Let's Wrap Up the 2019 Oval Nationals ...
Wow -- 4 days of non stop craziness! As the pits filled with trailers from places near and far it would be to prove the Nationals would have a stout field of 410 sprinters for this years event.
Night 1 was 42 cars racing the clock to set their qualifying times - for the Moose 92 car, it wasn't' the worlds best time, bringing Austin in in 16th. Heat race 1 - saw the checker wave in 5th, so it was off to reset up the car and line up for the semi main -a 3rd place finish out Austin in the Main and after starting 16th -- he had the 92 humming in 6th, when the car running 7th decided that the Moosemobile would better as a curb and basically tried to take off the left side of the car -- still hanging in there, but loosing 4 spots, Austin managed to still have a top 10 finish in 10th.
After spending the day with a friend, Bill ( from Lucas Oil Centers Of Evansville, Indiana ) it was on the throttle for night 2 - Let's yell yippie as qualifying in 2nd, was sure a confidence builder heading int the action. A 3rd place heat finish and on the main -- where Austin crossed the win sticks in 5th!!!
The finale - the program for the final night, points from Thursday &Friday nights events were tallied, the top 6 would automatically fill the first 3 rows of the 40 lap Main event —- dang, missed those top 6 by 3 lousy points!! SO, time to qualify, & run heats again, only twist was that for the automatic transfer to the Main, you had to finish in the top 2 of the Heat race. Tough competition saw the 92 miss the tp 2 and would have to run one of the 2 Semi Main Events. Bingo - a dominant presence in the 1 laps Austin took the Win and would make the finale !! 40 hard fought laps - and a top 10 finish against some of the toughest non wing drivers in the country - Austin finished the event filled finale in 8th!!!!!
Prior to the evening events Tom & I were presented beautiful customized varsity style jackets for being named the Grand Marshalls for this years Ovals. Being named the Marshalls for the event by a committee of Perris Auto Speedway’s Staff is an honor that Tom & I can not even begin to describe how overwhelmed & humbled this made us. Amazing jackers. done in “ Moose Colors are more then gorgeous then you can image,. MIke from All Coast Construction also had super cool hoodies for everyone n the Moose Crew !
Another HUGE surprise for these Grand Marshalls was that Rusty McClure ( who drove for us in 1999 ) from Ohio, came all the way to make the evening even more amazing!! Being a part of the Oval Natiionals was spectacular, as we were able to off good luck wishes to all the drivers as they ere introduced to the filled grandstands.
There are so many people and companies to thank for making this amazing season possible: Huntington Beach Glass & MIrror, Lucas OIl Centers, Lucas OIl. CSI Construction, Catt Plumping, Offroadloans.com, Phil & Eileen King, Keizer Wheels, DRC Chassis, Hummel, Rod End Supply, Trackside, Circle Track, Specialized Powder Coating, RC Performance. Kistler Engines, Freeway Auto, Wilwood, Rod End Supply, Extreme Mufflers, CRC, Simpson.
- Laurie Sertich on Nov 11, 2019
- Article Date: 11/11/2019