Completely Unofficial Showtime Race Report 7/4/19

[OldSchool+]

So, no rain at showtime.

And from time to time in between races and during the races Robert would light off some fireworks in the infield. I presume they had a nice fireworks show after the school bus figure 8s, but I left before all that.

But they had plenty on the track, which is the usual for Showtime.

Neither Cody Stickler or Richie Smith, nor their cars, were there. Bruce Bennett Jr., who frequently runs at New Smyrna, was, and was competitive, finishing third.

Early rains did rain out qualifying, so they drew for positions. 14 cars are listed on the Showtime results page, I thought I counted 13 on the track.

In other details, Yoho put Daniel Webster in his #00 Yohomobile, and he looked good. I don't think he put a mark on the car, and avoided a late spin directly in front of him. More on that to come. Daniel finished seventh.

(see next post for more...)

[OldSchool+]

So, forgive me if you either saw the race in person or on tape and I get a detail or two wrong. I work from memory and I don't have much of that...

Doug Miller started on the front row, and Wayne Jefferson in Dick Anderson's sinister black #92 started in the second row.

And Doug took off and Wayne took off after him. Mr Miller's #53 moves weight around a little for handling. You can see the car lift under power and settle into the turns, but man, what a motor!

Locomotive like power. He could pull the other cars one to two lengths on Showtime's short straights, and the rest of them didn't have crate motors under the hood.

Meanwhile, the #92 was "in the track" like stuck. Like stuck down with magnets. Like imbedded in the track.

In about 10 laps Wayne's superior handling enabled him to cleanly get under Doug--and off he went, to about a quarter of a lap lead or so, until...

(see next post for more)

[OldSchool+]

Eventually Jefferson was trying to pass/lap the #73 of Donny Duchesne, and he did not want to be lapped... They ran side by side for laps and then they got together on the front stretch. It appeared that Wayne got bored with that deal and gave him a bump to get him off his outside, but no big deal. Soon after there was what was a late caution.

One of many, as it turned out. Donny stayed on the lead lap.

And although the #92 looked unmarked, and appeared to run well, it was not as quick after that. He possibly knocked the toe out a tick, but I am speculating.

So Miller got by, as did Devin Mcleod (who had been mid-pack all race) as did Bennett.

And then...

(see next post for more)

[OldSchool+]

It eventually came down to Devin Mcleod and Doug Miller.

Now, I have never met these two guys. They may be saints or sinners, I dunno.

What I do know is that they both seem like nice guys and tough competitors. Both have posted here and seem articulate and straight forward.

In short, I like them, and I like how they drive. I consider them both to be "clean" drivers.

In one of the final restarts, Mcleod got the lead by crowding Miller as they came out of two. No big deal, but Doug lifted to avoid the wall, and he was planning on motoring by on the outside with all that motor.

And that put Mcleod in front, and he was blocking. Again, no big deal, and fair game.

And then...

(see next post)

[OldSchool+]

Going into three, Miller looked--and then drove--in underneath Devin.

He did not hit him in the left rear, his intention was to muscle under him and drive away.

And he got on in there, and Mcleod tried to protect, but it was too little and too late.

The rest is my take, as objective as I can be, again, given that I "like" both of these guys.

Mcleod rolled on across Miller's nose. I am of the opinion that it was a choice, and that more corrective wheel could have been cranked in, and more power applied to straighten it out.

Instead, he did a lazy, and IMO, self imposed, spin across the nose of the 53.

And, there was no discussion, and no tap out happening.

Devin was returned to the #1 spot, and went on to win.

Miller was sent to the back, kept most of his cool, and finished sixth.

Conclusions (finally) , next post.

[OldSchool+]

Devin Mcleod deserved the win. He drove hard, outran a faster car, and took home the money and the trophy.

His two moves were what he "had" to do, and Yoho deemed it "okay".

Congratulations to him.

And Doug Miller?

He got screwed, plain and simple.

In a final irony, Donny Duchesne finished fourth, one spot ahead of Wayne Jefferson.

And Showtime remains as THE place to go for outrageous racing!

[zerofor]

I agree on your assessment of the two.I have had the opportunity to talk to Devin a couple of times and am impressed with his ability to wheel whatever he's in.I haven't had the opportunity to talk to Doug Miller,but his car is fast and prepared well and I can't say anything negative about him.Unfortunately for me I ended up missing a race I looked forward to all week.So am glad to hear something about it.Sounds like I missed a good one.

[zerofor]

I have to give kudos to Robert Yoho

For the ten years I have been in Florida I have had a running gripe about a lack of effort on the race track operators (other than Eastbay and New Smyrna) to get a race broadcast on cable/satellite TV.Lo and behold I'm watching MavTv while I should be sitting at Showtime and what do I see? Yoho's Outlaw Figure 8 finals from back in February.I almost fell out of my chair in disbelief.Somebody finally did it.And that somebody was Yoho.

[racin24dev]

Going into three, Miller looked--and then drove--in underneath Devin.

He did not hit him in the left rear, his intention was to muscle under him and drive away.

And he got on in there, and Mcleod tried to protect, but it was too little and too late.

The rest is my take, as objective as I can be, again, given that I "like" both of these guys.

Mcleod rolled on across Miller's nose. I am of the opinion that it was a choice, and that more corrective wheel could have been cranked in, and more power applied to straighten it out.

Instead, he did a lazy, and IMO, self imposed, spin across the nose of the 53.

And, there was no discussion, and no tap out happening.

Devin was returned to the #1 spot, and went on to win.

Miller was sent to the back, kept most of his cool, and finished sixth.

Conclusions (finally) , next post.

I like seeing a true non-biased opinion like this. I feel that it was a pretty good show overall.

As for me...I had a 5th place car at best and had the cautions not played out for me then that’s where I would’ve finished. After restarts my car came alive for about 5-7 laps, and I knew I had to get after it. Every restart I had to be aggressive and take what I could get. I had a bit of a chip on my shoulder since my last race there I gave away the win by not being aggressive enough. At the end of the day I didn’t have a car that was a winning car but we were able to put ourselves in a position to win and the cards just fell our way.

Doug was the first person I looked for immediately after the race and we spoke. We respect each other on and off the track and have a mutual understanding I believe (obviously we both don’t applaud what happened or have the same opinion on how it played out, but it’s racing...we’re not out there to finish second, and I wasn’t going to be satisfied with anything less than winning). At the end of the day I did what I felt I had to in order to win and I understand that it can be seen different ways by different people but I’m accepting of that. I know that I will be raced how I race others and I expect it.

Looking forward to the next one!!

[openwm53]

Reply

Old School, thanks for pointing out the weight transfer thing. I will be reviewing the video again.

As for the motor..........James Nelson


Devin,

Very classy reply by a very classy young man. Devin, His father and entire family are just good people.