ERIE, Colorado -- Wonders never cease! After spending three days around the clock repairing the Strictly Toy-Ondas, H2HD, Chevy Monte Carlo, due to damage sustained at Stockton 99, Crew Chief R.J. Godett declared the car fit to race and the Martin Racing Team packed their bags and headed for Pike’s Peak International Raceway.
Having never raced at this particular track driver Thomas Martin, 27, stated that he felt he needed some testing time at this new venue. Speaking with Martin before he left he stated, “It should be a lot like Phoenix. It’s a mile track. I am confident we will have a great run”.
It was predicted that temperatures would reach 98 degrees on the day of the race. As preparations were made for the race, Martin began to express some serious concerns about the setup on his car to his Crew Chief R.J. Godett. He requested many changes to the setup, Crew Chief R. J. Godett relayed the request to Tire Person Janette Tam, but Janette knows her tires! She told Thomas Martin that she was going to change everything he requested, but all she really did was put a set of stickers on the car and let it go at that. For those of you who don’t know, Janette Tam is the Tire Person and Front Tire Carrier. And her call was right on the mark! Thomas Martin radioed to Crew Chief R.J. Godett that he was happy with the changes that he thought Janette had made. Drivers are like high-strung Thoroughbreds. They will excel if you know how to handle them. And Crew Chief R.J. Godett knows how to handle his driver!
After a day of testing, NASCAR’s hottest new driver, Thomas Martin, qualified 19th in a field of 38. In a phone interview with Thomas’ sister Janette that day, NASCAR’s only female tire carrier, she stated, “We’re really proud of him. Considering that he’s never been here before, we’ll take 19th.” And so the stage was set for an early morning race the next day.
The race got off to a clean start as Thomas Martin drove the Strictly Toy-Ondas, H2HD Chevy Monte Carlo through the field. Martin used the first 50 laps to get the feel of the track, once comfortable, he really began to pour on the coal.
By lap 96 he was in third place! By lap 104 he was in second place! He was a man on a mission! For those listening to the spotter’s transmissions, that’s when things really lit up! “Inside, inside inside, OH MY GOD THOMAS YOU’RE THREE ABREAST.” That’s right! Thomas Martin had driven the Strictly Toy-Ondas, H2HD Chevy Monte Carlo into a life and death battle for the lead while racing three abreast! Thanks to Racing West’s Live Coverage, Thomas Martin fans from all over the western states were on their feet and cheering! By the end of lap 104 Crew Chief R.J. Godett reported that Thomas Martin was in the lead!
Martin led for two laps when the impossible happened! Due to the higher fuel consumption of a brand new engine, and inexperienced fuel management on the part of the crewmember responsible for such things, he ran out of gas! They thought they could go 110 laps on a single tank of fuel. But they thought wrong.
The hearts of Martin Racing Team fans throughout the division sank in disappointment! So close, yet so far from victory! The team had been waiting for a Caution to come out to come in, instead they became the Caution. By the time Martin was pushed back to Pit Road and refueled, Crew Chief R.J. Reported that he was five laps down. But not without some humor!
It seems that when the Strictly Toy-Ondas, H2HD Chevy Monte Carlo was refueled, it would not start right away. So, the crew had to push the car down Pit Road to get it started. As the men on the crew pushed the car from behind, Janette Tam, Martin Racing’s Tire Person and Front Tire Carrier, was pushing from the side while squirting starting fluid down the airbox. In her words, “I was so busy concentrating on pushing and squirting the starting fluid into the carburetor that I lost track of where we were. When the car started and sped away I was left standing in the middle of the pit box of another driver who was pulling into the pits. He was coming up fast and skidding to a stop. I just smiled and tried to look cute hoping he wouldn’t hit me!” Luckily the other driver stopped in time and the star of Martin racing’s diversity program was left unhurt.
Five laps down Thomas Martin did his best to regain ground. While trying to complete the impossible task of getting some of his laps back, on lap 147 he cut a tire and slid into the wall. Damage to the car was major, his day was over. And after the best showing in the Southwest Division of his career, he pulled the Strictly Toy-Ondas, H2HD Chevy Monte Carlo behind the wall.
Speaking with Team Owner John Martin a few days after the race, I asked him about the fuel management strategy that they had used. To which he responded, “What fuel management?”
But spirits were high throughout the team for although they had made a serious mistake, they had proven that the Strictly Toy-Ondas, H2HD Chevy Monte Carlo, with Thomas Martin at the wheel, was a force to be reckoned with! The car was sound. The driver was smoking! And the tire setup was right on the mark! And one thing you can always depend on from the Martin racing Team: They may be a little green but, they seldom make the same mistakes twice. And I have a funny feeling that some member of that crew is going through some remedial math instruction!
