2020 RESULTS
4-17 Speedway 1-18-20
Steven started out the racing year with a bang. Sad to say, "the bang" was a crash in turn one on the first lap of the feature.
It was a tough night: the car didn't run when it got there, so we worked on it steadily. By feature time, Steven did not have a lap at full speed, but he drove it down into turn one pretty hard. The problem is that the pole car spun into the infield and backed up onto the track. Steven hit the brakes for the first time: the left front locked up but the right front didn't do much. The pulled the car hard left, and we pounded the car that spun.
4-17 Speedway 1-25-20
The TQ midgets were back in action the next week. I was out of state, so Steven loaded the car by himself, and towed it 172 miles each way.
The #92 ran well, and Steven finished second in the feature.
Showtime Speedway 2-20-20
The biggest night of Steven's young career!
Around 20 TQ's from the north came down to run a three day meet with the Florida cars. We were fast in practice on the night before, and all night on race night. Steven drew the pole for the feature, but he really had to race for it. Restart after restart, he went at it with a New York driver who runs super modifieds, tour modifieds and other classes, named Andy Jankowiak. He was very aggressive, but fair, as they swapped the lead several times.
Steven never put a wheel wrong and parked it in victory circle!
Showtime Speedway 2-21-20
We had high hopes for night #2 of the NYPA TQ series. Steven was fast again, and had a great starting spot in the second row. He had an excellent shot to repeat as winner.
He took the lead in the first lap, but the officials threw the yellow and for some unknown reason, did a complete restart. This time, when Steven drove around the outside of the pole car, the POS driver from New York drove into our car intentionally and took us out. A brake caliper broke in the incident, so we were done for the night.
At least Jimmy Wilkins won the main event for team Florida. This after crashing hard in the heat and performing a very rapid patch job on the car.
4-17 Speedway 2-22-20
I fixed the caliper at Mike Balusar's shop, and we were off to the races for the third night in a row.
During the first practice, Steven could tell that the motor was flat and blowing up. 4-17 time trialed tonight, so he went out to do his 3 or 4 lap session. Steven adjusted his driving to compensate for the dying motor, and was 0.1 second off fast time. However, we could tell by the sound of the engine that our night was done. Sad to say, we were spectators for the rest of the night.
We parked next to Luc Munsie, a friendly racer from Canada.
We worked all afternoon in a parking lot next to the hotel.
I love Showtime Speedway, but it needs a little cleaning up!
South Florida friends Gary Gimmler and Steve Wheeler were on hand to visit and help!
Rob Kohler won a good race, so team Florida went "3 for 3". Here are the three winners.
After his big night, our team had a blown-up car, and the country shut-down for the corona virus...
May 2, 2020
So after months of this stupid covid shut-down, Steven fired up the kart and raced at Space Coast Karting while I was in SC. He finished 4'th, meaning we have to up our program regarding engines and tires.
June 27, 4-17 Speedway
This was a bitter-sweet night; it was our last race with the #92. It will soon be converted to a northern type roadster TQ.
Steven ran well: he set fast time in both the heat and the feature. He ran down the leader, and I believe he would have won, but a water hose blew off with about 5 to go, so he parked it.
JULY 18, 4-17 Speedway
This was Steven's first night in the Mike Belusar #30. The car ran well, but we need to tune the chassis for this driver. I could not make it to this one and hated missing this race. Steven hung in there and finished second.
OCTOBER 10, 4-17 Speedway
Back in the Belusar #30, AND our old nemesis #5 Outlaw Modified. Steven was concentrating on the TQ, but Kevin who owns #5 asked if he would run his car too.
Steven ran second in the heat, and put on a good show in the feature. When things settled out after the first few laps, Rob Kohler had a straightaway lead over our car. Steven slowly ran him down, and blew past with 4 to go. Naturally, the last place car spun out and caused a yellow. He had a good restart, but when Steven arrived in turn one, he had no brakes. Rob slipped by and drove the last few laps to victory.
#5 ran much better than last time, but was still only about 75%. Steven pulled out because of the engine and finished 8'th out of 9 cars.
I ran into my ole' buddy Carol Wicks!
10-17-20
We went to a Top Gun race at Volusia to hang out with our buddy Louis Brashear.
11-8-20
Steven had a practice day at Marion County Speedway in this Mod Lite.
11-15-20
Steven bought his first racecar today! It is this Legend that he wants to run on pavements tracks around Florida. Proud of that young man!
12-12-20
Steven loaded up his new team and towed to Auburndale for the Rick Bristol charity race weekend.
On Saturday, he fought electrical problems and missed qualifying, so he started 12'th in the B main. He climbed to 3'rd by the end....not bad for his first race.
On Sunday, he was on the pole for the B main, and got out there and led it for 6 or 7 laps. But he also noticed that the temperature gauge was spiked, so he parked it.
And that wraps up 2020!
Another year out of the seat for me. Hoping and expecting that to change as 2021 unfolds.
I am really happy that Steven has his TQ ride, and now his own Legend car. We will be racing again in a matter of weeks.
