Polenz Participates in Caraway Speedway - Davis Roofing 250

Practice & Qualifying 

David and his team loaded up and headed to the Caraway Speedway 250 lap year-end event on October 14, for the second of three races with FDJ Motorsports.

On Friday there was an open practice session and David and the FDJ crew took advantage of the day and logged in a bunch of laps to help David get familiar with the track and make adjustments to the car. David was in the top 10 on the speed chart all day.

Saturday morning the track held another open practice which would be followed by qualifying for the 250 lap Sunday afternoon event. David and the FDJ guys worked on qualifying setup throughout the 5 rounds of practice. Even though David was near the top of the speed chart all day he didn't like the feel of the car, so after practice they went back to the race set-up to help him feel more comfortable for qualifying. The change worked out well and David timed in 8th quickest. The Polenz team was happy with the effort and proud to have a top 10 start at a track they were new to.

Race Day

Sunday morning all of the pre-race events got started early. The Polenz team started the day off with an open practice, followed by a pit party. They lined up all of the cars from all four divisions that were on the schedule on the front stretch. All of the fans came out on the front stretch and walked through the cars and talked with the drivers. David signed tons of autographs and sat a bunch of people in the race car, the team handed out GazZu, Sun Drop, Red Line and Modjo to all of the fans.

David lined up eighth for the start of the race, once the initial start took place things sorted out pretty fast and everyone raced fairly clean trying to save their tires so that they would still have good tires to race for the win after 250 laps. There was plenty of close racing and positions changing hands, David went back and forth between 6th and 10th during the first 125 laps of the race. At the half way point we were allowed to put on two tires for the second half of the race. After the ten minute break it was time to go racing, David was sitting in eighth for the restart. The second half started out much the same as the first half and things settled out quickly. There were a few cautions and a red flag for a bad wreck and David was still bouncy around between 6th and 10^th. Just a few laps after the last restart while he was running 7th a car from about five lengths back drove way too deep into the corner and plowed right in the side of David, pushing him up in the marbles. David held on and didn't wreck but he lost five spots in the process. David went back to work, making his way forward but only made it back up to 11th at the end of the race. Not the finish the team hoped for, as they felt he was a top eight car, but unfortunately it didn't work out that way this week for the Polenz team.

UPCOMING EVENTS

10/26/11 - On the Run/Hunt Brothers Pizza Appearance 11am-2pmWashingtonDC 

11/11/11 - On the Run Hunt Bothers Pizza Appearance,WarrentonVA. Times TBA.

11/17/11-11/20/11 -Myrtle BeachSpeedway 400 Lap Event,Myrtle BeachSC

12/9/11 -NASCAR Wheelen All American Series Banquet,Charlotte NC