With the car needing repairs, Martin Racing headed to Bear Lynch’s race shop in Denver. Driver, Thomas Martin, Crew Chief, RJ Godett, and Major Sponsor, John O’Leary of H2HD spent 4 days returning the car to race condition.
High drama unfolded the following weekend as the Strictly Toy-Ondas, H2HD Chevy Monte Carlo headed to Colorado National Speedway in Erie, Colorado. The #28 driven by NASCAR’s most improved and upcoming driver, Thomas Martin, started in top form. But that’s where the normality stopped!
The morning broke clear and warm as the Martin Racing Team prepared for the qualifying session. By the afternoon the temperature had reached 104 degrees. During the afternoon qualifying session Crew Chief R.J. Godett had the car dialed in and the Strictly Toy-Ondas, H2HD Chevy Monte Carlo was ready for the challenge. Speaking with Thomas Martin before the race he told me, “I can’t believe how fast that car was at Pike’s Peak! My only hope was that we had the same speed and power at Erie!”
Thomas Martin took to the track 4th in order and qualified 7th. After the inversion he was slated to start in 4th, the second car in the outside row. Speaking via telephone with Janette Tam, Martin Racing’s Tire Person and Front Tire Carrier she stated, “Thomas is looking really good today. We’re starting 4th after the invert. I think he really has a chance to win this one!”
Crew Chief R.J. Godett reported that this was an ideal spot for Martin as the Strictly Toy-Ondas; H2HD Chevy Monte Carlo has lately been the fastest car on the track. Starting in this position the option to immediately obtain and hold the lead was his for the taking. The new engine, combined with Crew Chief R.J. Godett’s expert setup, was really pulling strong. The cars took to the track and after three laps of warm-up the green flag was ready to wave. That’s when normality went out the window! The field took the green flag as normal, but as the leaders approached turn one the #19 of McKean Racing missed a shift! Instead of shifting from third to fourth as the cars picked up speed, this highly experienced championship driver accidentally shifted into second gear. The sudden deceleration caused the #28, driven by Thomas Martin, to collide with the rear of the #19. The car directly behind Martin had the same problem and struck Martin’s rear bumper forcing him under the #19 until the bumper of the 19 was sitting directly in front of the windshield of the #28.
As the cars separated Thomas Martin drove the Strictly Toy-Ondas, H2HD Chevy Monte Carlo to the outside line to avoid further damage and regain control of the car, putting him in 16th position. He continued moving forward to the 8th spot until someone reported oil on the track.
While it is unclear from where the information came, it was determined that the #28 of Thomas Martin was responsible for the oil. Crew Chief R.J. Godett was informed and the #28 pulled off the track. A close inspection of the vehicle by NASCAR officials determined that the oil was not coming from Thomas Martin’s car! When this mistake was discovered by Crew Chief R.J. Godett petitioned the NASCAR Officials to allow Thomas Martin to retake the position he had prior to the mistake. The NASCAR Officials declined his petition and the Strictly Toy-Ondas, H2HD Chevy Monte Carlo returned to the track in the order slated by his position while reentering the track.
As Martin fell into line it was determined that the oil was coming from the 95 car. So much oil had been deposited on the track that by the time Thomas Martin was in line, the red flag came out. As if enough drama had not already unfolded, here’s where things got interesting. Due to the damage to the front of the car during the beginning lap of the race, combined with the engine shutdown caused by the erroneous report of oil, the #28 of Thomas Martin began to spew steam from the radiator as the engine began to overheat. Not willing to risk the loss of an extremely expensive engine, Thomas Martin pulled the car off the track once again to get some water in the radiator. The #28 was taken out of scoring due to moving under a red flag. Again a petition was filed with the NASCAR Officials by Crew Chief R.J. Godett. The crux of which was that if the NASCAR Officials had not made the incorrect decision to black flag the 28 car to begin with, they would not have had this problem. The NASCAR Officials agreed and did the honest and honorable thing and allowed Thomas Martin back in the race. Team Owner Betty Martin was allowed back into the scoring box.
Whew! You can’t get this type of entertainment in any other sport! No two races are ever the same. But this race was even different than most! The Strictly Toy-Ondas, H2HD Chevy Monte Carlo continued the race without incident and finished in the 15th position. It was quite a good showing considering all that the Martin Racing Team had to go through to get there. Martin now sits in 10th position in the points standing. with enough of a margin of lead to almost ensure his place in the Toyota All-Star Showdown.
Martin Racing will now spend the next week repairing the Strictly Toy-Ondas, H2HD Chevy Monte Carlo in preparation for the next event at Irwindale! If things continue as they have for the first part of the season, things should really be interesting at Irwindale! Check back as we follow the exciting drama of NASCAR Racing with Thomas Martin. I am expecting to see some big things from this team!
