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Chris Raabe Takes a Dip in the Super Dirt Week Pool.
By Jim Clarke, Clarke Motorsports Communications
2008 has been a season of firsts for DIRTcar sportsman modified driver Chris Raabe. The ‘teenage tornado’ has made history with nearly every turn of his steering wheel. His efforts paid off with track championships at Brockville Ontario Speedway, Thunder Alley Speed Park and Rolling Wheels Raceway. The 17 year-old picked-up more than 20 wins throughout the campaign – including a checkered flag at Cornwall Motor Speedway, during his first visit to the Seaway Valley quarter-mile oval.
Friday and Saturday, October 10th and 11th Raabe and his Scott Industrial Services/TyRoute Communications-Telus/Canadian Tire/ Kingston Hyundai/Kingston RV Centre/Waste Management/Brunet Plumbing/Kwik Load Products/ McColman Media/Len Corcoran Excavating team made a trip to Super Dirt Week at the New York State Fairgrounds in Syracuse, New York. Despite his travels during the season, it was the teen sensation’s first ever appearance on the oval known as ‘The Moody Mile’.
“I think Brockville actually seems faster,” said Raabe. “There, you’re on and off the throttle so many times during a race, car control is at a premium. Here, you hold it wide-open as much as you can and try to back in down in the corners – then you’re right back on the gas. It’s all about horsepower.”
Even though speed is the key to getting around Syracuse, Raabe’s #01 TEO Pro Car fought a loose condition throughout the weekend. He time-trialed at almost 105 miles per hour, 18th fastest of 56 entries during the Friday afternoon session, but while on the track during a Saturday morning hot lap session, the team noticed that the car was lying over on the right rear tire. As much as they tried, the crew couldn’t tighten-up the car.
When the green flag waved to kick-off the Town Mechanical 30 lap sportsman feature, the 12th grader from Napanee and District Secondary School lined-up along-side John McLelland of Martinsville, New Jersey. Right off the bat, Raabe knew something wasn’t right with the car. It was still fast down the straight away, but very tough to turn. As much as he tried to keep pace with the pack, Chris drifted back. When a yellow flag bunched the field, he was able to gain a few spots but only made it as high as 11th place. With a little more than 6 laps to go, the car became impossible to drive and Raabe parked it after 25 laps, with a 21st place finish. The team later learned that the gaskets had blown on both right-side shocks.
Although the finish wasn’t exactly what they were looking for, the knowledge gained from the atmosphere and on-track experience of Super Dirt Week is irreplaceable. Everyone – driver, crew members, sponsors and the ownership group – considers their first fall adventure on the Syracuse to have been very educational.
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