NEW SMYRNA BEACH, FL- After suffering potential week-ending damage on Night 2 of competition, Andrew Gresel and the Sauble Falls Racing team utilized a last-minute parts delivery and several hours of work to return to competition on Night 4 at New Smyrna Speedway.
The Hepworth, ON-based team were forced to start from the tail of the 31-car field, as repairs to their #81 had not yet been completed when qualifying time trials took to the speedway.
“We worked on this car right up to the moment we left the pad to head to the lineup area”, explained Gresel. “I can’t say enough about this entire team. There was a serious amount of damage to this car and they all worked tirelessly to get us back on-track”
As the speedway lights dimmed on Night 2, Gresel was unsure that his team would be ready to return to Pro Late Model competition right away due to a dearth of replacement parts available.
“There were quite a few parts and pieces that we needed and didn’t have any access to here in Florida”, said Gresel. “We were incredibly luck, because our friend Adam Quarrie was scheduled to leave for Florida yesterday. He was nice enough to swing by McColl Racing Enterprises in London and pick up our spares and had them ready for us this morning”.
Despite a lack of practice time for the newly repaired car, Gresel earned a respectable 15th place finish in the 50-lap Pro Late Model feature event.
“With all that’s happened in the past 48-hours, we were ecstatic just to make the feature tonight”, admitted Gresel. “Tonight was a testing session for us. We’re going to do some more practicing tomorrow, and hope to be back contending for victories on Night 5”.
Gresel’s 2014 World Series trip has been made possible thanks to support from Sauble Falls Tent & Trailer Park, HY-Grade Roofing, Canadian Union of Skilled Workers, Have1.com Printing Services, London Recreational and Sauble Speedway.
Fans can follow Andrew on Twitter @SaubleFalls81.
By Spencer Lewis
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