Thought I'd update everybody, since I might not make it down to Swapapaluza this weekend. The Runoffs (think of it as the Olympics of auto racing) will begin next week, with qualifying sessions Monday through Thursday. The Formula Vee race is Saturday at 3:45. It will be webcasted through scca.com, which will also have updates on qualifying times through the week. 31 Vees will start for a 40 minute or 14 lap sprint race for all the marbles at Daytona, using the same oval/road course setup that you see in the 24-hour pro race. I've been busy for the last two weeks prepping the car, engine, and transaxle, as well as practicing on the iRacing online simulator. This will be my first Runoffs appearance after running Southeast divisional races since 2001. If possible, I'll be updating here during the week-stay tuned!

Awesome! Get lots of photos and some video if you can!

Good luck!

25th after first qualifying, up from 30th. Couldn't find anyone to draft with, but it was because she. I got in front, I'd pull away. The car's fast and we fixed a carb issue that will make it faster, along with some aero tweaks. Sorry I can't be there tonight! Please pass this along at the meeting. Check in tomorrow  for an update!

Sorry for the delay. It's been a busy week!  Looks like I'll be starting 24th. Final qualifying was esp
Frustrating because I have the track figured out now, but couldn't clear traffic to get a clean lap. The car's doing well except for going off to avoid a competitor in the chicane and breaking the nose. Daytona is a blast to drive. I'm doing 120 bump drafting on the front  straight! 345 Saturday, webcast on scca.com Cheer me on as I try to work to the front!

In case you missed it, it was quite a race. Lots of drafting, contact, lead swaps-an exciting 50 miles. I won't spoil what they'll surely be showing on the web when it goes on-demand (unspecified on the website, but "soon"), but I got a great start and went from 24th to 16th, mostly in the first few turns. Late in the race, I got pinched offline going into the bus stop chicane and spun. I lost 5 positions and my valve cover, but finished the race. I can check off quite a few things on the "bucket list";

-raced at Daytona (not to be confused with whatever the Richard Petty Driving Experience does) What an amazing track! 3.5 miles with the road course and over 120 MPH inches from several other cars on the oval.
-was one of 31 drivers in the nation vying for a National Runoffs championship, a goal I've had since 2001
-improved my time in every session and improved my position in the race
-rolled the car back on the trailer at the end of it all
-bump drafted and GOT bump drafted around the banked turns=120 MPH and squirmy!
-made a dive-bombing pass for position on the president of the SCCA (and my former engine builder)
-completed the Daytona 600 mile enduro (50 mile race followed by a 550-mile tow home) in 10.5 hours, arriving after 2 AM.
-helped a 2-time champion change an engine


Crazy thing was, it was 7days that went by like one race weekend!

VroomZoom