh in the main race and quickly got up to fifth. By the time I got by the fifth place car, the front pack had put a few carlengths on me. I wasn't gaining or loosing anything to the front runners but it's just so hard to make up ground when everybody is running so close on times. The car was fairly tight and I couldn't really get back on the gas when I wanted to which was killing my corner speed. I ended up fifth overall and fourth in my class. If I can ever get a good hold on the adjustments for this track we'll be competing for the win. Our next race is at the road course and I cannot wait to get back there and run for the win. Hopefully we'll have some better luck this time in the Aaron's Dream Machine.
- Trey
2/6/08
Well race eight of the Winter Series and the make-up road race took place this weekend on a gorgeous day. The day started well with our practice and qualifying where I posted the fastest overall time and took the pole position for the heat race. The heat race started and I immediately jumped out to a healthy lead. For six laps it was all about hitting my marks, being consistent, and running six clean laps. The second place car and I pretty much left the field and I stayed out front the entire time. The car was awesome in the heat race so I didn't touch it. I headed out to the grid for the main race feeling great about the car and my chance to win the race, but low and behold when I got out there they had inverted the field again. Needless to say I wasn't a happy camper, but I still knew I had the best car out there and I was focused on steadily working my way to the front. The green flag flew and we were off. It didn't take long for the first caution to come out; it happened on the first lap. I had passed about five cars in the first lap and was just taking it easy and being smart, not putting my car in danger. Well the green flag flew once again after the caution and this time we got to run a complete lap. I passed a few cars on the first half of the track and when coming to the final straightaway and turn I got by five more cars. From there I was sitting in about sixth or seventh and I had set sail for the lead pack. I had all but caught up to them by turn three, but that is when the whole tide of the race changed. I saw a car getting sideways in the corner way before I got there and all he did was loop it. I had already committed to the inside of the turn and he started to roll back. I had my car in the inside grass and was hammer down trying to get by him, but he just didn't get to the brakes in time and the right side of my car went over his rear frame horn. I knew as soon as I hit that something was wrong. I fired my car back up and started heading back to the garage, trying to feel it out on the way. It felt like the track bar was broke but once we got back to the garage we found that the whole rear end housing was bent out like three or four inches. I definitely had that race in the bag, but once again that luck thing wasn't on my side. I just can't seem to catch a break, but when I do I can guarantee the wins will start coming. The Aaron's Dream Machine was absolutely awesome this weekend and I cannot be more proud of how everything has come along with the car here lately. I know we will get that first win in the pro division here soon and a championship could be in the making too if we can just get a few breaks. All in all it was a great weekend and I can't complain a bit about the car. We just had a little racing accident but we'll come back and get them next weekend at Lanier.
- Trey
1/14/08
Race number six of the winter series at Lanier Speedway was an overall good weekend for the Aaron's Dream Machine. We unloaded the car at the track and I honestly wasn't sure how good it would be after comparing it to the previous race there. I had made a pretty significant change a few weeks prior to the race and was optimistic about what it would do. After the first practice I was sure we would have a good run after seeing how the change helped and the rest of the night went great. I drew twentieth which started me on the outside poll of the heat race. The start of the race went great! I ran wheel-to-wheel with the leader into turn one but started to lose a little ground in between one and two so I decided to cross him over on the back stretch but just couldn't quite get far enough under him to keep the spot. From there the leader and I ran nose to tail for the next five or six laps. The car started to go away from me towards the end of the heat race and the third place car got by me. I finished a close third in the heat race which started me sixth in the main race. The main race was good and at the start the top six cars took off. We were all running nose to tail for a majority of the race and there wasn't too much passing at all. I ran fifth for most of the race but in the final five laps things started to heat up between the third, fourth, and fifth place drivers. The fourth place car got under the third place guy going into turn three and I followed him down into the corner taking advantage of the car being up the track. I was right behind third place on the final lap and was all over him going off into turn three and four. Coming out of turn four to the checkered flag I had my bumper on his just trying to barely push him up the track to get under him. I needed about two more laps to get by him but ran out. I brought the Aaron's Dream Machine home to my third consecutive top five finish, finishing fourth. I am currently second in points for the Winter Flury Series: nine points out of first. It was a great weekend and the best I had run at Lanier Speedway. If we keep up the momentum throughout the rest of the season we should finish very good in the points and hopefully get my first feature win in the pro division.
