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Instant Classic…
Hemby Bridge, NC – The only thing that could have made the First Annual Joe and Jim Summer Sprint Classic at Carolina Speedway better would have been for Joe and Jim to actually be in attendance.
Jacob McLain and McLain Motorsports drew last relegating them to the rear of the heat. Thoughts of a winning weekend a little diminished with really fast cars on the pole. Heat race a...ction on the initial leg of the Classic would see Jacob start fifth, but end up 6th to hard charging Mike Leraas rim riding the outside of the of the high-banked 3/8 mile red clay Carolina.
Text messages, emails, and on lookers would soon follow wanting to know what’s wrong with Jake. Even the great Brandon McLain, his faithful crew chief, misses a set-up every once in a while. After everyone was informed that it was no big deal and we’d get it figured out, it was feature time.
Rolling off ninth, it was imperative that Jake get off to a great start to have a decent finish. What would happen in the next twenty-five laps would prove to be nothing more than a statement to the rest of the series that we have finally decided to show up for the 2014 season.
We were a little late… Wish we would have shown up in April, but better late than never. Typical McLain fashion, I guess.
Unfortunately, our win would come at the misfortunes of a fellow racer and great friend. A last lap wreck involving the leader and a lapped car would send the 2013 series champion to the hospital complaining of back problems.
Fortunately, that same driver would walk away from that hospital under his own power a few hours later.
Jake would lead the field the remaining lap of a race dedicated to his grandpa. Tears would flow, loud screams of joy could be heard from across the track, and millions of camera flashes would shine. And that was just Aunt Pam… Everyone else handled the celebration in a more humane, low key manor!
Joe Neal McLain and James Reid McLain might not have been their physically, but their presents will never be felt more in this family than it was at Carolina Speedway Friday night.
Miss you grandpa. Miss you too Big Jim.
Get well soon, Rocket…
Brandon McLain
United Sprint Car Series Driver
2014 Season
National Rookie of the Year!
National Points - 8th
Southern Points - 3rd
Asphalt Points - 3rd
18 Races, 3 Top 5's, 14 Top 10's
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