Dylan Debuts at New Smyrna Speedway
As the crew rolled into New Smyrna Speedway Friday night for Dylan's debut race in the Super Late Model at the high bank 1/2 mile track, there was a sense of excitement. The team has been rained out of the last couple races and it looked like we had a good chance of getting this one in. Friday night's practice session was hot and steamy in Florida style, but that did not slow down the team from laying down some good lap times throughout the practice. Chad, Nick, Brandon and Dylan were working hard all night making adjustments and every tweak made the car that much better. At the end of the night the crew loaded up the car in anticipation of race day. It was time to get a good night's sleep and be ready for a long race day.
As we tried to relax a bit before heading to the track, what do you do when you're in Daytona, you take a ride on A1A and visit the beach on a beautiful Saturday morning. After a good breakfast and a trip down the beach, crew call was upon us. The crew sets up and prepares the car to enter the first of several tech inspections for the day. After tech, Chad has Dylan go out and run laps in 2 of the 3 practice sessions. With the times holding well, it was time to get the car and Dylan ready for qualifying. Tires were picked up and the car sent through tech again and was now on the grid ready to go. Dylan exited pit road for his qualifying lap and with his 2nd lap being his fastest, he qualified P-13 with a 17.962. Dylan was .322 off the pole. Dylan said it was not the time we wanted, but he felt it would show better in the race. After driver introductions and each driver greeting the special guests for the Marion Edwards Memorial Race it was time to focus on what we came to do...Race.
We have ran several 100 lap races this season, but Dylan would soon learn the difference between 100 laps on a 1/4 mile track versus a 1/2 mile track as he embarks on his longest race to date. The field rolls out with Dylan in P-13. In a field of 19 very talented drivers, Dylan tightens up his belts, grips the steering wheel and settles in for some intense racing.
All the drivers seem to use the first several laps getting settled into the track. On lap 31, the first caution is thrown for contact between Dylan and Anthony Sergi (#20) on the front stretch. Dylan will restart in position 12. Unfortunately and unintentionally, Sergi wasn't able to continue the race. The racers spend the next couple dozen laps driving their lines, until on lap 55 the caution is thrown for 2 cars colliding in turns 3 & 4. Dylan put his avoidance skills to work and he was able to drive thru it and will restart in position 9. The field is starting to spread out and the top 10 cars are seconds apart now instead of tenths of a second apart. Caution flag flies again for a stopped car on the backstretch with 39 laps to go. Dylan will restart 8th in what was shaping up to be an endurance race for Dylan. A short few laps later, with Dylan running a solid 6th place, #07s of Jeff Schofield and #3 of Kaz Grala have a racing incident that will send #07s to the rear of the field and #3 to the trailer. This incident brings out the Red Flag. While it's heating up on the track, it's heating up in the cars and the drivers are trying to get some air as best they can. The track allows 1 crew member to take fluids to the drivers as they sit on the track waiting for debris to be cleared in turn 1. It was a much needed fluid break for Dylan as he doused himself with the cold water after he takes a few drinks. The Florida heat was a whole other challenge added to the race. Early in the race, we found we were fighting radio issues between Chad Pierce, the crew chief, and Dylan. Somehow, with Dylan's knowledge and experience with years of Chad as his crew chief, he was able to drive the Super Late Model to restart in 4th position as they return to racing with 30 laps to go. With the intensity rising on the track, the restart offers some excitement for the fans as they cross the start/finish line. Dylan is scored in 2nd place as #10 and #27 slide back on the restart to make it 3 wide on the front stretch. Dylan was on the outside and found himself pinned up on the wall losing several positions and taking some of NSS's wall with him down the track. Dylan was able to save it going into turn 1 and he resumes racing with purpose. A few laps later the caution flag is displayed again for an incident on the backstretch. This gave Dylan the chance to bring the Super into the pits for Chad to do some damage assessment. There wasn't any damage that needed immediate attention, so the team sent him back out and he restarted the last car on the lead lap. The car seemed to be on a rail at that point, or possibly it was Dylan's hammer-down driving that allowed him to have some excellent passing opportunities as he drove that car to an 8th place finish. Dylan was on the verge of overheating and exhaustion when he drove that Super Late Model into the pit stall. He managed to get some attention from Brandon Martin (brother), who administered some overheating treatment and Dylan was able to get his body temperature down and was able to reflect on the incredible debut race he had just fought through on the high banks of New Smyrna Speedway.
We were honored to be a part of this amazing event and were able to take part in the Marion Edwards Memorial Super Late Model Race.
For the amazing crew that put a rocket-of-a-car on the track, we want to say many thanks. The hard work, dedication to speed and belief in Dylan is much appreciated:
Dylan Martin - Driver Chad Pierce - Crew Chief Nick Keeling - Crew Brandon Martin - Crew Hank Allen - Crew Ciara Martin - Photographer
Click to share thisClick to share this