- Trey
1/8/08
Well the first race of 2008 and the first road course race of the season was a blast. It was a great change of pace to go from constantly turning left, to putting my past racing experience to good use turning left and right. The day started off with a european style practice and qualifying, and I enjoyed that much better than drawing for position. This time we actually lined up by our fast times so it wasn't a wreckfest, at least not in the A-main. At the conclusion of our practice/qualifying I had the second fastest time overall which started me on the outside pole of the A-main. The legend's time to race rolled around and I was chomping at the bit to get started. The whole A-main race ran smooth. Not a single caution that I can remember. I started in second and ran second the whole race. I just didn't quite have to speed to keep up with the leader. I thought for sure finishing second was going to have me sitting pretty for the main feature race, but it turns out, just as my luck would have it, they inverted the field. Boy did that shake things up with the slower cars up front and faster cars in the back. It was definitely a hair raising start to say the least. Going into the first corner all I could see was dust flying and pieces of grass. We didn't even make it one complete lap and there was a big wreck in the last turn right in front of me. I had to drive the car off into the grass to avoid the accident and luckily they threw the caution flag or I would have been way behind. Sure enough on the restart it got crazy again. Going into the first corner there was another pile up three cars in front of me and I thought I was done. But luck seemed to be on my side this weekend as the cars split and I drove right between them. From there it was a charge to the front. It wasn't too difficult getting up there but by the time I did, the first two cars had checked out. I was running the car as hard as I could to catch up but I was about four of five laps shy of catching them. All of the carnage allowed the leaders to get away from me so I wound up finishing third, but it was a GREAT run for the Aaron's Dream Machine. I cannot wait until the next road course race. We'll go to Lanier here next weekend and try to back up our strong run on the road course.
- Trey
12/17/07
Race number four of the Winter Series was very exciting yet disappointing. The last race we had at the AMS "Thunder Ring" was a good one for the Aaron's Dream Machine, so I naturally expected another good run. My luck has seemed to turn around with my position draws here in the pro division and I'm definitely starting to like that. This week I drew an exciting pole position for the heat race and I was pumped up about that. I wasn't too sure what I had for a car since mother nature decided to rain on our practice the night before, but our hot laps gave me a good feeling for the car and the changes we made.
The heat race went GREAT. I started on the pole and ran away from the field leading every lap for my first heat race win in the pro division and man was I excited about the car; it was handling amazingly. I came in and didn't even touch the car. It was so hard to wait for the main race because I was so anxious to see how well I was going to do in the feature.
Well race time came around and while sitting on the grid I was getting butterflies. I mean come on, I was on the pole for my fourth ever pro race with what seemed to be a dominating car, you would be nervous too. The race started and I jumped out to a quick lead setting the pace for the first few laps. Going into turn three on about lap three I got some help from the second place driver and he turned me around. I tried to save it but couldn't so I kept the throttle pinned and looped the car around and kept going. I realized I went from leading the race to being in last just by doing a quick spin cycle. Needless to say I was fairly mad so I took it out on the track by driving as hard as I could. I was well behind everyone and was clicking off some very fast and consistent lap times: faster than I have ever run at the Thunder Ring in my Aaron's Dream Machine. I caught and passed the fifth and fourth place car pretty quickly and the march was on to the third and second place cars, who were running nose to tail the whole race. I caught them with just about four or five laps to go and they were all over the place so I didn't know which way to go to get by them safely. Finally they got into each other a little bit coming off of turn two and I thought "Here is my time to get them." So we all dove off into turn three and I tried to cross over but it just didn't work. I came off of turn four right on the third place guys bumper and going into turn one I drove it in hard to get underneath him. He didn't see me so I had to back off and I lost my momentum and that's where I ended up, fourth place.
