Friday, August 15 - I did not have to go to work this past Friday because our office was moving to a new location. The bad news was I had to go on Saturday morning to unpack the boxes and be ready for work Monday morning. Bruce only worked until 11:30 so we thought we would get an early start on Williams Grove. We decided to stop in to see my mother and she made us a big dinner with the works. Of course we wound up taking a nap, like you usually do after you ate too much, and did not get started to the Grove as early as we originally thought. It was 7:20 when we pulled into the parking lot and there was a fair crowd on hand. The forecast was for a 40% chance of thunerstorms but the skies were crystal clear. They were running the triple 20’s for the 410 sprints and tonight they were the only division on the card, with the exception of the Vintage cars that would run exhibitions during the break between races.

There were 28 sprints in the pits and qualifying is as follows. They run time trials for all the cars and the top 12 are automatically in the features. The remainnig sprints run two consolations taking the top 5 from each and then the top two in points who did not qualify tag on to the rear. Todd Shaffer turned in the fast time and Greg Hodnett and Stevie Smith won the consolations. The first feature had Fred Rahmer starting on the pole and I bet you cannot guess who won. There were only two cautions and biggest move was made by Cody Darrah who came from 12th to finish 4th. Rahmer won followed by Todd Shaffer, who started 4th, Alan Krimes, starting 2nd, Darrah and Doug Esh fifth and he started 5th. Rahmer pulled pill number 8 and the top eight were inverted for the next 20 lapper.

It was 10:25 before the second race started and after two early cautions the race went nonstop. Brian Leppo started on the pole but could not hang on for the win. Doug Esh starting 3rd took the win. Hodnett, Shaffer and Rahmer rounded out the top five. The event was over at 10:35 and the final 20 lap event did not start until 11:20. By this time I was very chilly and tired. On a normal Friday night at the Grove we would be well on our way home by 11:20. There was only one caution and Brian Leppo passed Greg Hodnett for the lead and went on to win the event which paid $5,000. This was Leppo’s third win this year at the Grove and all paid extra purses. Following Leppo was Hodnett, Krimes, Rahmer and Mark Smith.

Since there was only one division, it meant everyone leaves at the same time causing a bit of congestion getting out of the parking lot. By the time we got out of the lot in was 11:45 and that is too late for me. Bruce and I discussed the night’s events and it seems this always seems to run about an hour longer then a normal two division show. I also like when they line them up by points with the low point drivers up front. Williams Grove is by far my favorite local track and Bruce and I have been here more then any other track, but next year on this night I think I will recommend to go to Big Diamond.