TUBBS WINS CONSECUTIVE TOP-FIVES |
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| Barry Andrews, No. 22, front right, passes J.J. June, No. 33, front left, as Garrett Tubbs, No. 80, second row, watches and begins his mental setup to pass No. 33 in lap eight. |
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BY WAYNETTE TUBBS
SPECIAL TO THE EXCHANGE
DILLON, S.C. — During Dillon Motor Speedway’s driver introductions Saturday, Andy Locklear, the track announcer, didn’t know that the young man in the bright red fire suit was only 14 years old. Locklear would probably have stopped him for more than a quick wave if he’d known that this young man would charge from an 11th place start to his second fifth place finish in two weeks.
The Seneca Super Trucks had their biggest field of the season this week, four trucks more than the normal field of 10, possibly due to the new policies being strictly enforced across all series by the track owner and promoter Ron Barfield. Just as in the Sprint Cup Series, Barfield has implemented a strict black flag policy for unnecessary rough racing. He’s also made any fighting at the track a go-to-jail offense. According to Barfield, “racing at Dillon Motor Speedway is for families, it’s a family track.”
The added trucks didn’t seem to help during qualifying. Garrett started 11th — that left too many trucks between him and the front. (Even with cautions and a long red flag stop, the race lasted only 1 hour and 20 minutes.)
According to Butch Tubbs, Garrett’s father and the team’s crew chief, the team would “definitely be happier with better qualifying positions,” but right now they’re concentrating on getting the truck to handle better for Garrett during the race and getting Garrett the experience that he needs to race successfully. And that seems to be what they are accomplishing.
Garrett made a great start and watched in anticipation as Barry Andrews, No. 22, the truck directly in front of Garrett’s No. 80 WLNC Silverado, passed J.J. June, No. 33, on the front stretch. Butch Tubbs warned Garrett not to rush things: “Just run your line until you can get to him,” he said. |
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Garrett patiently focused on running his line and then set up the pass. He took over ninth place by passing June, No. 33, in turn one on lap 8, but it would take him another 15 laps to gain the next position.
Andrews, No. 22, passed Kevin Parsons, son of NASCAR legend Benny Parsons and Garrett’s Early College math teacher, in lap 23. Garrett followed in Andrews’ wake to take over eighth place.
Now was the time to start putting some serious pressure on Andrews. It took seven laps to finally make the pass, but Garrett was patient and set it up on the front stretch of lap 30 and completed it in the exit of turn two. Seventh place.
Garrett was focused and quiet on the radio, but Butch Tubbs called out lap times to show the young driver that clean air meant faster times. 16.73; 16.71; 16.68. Now Garrett began to bear down on John Brown, No. 29. Brown had a reputation for making his truck extra wide to avoid being passed, so Garrett would need to be careful and think through his tactics. But, Brown had already shown signs of being very loose in turns three and four, and within a couple of laps, Brown over-drove turn four and spun into the inside wall.
Garrett was unfazed and drove through to sixth place. After the caution, Garrett went to work on Justin Hicks, No. 61. Unfortunately, Hicks’ truck had lost handling over the course of the last few laps. Hicks lost control of the No. 61 as he exited turn four. When the race resumed after the lengthy red flag, Garrett assumed fifth place with only eight laps to run. He held on to fifth, but was unable to take fourth from Bryan Blackwell, No. 37, Myrtle Beach Speedway’s 2007 champion and Florence Motor Speedway’s two-time champion.
The GTR team is very happy with their second fifth-place win in a row and will race again at Dillon Motor Speedway June 14.
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| Passing Barry Andrews, No. 22, to Take 7th Place |
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| A lap takes less than 20 seconds. It took seven laps to close the distance and set up the pass on Barry Andrews, No. 22, after Garrett and Andrews passed Kevin Parsons, No. 98 in lap 8 in turn one. (Photo taken immediately after Parsons pass in exit of turn two.) |
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| Learning to time the setup is difficult. Garrett is warned by his crew chief not to waste resources racing the competitor until he gets to him. He needs to focus on running the line of the track so that he keeps up speed until he catches Andrews. |
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| Garrett has done a great job and by this time has passed three trucks to move into seventh place. There are only 20 laps of race left to run, though. |
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| Fifth place finish at Dillon Motor Speedway, May 24, 2008. |
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| Feels Just Like a Win: Second Top-Five in Two Weeks |
Sponsorship Opportunity — Garrett Tubbs Racing is looking for a business man or woman who is interested in investing in a serious young development driver in Southeastern North Carolina.
Many organizations have been misled and misused: Sponsorship is not a donation to Garrett Tubbs Racing. Sponsorship is a two-way relationship, a marketing partnership. Each side must have something valuable to offer to the relationship — money or in-kind equipment or products in exchange for influence or exposure. I can show you how sponsorship is an investment, both in Garrett’s career goals and in your business goals.
GTR has proven community exposure and engagement to offer. In 2006 and 2007, The Laurinburg Exchange ran more than 20 articles about GTR and our sponsors, and WLNC Radio ran weekly Scots Sports featuring GTR, often with live interviews with Garrett.
This may be just the opportunity for which you and your company have been waiting.
Let me give you something to think about. Broaden your company's marketing strategy.
Our team has proven media exposure, an overwhelming community response and an eye toward the future, please call Waynette Tubbs at (919) 279-8849 or (910) 277-0794.
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