08/08/02 by Team Summit
Okay, we skipped a day....at least this reporter wasn't at Delaware yesterday for Stage 4 so somebody else is going to have to cover that story.
Today, however, was Mt. Vernon. Catalono, Gilmore, Mullins, Osowski, and Paszt started for Team Summit on the shortest course of all the races at less than .5 miles. It's a bit overwhelming to stand at the start line and see the lap cards read 70 laps to go. That's a lot of laps especially when there's a bit of terrain involved once every lap. It was 6 corners (that's 420 total) with one left hander from a four lane road onto a one lane brick alley! Nice! As with most of the races, the town was out in force. Having the enthusiastic folks around the course does make a motivational difference.
The first 20 laps were very fast but then slowed somewhat as the 1/10th mile rise right after s/f started to take its toll. Attacks attempts continued the entire race, however, with Savage Hill Racing going out several times but to no avail. Nobody was getting away today though and Team Summit was content to allow the attacks to go off as there seemed to be no shortage of chasers.
As the last laps closed in Mullins moved into the top 10 with Osowski on his wheel but, as racing goes, a wreck in turn 1 just after the bell had rung brought Mullins and Osowski to a dead stop at the base of the rise. The two chased back on but by the time they were back in the field the speed had wound out to 40mph and picking up more spots over the bricks and in the finishing straight was nearly impossible. What looked like a top 5 finish turned into a 14th and 15th for the Team. Which sound good but only 20 or 25 actually finished on this night. It was in the money and points but was nonetheless a bit of a disappointment.
Tomorrow....Marysville....the luck has to change one of these races!