As you know a little over 2 weeks ago the team was saddled with a totally destroyed race car due to a racing accident at Mt. Lawn Speedway in New Castle Indiana. At that time we were unsure of the direction to move forward. After 4 days of looking at options we made our decision at started the process of rebuilding for the remainder of the season. We decided we were only 62 points out of the points lead and we were not willing to give up a chance at a championship. We decided our best option was to buy a chassis from a person in Charlotte and rebuild from the ground up. So on Friday 6/28/2013 Cody and I got up at 03:00 a.m. and headed off to Charlotte hoping that the chassis we talked to someone about was good to go. Well upon arriving in Charlotte at noon on Friday we discovered that the person we were dealing with was none other than Tiger Tom Pistone. Those not familiar with Tiger Tom , he was One of the original drivers of Nascar which was the Grand National Series. So it was great to talk with him and get some pointers and in the end what we felt was a good chassis to move forward with. We loaded up the chassis and then Lena Pistone took us over to 600 Racing where we picked up a new body and other parts that we were going to need to get Cody back on track. In all we were in the Charlotte area for about 3 hours and left for home. On the way home we encountered severe rain , wind , and fog. Luckily Cody has his learners permit and he got to experience the mountains and severe weather a little bit during the drive. Hopefully some of the adverse conditions he was driving in will translate in some small way to some of the adversities he may experience on the race track as well as the concentration it takes to do what is necessary to get the job done. So we arrived home at 02:00 Saturday morning and went to bed for some much needed rest, but like all racers we could not sleep with the anticipation of getting the car together. So at 8:30 we got up and went to work with the goal of building a race car in a week and making our next race at Anderson Speedway in Anderson Indiana. We worked all week whenever possible on the car and there were a couple times toward the end of the week that we just thought the cards were stacked against us and we were not going to get it done. But at those low points the racer in us comes out and we have to take a break and gather our thoughts and then it’s our positive thinking that comes into play “ We are going to make it no matter what” So back to work we go. Cody was determined he was going to make the next race and would not give up. I seen Cody fixing and repairing things I did not even know he knew how to do. He just had the look of determination in his eyes and took the lead. So we finished our end of the work on Friday at Noon and took the car to Alfrey Motorsports to do get the final setup and prep work completed. On the way Cody called the sign shop so we could get our numbers on the car and to our surprise it Friday the day after the 4th of July and they were closed. We realized this was a problem and decided once again we will do what we have to in order to make the race this week. Once we reached Alfrey Motorsports and talked about set up and other things that needed to be done , Cody asked Tobey Alfrey if he knew anyone that create our graphics and Toby said he knew a guy. Toby called him and they were very busy but agreed they could do the job enough to get us to the track. So we left the car with Toby and headed back to the shop to clean up a weeks worth of mess and tools. We also had to get the hauler ready and then pray that the monsoon rains would subside before race time on Saturday. We also talked with Toby Alfrey several times and it turned out he worked on the car all day Friday and finished it on Saturday morning at 04:00 a.m. The things people do to help racers out always goes unsaid and the shops and crews for race teams never get the credit they should. If it was not for the people behind the scene a lot of our races would not take place. Thanks to all the people that not only help Anderson Racing but to all the people that help all the racers around the Country, with out all the help and dedication we would not be racers. We awoke Saturday morning and it was still pouring rain but the forecast for where we going did not look as bad. So we loaded up and headed to Alfrey Motorsports to pick up the car. Upon arrival the car looked great and looked like we imagined at the start of the week only better. Tobey Alfrey did an amazing job getting the final touches on the car and he even had the graphics installed for us. So we loaded up the car and headed for Anderson Speedway. It rained the entire way to the track up until we were about 15 miles from the track and for the first time in a week we got to see what it was like to not to have to have the wipers on, but more importantly we got to start discussing race strategy for breaking in the new car. Upon arrival to the track we unloaded and had to complete some last minute touches to the car up until it was time for the first practice. Cody took the new car on the track and was a little cautious just to make sure everything was correct and there were no issues. Cody came in and said it was great but the handling of the car was a little tight. So we loosened the car up just a little bit and he went out for the second practice and turned much faster times but said he could take just a little more out to free the car up so we did. Then it was time for Qualifying and Cody ended up qualifying 6th fastest. Not bad for his first time in a coupe after running a sedan for the last 2 years , and also for a car that was built in a week. We prepared for the heat race where Cody started 6th and finished 4th. He said the car was just where he wanted it and felt he would have a good feature race. The starting line-up put Cody starting 8th in the fourth row outside , not a great place to start on a short high bank track but Cody would make the best out of it. At the start of the feature Cody got shuffled back to tenth place but then started making his way forward and made it up to 6th place and there was a caution. This again put Cody starting on the outside but he held his line and settled into the 6 th position some 12 car lengths back from the 5th place car. Cody made a hard charge and made up the ground but did not have enough time to get around the 5th place car but it was not for lack of effort. Cody got faster every lap as he got comfortable in the new car and got a feel for the way it handled. All in all a tough week making it to the track but with a lot of help from the people below we were able to finish what we set out to do. We not only made it to the next race with a new car but Cody overtook the points lead with his strong finish in this race. This week we will check over the entire car and prepare for next weeks race which ironically is at the track that cost us our last car. So we will go there not with caution but with the feeling that that track owes us something and we will go there to collect on that debt. Again this was all possible with the help of the people listed below and also with the help of people that I will forget to mention. We hope to someday repay you some day by inviting you to a Nascar race with Cody at the wheel , Thanks to all ! And continue to follow us on our website, Facebook, and Twitter. Jacob Seelman Speed 77 Radio for his inspiration and electing Cody as a 2013 Rising Star. Sorry we could not stop and meet you in Charlotte but we were in a hurry as I am sure you understand. Tiger Tom Pistone Lena Pistone Toby Alfey Alfrey Motorsports for helping us above and beyond what should be expected Best One Tire for their continued support U.S. Race Gear Leann and Duke McCall and family Sheila Anderson for allowing us to do what we do. F.A.S.T. Midwest for the encouragement 600 Racing for supplying us with the much needed parts and advice from Jacob at the parts counter Ham Signs for saving us the duct tape on numbers and graphics at the last minute John Dietz for the borrowed parts And anyone that I forgot to mention here thanks to all. It is because of all of you that Cody is where he is today!!!!
Posted on: Mon, 08 Jul 2013 20:07:39 +0000
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