Brannon Specialties Racing Struggles At New Smyrna by Bill Green, From Behind The MIC!
It was hot, but breezy at New Smyrna Speedway as Drew Brannon arrived for the latest stop on the Goodyear Challenge, Late Model Series. In spite of the end of summer, back to school timing, thirty-two late models showed up for the early afternoon practice, but only 29 would live to start the main event.
Gates opened at 2PM and practice started at 3PM. Not much time for 32 cars to clear tech and get an opportunity on the track. The Brannon Team was busy catching up on normal preparations and got through tech just after the 4pm end of late model only practice.
In the first session of real practice for Drew, he was just getting into a rhythm when the #39 of Paul Johnson contacted the turn two wall and was done for the night. After the cleanup Drew refired the car to continue, but quickly realized something was wrong and shut the car off down the back stretch.
“It stopped steering normally and I could smell something different,” Drew started later.
What a heads up decision that turned out to be. As crew chief Bobby Bouchmann inspected the car, he found the oil pressure line had chaffed through, loosing all of the oil in the system.
After a feverish rush to get the car ready, by making a new pressure line, refilling the oil system and preparing for the qualifying run, Drew headed for the track with virtually no laps on the tires.
Being first out would not help the situation as his fastest lap would be a disappointing 18.754, only 95.98 mph.
Joe Winchell set on pole and quickly jumped to the point at the drop of the first green, but before a lap was down, there was a massive pile-up in turns 3 and 4 involving Chuck Abell, Greg Kaouk, Jeremy Goddard, Brandon Thomson, J.R. McMickel, Daniel Keene, Jr., and Richard Douglas. Drew was warned early and drove through the grass low and avoided being a part of the accident. The #08 Blue Bullet went from 22nd starting spot to 18th on the complete restart as several cars left the track and could not return.
Next caution was on lap 3 for Burkhalter and Carmichel contact. Sending one to the pits and one to the rear. Drew gains two more spots and restarts in 16th. Beckner looses his car between to turns 1 and 2 shortly after the restart. One more down and Brannon racing is 15th.
The next caution is for contact between Drew’s 08 and the 5 of Steve Gill. Gill closed the door on Drew whom was well along side going into turn 3 and sent both cars spinning. Drew was sent to the back and a long green flag run began.
The Brannon Specialties machine started picking off cars one at a time with Drew making moves inside and out. Just as he reaches the top 12 for the second time fellow racer and friend Justin Larson has trouble and brings out a late caution with 15 laps to go. During this caution, Drew cur comes to heat exhaustion and nausea, pulling into the pits, settling for a 16th place finish. Drew would be fine after some water and cooler air, but the points loss may drop Drew from his 6th place position going into the event.
Drew Brannon racing will be preparing for the next Goodyear Challenge series event at USA International Speedway on September 1st and is looking forward to the big track experience. Visit DrewBrannon.com for a complete look at the young 14 year olds racing life and other interesting information.
THANK YOU FOR VISITING DREWBRANNON.COM "PLEASE, COME BACK OFTEN"