Yeah it was a disappointing finish for the caliber of car that I had but that's racing and it happens every now and then. I just kept asking myself "Why did it have to happen on a night when I had an awesome car?" The Aaron's Dream Machine was running so good Friday night and I cannot wait to get back to the Atlanta Motor Speedway for the next race.
- Trey
12/1/07
The third race of the Winter Series was at Watermelon Capital Speedway in Cordele, and man did I love that track. It was so fast and took a smooth wheel and good car control. For the heat race I drew eighteenth and the put me starting on the outside pole of my heat race; yeah I was lucky there I guess. The heat race was very fun but it was uneventful. I ended up third and that out me starting sixth for the main race. The car was good but it took it about seven or eight laps to really come in. However, once it did come in I was flying. We were running in very tight quarters at the beginning of the race and at around lap six the car behind me got a little too close. She gave me a little help getting into turn three and set me sideways. I tried to chase it up the track but I didn't have much room at all to do so. I was in the process of diving in under someone when this took place, so I got into their left rear tire with my right front tire. Man cars were sliding everywhere: up the track, down the track, and even off the track (there aren't any walls at the track). I came into the pits to get my car checked out and that sent me to the back of the line, that being 13th place. My car wasn't hurt and it was still very fast. I drove from there back up to eighth place like a mad man, but ran out of time. The Aaron's Dream Machine was awesome down at Cordele and I cannot wait to go back there. I'm looking forward to a good run next time we visit there.
- Trey
11/24/07
Race number two of the Winter Series took place at Lanier National Speedway. I've run there quite a bit but just can't seem to get ahold of how the track changes at this place. Sure enough that came back to bite me once again in this race. I drew the pole for the Legends Pro/Masters heat race and felt like I had a decent car. It got real hairy on the start of the race and I slipped back to forth. I then regained my composure and started catching the guys up front. I was running good, catching the frontrunners when the car beside me sounded like it was starting to break. I thought it was my car and let off of the throttle hopeing I wouldn't do any more damage. Of course being my luck on the track once again, it was the car right beside me. I then had to make up all of the ground that I lost and started doing so. I was about seven carlengths behind the third place car and slowly started running him down: catching him just before the stripe. We were side my side at the finish line and I just missed finishing third. For the main race that lined me up on the outside in eighth place. My car was good in the heat race but was only a tick tight, so I loosened it up a bit. Turns out that's where the track change bit me; the track got looser for me for some odd reason. I didn't gain or lose anything in the main race and ended up finishing a disappointing eighth. The Aaron's Dream Machine was not the best it has ever been but it wasn't the worst either. Next time I'll know what to be careful of and we'll bring the car home to a good finish.
- Trey
11/9/07
The first race of the Winter Series at Atlanta Motor Speedway's quarter-mile oval was an exciting one for sure. This race was my first race of the Legends Pro division. There were only a handful of pro drivers there but it was still a fun show from the drivers seat. My luck has slowly been coming around with the drawing aspect of things, and I drew 3rd for the heat race. There wasn't much to the heat race; it was like a get in line and finish the race kind of deal but my car was handling great. Our starting position for the main race was just as the starting position for the heat race. Now things started to get a little hairy. At the start of the race I took second position and was on the leaders bumper for quite a few laps, then the third place guy out broke me going into turn one. Once he got by I could see things were starting to get antsy up front so I put a little cushion in between myself and the first two. Sure enough just a few laps later both of them got too racey and they both spun out right in front of me. I didn't have much time to react so I held my line and went straight through the middle of the two cars. Here I was leading in my first pro race, and I was about a straightaway out front. However, they threw the caution flag because one of the cars couldn't get rolling. I was still in the lead coming to the restart and I got a good restart. I immediately pulled out to about a five car length lead and was just trying to distance myself so I could run to the finish. It ended up with four laps to go I just wasn't fast enough to stay out front and the second place car put a bumper to me and moved me over, forcing me back to third: where I would wind up finishing. All in all it was a great night for the Aaron's Dream Machine: leading six laps and finishing third.
