Tough Weekend for Leatys
It is amazing to me how fast things change in racing. We had two races this past weekend with the first one being Spencer Speedway on Friday Night. It was week number two at Spencer Speedway and it was only a week ago that I was the winner and we had a lot of confidence going into the night that the Wayne Regional Orthopaedics car could get a good finish again. We missed all of practice due to an electrical problem that prevented the car from starting. By the time we got it figured out it was time for the heat where we finished 4th. I had to start 12th in the main because of handicapping from the week before. Unfortunately this cost us big time because on the third lap while running around 10th there was a big crash and we were in the middle of it. The car suffered heavy front end damage. The crew did a great job and got it back together because so many cars went out in the crash. We finished many laps down but still got a 12th place finish. It was time for an all nighter to get the car ready for Oswego Speedway Saturday night.

We got the car ready for the first RoC north race at Oswego Speedway. It was little beat up but still fast. The draw is really important at these RoC races because it determines where you start in the heat races. When I got to Oswego I drew 99 out of 99 so I had to start last in the heat. They took the top five finishers from each heat and I was starting 10th. The car was fast in practice so I knew I had a chance at getting it up to the front and getting qualified. At the drop of the green flag I got two cars to move up to 8th. Unfortunately on the third lap someone near the front got turned around. I tried to go high to miss the wreck but that car backed up the track and pinched my Rochester Steel Treating Car in the wall. It ripped the Right Front off and wrecked the steering rack. It was then decided to call this a weekend. In a earlier heat race my dad was also wrecked and ended his day prematurely as well. All totaled between my dad and I we were suppose to run a total of 260 competitive laps this weekend and we ended up running a total of 16. Not Good.

It is amazing how fast you can go from a hero to a zero in this sport. This weekend we will be looking to get back on track with a strong run at Spencer Speedway Friday night.

-Mike Leaty