Brooklyn, Michigan
June 15 2007.
- This week the trucks are in Michigan.
- This is the track where Ted raced his first Cup race.
- Ted would finish 39th in that race.
- In the truck series, Ted has finishes of 2-2-23-28-32.
- He could very well of had a win in 2005 if not another 2nd, but a blown engine ended the day with one to go.
- This year in first practice Ted was 8th quick (177.336)
- Then in final practice he was 14th quick (174.639)
- Team ASE worked hard during the two practices.
- In the end they were pretty good on old tires and should have a good run.
- I will update well after the race as I am at the track this week.
- On to the race......
- It was another warm one at Michigan.
- When the green flag flew the racing was fast and furious.
- Ted got caught in some three wide racing and would fall to 11th right away.
- By lap 5 he would retake the 9th spot.
- Ted would take the low line for awhile and start picking off trucks.
- Lap 6-(8th)... Lap 8-(7th)... Lap 10(5th) he got two trucks that lap!
- Ted would report his truck needed an adjustment at the first pit stop.
- Despite needing some help, Ted was as fast as the leader.
- Lap 17 and Ted is still very fast but the leaders took off when Ted was in traffic.
- Lap 22 and Ted starts searching for a line to help his condition.
- It works and on lap 25 Ted is faster than the leader #21 Mark Martin.
- Caution #1 comes for debris on the backstretch.
- Ted comes into the pits for adjustments and normal service.
- Despite getting a bunch of adjustments Team ASE got Ted out 8th! (see pic below)
- Restart on lap 33.
- Ted would again head forward.
- Lap 35 he is 7th.
- Lap 36 he is 6th.
- Lap 38 #33 Hornaday (a lap down at the time) holds Ted up and the leaders take off.
- It took a few laps and Ted got past and on lap 42 Ted catches #00 at gets 5th.
- At the same time #60 Sprague joins the fight for 5th.
- The three trucks would battle for many laps and we saw some great racing!
- Lap 48 the leader Mark Martin blows up and now Ted is 4th.
- Lap 50 (half way) and Ted is told he is half second faster than the leader.
- Caution #2 comes as #00 hits the wall.
- Ted pits again for slight adjustments and normal service.
- Team ASE gets him back out 6th as a few take only 2 tires.
- Restart on lap 60.
- Lap 61 and Ted is 5th.
- For the next bunch of laps Ted is in a tough battle with #77 Gaughan.
- Brendan took the high line and Ted took the low line.
- At the same time the top three were battling and Ted and Brendam caught them.
- The top five are now in a pack.
- Lap 69 and the top five are nose to tail and Ted is 5th.
- Lap 72 and Ted passes #5 Skinner for 4th.
- Lap 73 and another caution as #18 Schrader blows up.
- Ted and his crew talk during the yellow and are happy with what they learned this weekend.
- With this yellow Ted can make it the rest of the way with no problem.
- Restart on lap 78.
- Again the racing is great and Ted finds it hard to complete the pass on #77.
- Caution on lap 81 as #60 Sprague blows a tire.
- Restart with 16 laps to go.
- With 12 to go Brendan brushes the wall and Ted goes to 3rd.
- With 10 to go Ted is still 3rd and is closing in on the top two (Kvapil and Busch) who are in a great fight for the lead.
- With 7 laps to go Ted goes for 2nd and Kvapil slams the door shut.
- That caused Ted to check up enough for the 4th and 5th place trucks to get by him.
- Five to go and Ted is 5th.
- At this time Ted used his truck up and could not regain the spots with such few laps left in the race.
- Ted would finish 5th on the day.
- Kvapil wins the race.
- It was a very good day for Team ASE.
- Maskat noticed the cloud cover at the end of the race and wondered if it effected Ted's handling.
- We hear after the race that this was the case.
- Overall the racing was very exciting to watch.
- We paid for the whole seat but only used the edge for most of the race.
- On to Milwaukee where Ted is looking forward to some "Beer and cheese curds."
- Ted also quite enjoys the hometown feel of Milwaukee.
- Family will be on hand as well as his long time fan base.
- I will be on hand so once again no live updates.
( Eric and Cathy Peters)