- Trey
8/4/07
Well the final week of Thursday Thunder at Atlanta Motor Speedway has come and gone. But the Bill Elliott Racing Team left off the season with a bang. I finally got that first win here at my home track in Hampton, GA! It all started with my draw. For the first time all year I finally drew the pole position for my heat race, and boy was I ecstatic. I knew I had a good car I just had to go out there and protect the bottom of the racetrack. In my heat race I took the green with the lead and led every lap to my first victory, although it was just the heat race. That set me up for the pole in the feature race and it was a LONG wait until the semi-pro Legends division went out to race. we were the last race of the night. The whole semi-pro division lined up on the grid to get ready for the race, and before you know it, it was time for out pace laps. We came off the grid behind the pace car and I was ready to get the deal started. When the green flag dropped I was hammer down to the first corner, trying to beat the outside pole sitter in there. Coming off of two, the second place car and myself were nose to tail, and that's how we stayed the whole race. On lap nine there was a lengthy red flag for a car that got into the wall coming out of turn four, and we were stuck sitting there for about five minutes. Once the pace car rolled us off again, we had just over half way to go in the race. I got a good restart and pulled the second place car by about two or three car lengths, but he got back to my bumper the next lap and was eating me up. I wasn't about to get moved out of the lead by a bumper. he was going to have to use the whole car. After a lap of bumping, I started to inch away again. Coming to the white flag I glanced in my mirror and saw that the third and second place cars were fighting for the second position. Noticing that, I just eased the car off into the corners and drove it out straight to capture my first win in Legends racing. I led every lap that I was on the track and that was a nice change of pace, not having to deal with any of the melee going on in the pack. From there it was off to Papa Johns Victory lane where my family and friends were there to congratulate me. I'm just so excited I finally got my first win, and on top of that at my home track. I have to thank my sponsors: Aaron's, ABF, the Dawsonville Pool Room, and the Georgia Racing Hall of Fame for all of their support throughout the season. Thursday night, the Dream Machine was truly a "dream" to drive!
- Trey
7/28/07
Week nine of the Thursday Thunder series didn't turn out so good. I drew fifth in the draw and that started me on the outside pole for the first heat race. At the start of the heat race I dropped a position while trying to get down to the bottom, but I quickly got the position back and set sail for the leader. The leader had a little bit of a lead once I finally got by the second place driver because he wasn't quite as fast. I ran down the leader in about a lap and just sat behind him, trying to find the best place to get by him. I was much better than him getting into the corner and coming off, but he would gain a little bit through the middle of the corner. I could turn under him coming off of the corner but my car would just step out from under me and wouldn't set down on the racetrack enough for me to pull him down the straight aways. I ended up finishing a close second in the heat race and that had me sitting in a very handsome third place for the main race, which I was excited about. After the heat race I made a small wedge adjustment to try and help the thing through the middle and up off of the corner. I came into the main race real excited because I knew I had a car that could run up front. At the start of the main race I fell into line in second place, right on the leader's bumper. I ran behind him for a few laps but got bumped out of the groove by the guy behind me and slid back to fifth. From there I was just trying to regroup and get back to the front. then it happened. The guy running behind me just got into me in the middle of the corner and took me out. That right there just ruined the race for me. I got sent to the back of the field once they threw the caution, and was once again just trying to gain as many positions as I could to capitalize on an unfortunate event. I drove the car back up to 12th pretty quick but just couldn't get a caution to close me back up to the lead pack. If that had happened then I could have gained a few more positions, but you take what you can get and that's all you can do. I ended up a sour 12th place finish but only dropped one position in the points to eighth, two points behind seventh place. I was a little frustrated after the race because I knew I had a contending car for the win, but when you don't have that racer's luck then there is nothing you can do about it. We're going to load up the Aaron's Dream Machine and take this rocket up to Charlotte for the eighth week up there, then come back for the final run in Atlanta. We've got three more races to get this first win and I know I can do it, and that the car is capable. We just need all of the puzzle pieces to fall into place together at the right time.
