| West Coast Pro Truck # 96 Toyota Speedway at Irwindale, CA June 14, 2008 |
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LEFT & RIGHT
WCPT # 96
lined up for the
Autograph
Session. Fan
turn out was
huge and a lot of
US Army back
packs and toy
balls were given
away.
WCPT # 96
lined up for the
Autograph
Session. Fan
turn out was
huge and a lot of
US Army back
packs and toy
balls were given
away.
LEFT WCPT #
96 crew
member Jon
Martinez (and
driver of Sport
Compact #
96) has some
fun at the
Autograph
Session.
96 crew
member Jon
Martinez (and
driver of Sport
Compact #
96) has some
fun at the
Autograph
Session.
June 14, 2008. The F.A.S.T. Racing Team and the WCPT # 96 made its first journey to the Toyota Speedway at Irwindale, CA. Driver Tom
Mikla took advantage of the two practice sessions on Saturday to shake the truck down and get a feel for the track. Next up was qualifing.
Tom qualified the # 96 in the 10th position out of the 15 truck field. After a brief autograph season on the front stretch it was time for the
main events. WCPT's were the second feature of the night and would compete in a 40 lap shoot-out. With the # 96 and Tom being
rookies, they would have to start shot-gun on the field. Typical for rookies who are not familiar with the series or the track.
From the drop of the green Tom passed the first three trucks going into turn one on lap one. He would set pace with the truck # 66 for lap
after lap action. Numerous times, Tom got under the # 66 to try to make the pass. This got the officials a little nervous, not knowing how
Tom pilots and races other drivers. The officials requested (via communicating thru AJ, Crew Chief and Spotter) that Tom "hold his line."
Not pleased with this request, Tom complied and began to run in the same tracks as the # 66 truck.
As the laps whined down a whisper of white smoke began to appear from underneath the # 96 on lap 37. Didn't look like exhaust or tire
rub...possible transmission leak. At lap 39, the leaders were a straight away from lapping Tom when the truck got extremely loose coming
out of turn 2. Tom was able to collect it and dropped to the apron to let the leaders safely pass and complete the race. The # 96 managed
to make it across the finish line in 9th place, 1 lap down.
After the race, it was discovered the rear seal on the automatic transmission came out, allowing tranny fluid to leak out and get onto the
exhaust system. A minor problem that is easily fixed. All in all, the first trip to Irwindale was a success. The whole team learned a new
track and made a lot of new friends. The team is looking forward to returning to Irwindale on August 2, 2008.
Mikla took advantage of the two practice sessions on Saturday to shake the truck down and get a feel for the track. Next up was qualifing.
Tom qualified the # 96 in the 10th position out of the 15 truck field. After a brief autograph season on the front stretch it was time for the
main events. WCPT's were the second feature of the night and would compete in a 40 lap shoot-out. With the # 96 and Tom being
rookies, they would have to start shot-gun on the field. Typical for rookies who are not familiar with the series or the track.
From the drop of the green Tom passed the first three trucks going into turn one on lap one. He would set pace with the truck # 66 for lap
after lap action. Numerous times, Tom got under the # 66 to try to make the pass. This got the officials a little nervous, not knowing how
Tom pilots and races other drivers. The officials requested (via communicating thru AJ, Crew Chief and Spotter) that Tom "hold his line."
Not pleased with this request, Tom complied and began to run in the same tracks as the # 66 truck.
As the laps whined down a whisper of white smoke began to appear from underneath the # 96 on lap 37. Didn't look like exhaust or tire
rub...possible transmission leak. At lap 39, the leaders were a straight away from lapping Tom when the truck got extremely loose coming
out of turn 2. Tom was able to collect it and dropped to the apron to let the leaders safely pass and complete the race. The # 96 managed
to make it across the finish line in 9th place, 1 lap down.
After the race, it was discovered the rear seal on the automatic transmission came out, allowing tranny fluid to leak out and get onto the
exhaust system. A minor problem that is easily fixed. All in all, the first trip to Irwindale was a success. The whole team learned a new
track and made a lot of new friends. The team is looking forward to returning to Irwindale on August 2, 2008.
LEFT: WCPT field
coming out of turn four
to take the green flag.
# 74 elects to drop to
the tail, giving #96 one
additional starting
position.
coming out of turn four
to take the green flag.
# 74 elects to drop to
the tail, giving #96 one
additional starting
position.
LEFT: WCPT field
entering turn one on lap
1. Tom quickly gets the
jump and moves up
three additional positions
before existing off of turn
two.
entering turn one on lap
1. Tom quickly gets the
jump and moves up
three additional positions
before existing off of turn
two.
LEFT: Three laps into
the event and Tom is all
over three trucks in front
of him. They are
obviously holding him up.
the event and Tom is all
over three trucks in front
of him. They are
obviously holding him up.
LEFT: Lap after lap the #
66 and # 96 battle for
position. Race officials
would ultimately advised
the # 96 team to drop
back and run our line,
giving up on the
side-by-side action.
66 and # 96 battle for
position. Race officials
would ultimately advised
the # 96 team to drop
back and run our line,
giving up on the
side-by-side action.
LEFT: At lap 37, smoke
begins to trail the # 96.
On lap 39 Tom pulls
down to the apron and
allows the leaders to
pass him without
incident. Tom would go
on and finish in the 9th
position, one lap down,
in the 40 lap event.
begins to trail the # 96.
On lap 39 Tom pulls
down to the apron and
allows the leaders to
pass him without
incident. Tom would go
on and finish in the 9th
position, one lap down,
in the 40 lap event.