Behind any name, there is always a group of great people responsible for building it. For this race, nine people showed up under the Fabtech Motorsports/AMSOIL banner with the goal of putting #32 and #232 at the top. With this resource comes responsibility and pressure as a driver to perform. Four runs at about 50 seconds a piece will get you into the finals but a single error sends you home. It creates intense, do or die racing.
The #32 Dirt Logic Shocks/AMSOIL Ranger of Roger Lovell and co-driver Mike Foster started the race near the front of the pack. Two quick runs put his morning total at about 2:30 and in the top 1/3 of the pack. Because the #232 car was further behind in the running order, it gave the team an important edge as there was enough time to review Roger’s runs before the AMSOIL truck took the green flag. With inside knowledge, Brad Lovell, with co-driver Mark Hayward on board, was able to bring in times good enough to rank third before the course direction was changed for the afternoon runs.It instantly became apparent to the team that the race would be won or lost on a single loose rock hill that was extremely technical. The team inspected the rocks and chose the best of a bunch of bad lines for Roger to attempt. The #32 AMSOIL backed Ranger made quick work of the course and reached the hill with a lead that quickly evaporated as piano sized boulders shifted under the tires. Between each rock lay a bottomless bed of loose dirt and Roger stabbed the throttle trying to reach the top. He kept working his way across the hill before a lot of throttle and a good bounce put him over the top.
“Seeing Roger struggle and the rocks move changed our game plan completely. I had no idea what we were going to do,” recalled Brad.
The Lovell team gathered up and let their rock crawling roots shine through as they saw a difficult and untested climb that bypassed the eroding hill. The risky call was eventually made for Brad to take the risk and try the climb. It went like clockwork as Brad easily shot up the rock and eclipsed the previous fast runs.
Brad soon found himself leading the race as race leader Brian Shirley had to attempt the hill
several times and second place driver Shannon Campbell broke on the hill and was unable to finish. From there, smart clean driving handed the #232 Fabtech/AMSOIL/Ranger the victory.“We were fast and consistent, which anyone must be in order to win a race,” commented Brad. “But what put us over the top was creativity and teamwork. We regret not finding the right line for Roger but in the end, it did help the team get a win.”
While Roger finished 21st in a field of 42, his effort was good enough to qualify for the US finals in Jellico, Tenn. to defend his National Championship. Brad gained enough points from this race to finish third in the Western Series.
“The breakage I experienced in Albuquerque really cost us. This season, #232 has finished 1st, 20th, 3rd, and 1st,” said Brad, “If that 20th was only a 12th, we would have won the series. Regardless, we are thankful and proud of our team.”
The team has only two events left this year, the next being the WE-Rock Grand Nationals in Hannibal, Mo. Sept. 5-7.
Until then, we'll see you at the races.