- Trey
7/20/07
Week eight of the Thursday Thunder series was a bit of an up and down. Wednesday we went out for practice and the car was pretty good. Each session I went out the car got faster and faster, so I figured the car would be good for the heat race on Thursday night. Anyways, continuing my streak of bad draws, I drew 40th place for the heat race. That put me starting in last in the first heat race of the semi-pro division. The car was not good at all in the heat race. It wouldn't turn in the middle of the corner for anything, and I was just getting killed there. I just barely touched the wall on the front stretch in the closing laps of the heat race and I toed the front end in just a hair. When we got the car in the garage and were checking the toe, we noticed that the left front steering arm was bent, and to top everything else off, we were having problems with the rack in the steering box. I made a big change in the rear of the car to loosen it up some, and it worked for the main race. I started the main race in the back, needless to say. Due to a first lap incident I found myself sitting in seventh position right off the bat. From there I was just driving the car, trying to figure out a better line to run to make it that much better for me. There were a couple more cautions for cars that just spun out, but nothing big. at least not yet. On one of the restarts, the two lead cars got into it a little going into turn one, and from there the melee started. All of this happened just in front of me and I quickly darted to the outside to avoid the carnage. I came around the wreck and found myself sitting in the second position. The cleanup crew had to put down some oil dry to clean the track, and that made it pretty slick. Just after the final restart coming out of turn four, my car slipped up in the oil dry and I dropped back to third. After that I settled back in and was running right with the two leaders. Coming to the checkered flag in turn three the second place car got into the leader and spun him out. That also made the second place car drift up the track, but it just wasn't enough for me to turn under him and take the win. The Aaron's Dream Machine was pretty good on Thursday night. I mean, I wasn't the fastest car but I avoided the trouble, and that's what this is all about. If you can keep your nose clean, you will end up with a good finish at the end of the night.
- Trey
7/19/07
Our second week participating in the Summer Shootout series at Lowe's Motor Speedway was awesome. Before practice on Monday, the officials put down some sticky on the outside groove of the track, trying to make the racing better. Race day, Tuesday, started out not so good though. I drew a pretty high number and ended up starting my heat race in eighth. I didn't get a very good start at all and quickly fell back, but I did manage to get a few positions back and finished in the eighth spot. That put me to the "B" main starting in the 11th position. I knew I had a good enough car to make the show; it was just a matter of getting there, seeing as how the draw is pretty much everything. Once the race started I quickly started moving forward, trying to secure a spot in the top eight. I moved my way up through the field and found myself sitting in sixth position. For the closing laps of the "B" main, I just sat comfortably in sixth, trying to keep my car in one piece. I made the show, but wound up starting in the 26th position. I decided before the start of the race I was going to give the "new" outside line a chance. Sure enough I did, and it worked like a charm. I was passing cars left and right on the start, and before the first caution was thrown, I had passed half of the field. I stayed with the outside line the whole night, and kept picking off positions, since everyone else was running the bottom of the racetrack. With a few late race cautions, the field got bunched up again, giving me a couple more chances to gain some spots. The final caution happened right in front of me while I was running sixth. Two cars got tangled up on the start going into turn one, and I had to drive through the barrels and into the grass to avoid them. Another car coming out of turn two got into the wall pretty hard and that brought out the caution, which bunched up the field again. this time putting me in the fourth position. Once they got the race back running, our time was up. So we came back to the green flag having a green, white, checkered run to the finish. Coming off of four on the last lap I got just under the third place car but just couldn't quite pull off the pass. The Aaron's Dream Machine was an absolute "dream" to drive on Tuesday night. I had a blast just being out there running for fun and not worrying about anything. Now we are looking forward to heading back to Atlanta and looking to capitalize after last week. The car is definitely capable of top five finishes, but we just have to hit the setup on the thing.
