Flat tire with two laps to go costs Terrell lead in second All Pro Series point race
By Bill Sullivan
PETALUMA, CA (4/25/09)- Sebastopol’s Bradley Terrell charged his way to the front of the All Pro Sprint Car Series feature event at Petaluma Speedway last Saturday night only to have a stint of bad luck end his hopes for a two-race win streak at the track he calls home.
Driving the VanLare Steering Repair #5V Sprint Car, Terrell qualified10th in Saturday’s second championship point race of the season at the 1/3 mile track located on the Sonoma-Marin County Fairgrounds. After finishing third in his heat race, Terrell was ready to charge his way through the 25-lap feature event.
Terrell started eighth in the feature event. At the waving of the green flag Jeremy Burttook the initial lead with former Petaluma champions Shawn Arriaga and Alissa Geving in tow. Meanwhile, Terrell powered into the fourth position by completion of the first lap. Going to the high side of the second turn, Terrell passed Geving for the third position and began chasing down Arriaga and Burt.
As the leaders worked into lapped traffic, Burt’s once healthy lead began to diminish as Arriaga and Terrell closed in on the early leader. On the seventh lap Arriaga collided with the lapped car of Ivan Worden and spun around but was able to remain under power and maintain his bridesmaid position until the front axle failed on the front stretch to draw a caution flag. On the restart Terrell began to close in on Burt’s lead. On the 16th lap he used the low side of turn two to take the lead from Burt.
On the 23rd lap of the event was when things took and unfortunate turn for Terrell. While running second behind Terrell, Burt flipped in the in fourth turn. Due to the curfew closing in a yellow flag was thrown instead of a red. During the caution laps, Terrell’s rear tire began losing air pressure, forcing officials to black flag the #5v sprint car.
Due to an error made by track officials that also sent second place runner Geving to the pit area and took a moment to correct, Terrell’s crew as able to make the needed tire change and sent him back to the track for the final two laps of the race where he ended up finishing fifth.
“For most of the race it was really a good night for us and then it wasn’t so good,” said Terrell. “After struggling a bit in qualifying we were able to get to the front of the feature and we were looking at another win until the tire went flat. We still got a top five out of it and I’m grateful for that. I just really have to thank Jimmy Vanlare and his family for giving me the chance to drive this car for the year, it’s a great opportunity.”
Following Saturday’s fifth place finish, Terrell will take a week off from Petaluma Speedway to return to the driver’s seat of his family owned #43 sprint car for the Tribute to Al Hinds Civil War Sprint Car event at Placerville Speedway this Saturday night.
Jim Vanlare’s sponsors of the #5V sprint car include Randy Hanson Auto Body and Aussie Towing, Cameron and Cameron Vineyard and Ranch Supply and McClish Motorsports. Bradley Terrell ‘s personal supporters include Argonaut Const, Millhouse Glass, the Dry Creek Rancheria Band of Pomo Indians, Randy Hanson Auto Body and Paint. Vanlare Steering Repair, A1 Shower and Mirror Incorporated, DK Embroidery, Knockout Signs, Santa Rosa Moving & Storage, Altes Engineering, and 4 Wheel Parts.
To learn more about Bradley Terrell or to inquire about sponsorship of this 2009 racing team, visit his official website at www.bradleyterrell.com.Further information on Petaluma Speedway can be found at www.petaluma-speedway.com.