- Trey
7/12/07
Our first trip to Lowe's Motor Speedway for the Summer Shootout Series was a hair-raising experience to say the least. I started out in the heat race in fourth place, once again on the outside, and got shuffled back to eighth place before getting back in line. Once I was in line I was able to pick off a couple of cars for a sixth place finish, two spots shy of the transfer into the "A" main. I wound up starting the "B" main in sixth place, again on the outside. I took what I learned from the start of my heat race and quickly got down to the inside. From there I was able to run in the top five comfortably and transfer into the "A" main. The main race was absolutely insane. There were cars wrecking everywhere, and I felt like I was driving a slalom course at a defensive driving school. That seems to be pretty much the deal there. If you can keep your car out of trouble and keep your head on straight, you'll come away with a decent finish. I was just pleased to make it into the main race, let alone finish in 13th. The Aaron's Dream Machine ran decent in Charlotte but was just a bit loose when getting on the throttle. It was definitely a great experience and I learned a lot, but I can't wait to race in Atlanta on Thursday. The Aaron's Dream Machine ran decent in Charlotte but was just a bit loose when getting on the throttle.
- Trey
7/5/07
This week on the Thunder Ring at Atlanta Motor Speedway was awesome. Before practice on Tuesday we made yet another spring change, this time being on the left rear. I went out for the first practice and knew, even though the track was in bad shape, that the car was going to be good. The first session out I ran a fast time of somewhere in the 16.4 second range, and was consistently running 16.5's and .6's. I didn't touch the car after practice, seeing as how much better I ran than the previous week.
Wednesday came along, and I once again drew a very high number, 39. Needless to say I had to start last in my heat race. Since I was in the first heat race, I knew I was going to be starting on the inside in the main race no matter what the outcome. I started eighth in the heat race and quickly drove up to forth, but I didn't have time to catch the first three. I got into one of my competitors a little bit on the backstretch while trying to save the car coming off of the corner, and I apologize to them for that, but it was by no means intentional. I ended up starting on the third row inside for the main, because the guy who finished in front of me had the points lead, and they had to start ninth.
The car was great in the feature and I settled in line in forth place in the beginning of the race. I barely touched the wall on the front stretch, maybe just enough to scrub the white off the sidewall of the tires. I got a little bump by a buddy of mine going into turn one and slipped up just enough for two cars to get by on the inside. There, I was sitting in sixth place, with about seven laps to go. I was by no means going to get that close to a top five and not get one, so I buckled down tight, and got after it. I followed the car in front of me right around one of the top five cars, and was sitting in a very comfortable fifth place. On the final restart after a caution, I got under the 07 car and he came down on me not seeing me. I wheel hopped him pretty good, and found out later the car was toed out 3/8ths of an inch. From then on out, with about three laps to go, the car was pushing and I was just holding on to the top five. The Aaron's Dream Machine ran awesome this week. We finally got that evasive top five, and broke the curse of the ninth place finish. I jumped up two spots in the point standings from tenth to eighth, 83 points behind the leader. I'm looking forward to next week when we got to Charlotte and come back to Atlanta. Hopefully we'll improve even more then.
- Trey
7/2/07
Week five of Thursday Thunder was much better than the previous. Not so much in the finishing order, but as far as car wise, I was much more secure and able to race. In practice on Wednesday I made a spring change in the left front, and went 100 pounds stiffer. The car turned much better after the change, and was much more secure coming off of the corners. Well I once again drew a high number, that being 32. I started fifth in the heat race, and that made me happy, seeing as how I was finally on the bottom. Right from the start in the heat race, I picked up two positions. For the remainder of the race I sat in third place watching the first two cars fight pretty hard for the lead. I ended up third in the heat race, which started me ninth in the feature race. There I was once again on the bottom line, so maybe I'm having a little luck come my way. I drove the car up to sixth place but couldn't hold onto it.
I slipped up just a little coming off of turn two which allowed to cars to get under me. I got back in line in eighth place and one more got by me with two laps to go, which sent me back to that one position I just can't get away from. ninth. I finished to race in ninth place, once again. I'm beginning to feel cursed by that finishing position, but I can't complain about finishing in the top ten. I just want to move up, and now that the car feels better, I'm confident I can do that. All in all the Aaron's Dream Machine had a good night, and I know there are more good finishes in store for us, we just have to find them.
- Trey
6/25/07
We had another good run last Thursday night in the Aaron's Dream Machine. Between Wednesday night's practice, and Thursday night's race, we practically changed the whole car. We threw a whole new setup at the thing and put in a new gear, just to try something new. I really went into the heat race blind, not knowing what the car was going to do, but it ended up being pretty decent. I drew sixth for the heat race and finished fifth. I was faster than the fourth place car, but just couldn't get around him. He was all over the place and I didn't want to tear up my equipment trying to get around him. Finishing fifth started me 12th in the feature race. It was a pretty eventful feature race. On the second lap, I had a car spin out directly in front of me, and I had to dart to the outside to avoid his car. From there it was just real busy. I was in about a four car pack the whole race, just trying to nibble my way through. I was in tenth place coming to the while flag, and coming off of turn four I got under the guy in front of me for one more position. I finished in ninth place for the third week in a row. All in all it was a good night, considering the changes we made from the previous night. I just need to get comfortable with the new gear and new setup now, and I'm confident I'll get that first top five here in the next couple of weeks.
- Trey
6/15/07
Week three of the Thursday Thunder series in Atlanta was another successful week for the Aaron's Dream Machine. For the heat race I drew 33rd, which started me sixth in the first heat race. The car was pretty good during the heat race and I finished up in forth place. It was just a little loose coming off of the corner and I couldn't get back to the gas quick enough to do much of anything. My finishing position in the heat race started me tenth in the feature race. We ran pretty well all race, and kept the car up inside the top ten. It seemed to fall off a little bit there towards the end and a couple of cars got by me. But a final lap accident in turn four gave me the two positions back that I had lost. All in all I had another good night and wound up finishing in ninth place for the second week in a row, and jumped another four spots in the points from 12th to 8th. It's good that we're running in the top ten consistently so far. I'm just ready to get a top five and I know myself and the car are capable, it's just a matter of getting some time in the seat and getting there.
- Trey
6/11/07
Week two of Thursday Thunder was nothing short of interesting. I once again had a good draw for the heat race and wound up starting third in the final heat race. To make things a little interesting, a bit of a shower decided to put a slight damper on the racing activities for a few minutes. Following the rain, we continued the heat racing. By the time the Semi-Pro division had it's turn on the track, the track was fairly dry. I ended up running fourth and finishing there in the heat race, which started me in the main in 12th position. The track was back to its original conditions once our turn to take the track came around. The start of the race was a bit hairy, with everybody trying to rush for the front. I got eased to the back pretty quickly and fell in line in about 18th. From there I started marching back up through the field, setting the second fastest time of the night in the Semi-Pro division. The Aaron's Dream Machine was great on Thursday night, and I brought it home with my first top ten finish of the season, finishing in the ninth position
-Trey
6/4/07
I had a great time at the first Thursday Thunder race. I drew 5th for the heat race line-up and the car was pretty good there. I led a few laps and ended up finishing third. There we're so many cars; my third place finish had me starting eighth in the main race. We made a small adjustment to the car to loosen it up a little bit between the heat and main race, but that came back to bite us when a car dropped some oil on the track. Right off the start of the race I got freight trained to the back being on the outside line. I finally got in line and ended up getting turned around which sent me to the back. From there I was just trying to work back through the field and came back up to finish in the 17th position. It wasn't exactly the finish I was looking to get for the Aaron's Dream Machine, but we'll come back next week and try again.
-Trey
5/29/07
This past Monday I attended the AMS Thursday Thunder Media Day. It was a neat experience to talk with the media for the first time and get to know the champions from each division last year. I'm looking forward to kicking off the 10th Annual Thursday Thunder season with my fellow competitors, and hope to have a great run.
-Trey
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