OVERCOMING ADVERSITY

Source: Samantha Jones
Date: 05/10/2007

Rick Wall Racing had to overcome great adversity in only their second Grand

National West series starts. After incurring major damage to the #42 xiser.com ford at

Phoenix International Speedway, RW Racing was not sure if they would make it to the Altamont 200. Car owner, Brian Pannone, was gracious enough to loan Rick one of his cars. Wall and his crew worked all week replacing the nose and tail of Pannone's car. Working until midnight the night before the race , and then driving 6 ½ hours from Whittier to Tracy the members of RW Racing arrived at the track as the gates were opening. The #42 car missed the first practice and during lap 4 of the second practice a broken track bar mount sent Rick into the wall. The damage was extensive, bending the whole back end of the car as well as the rear clip.

Rick and his crew made the decision to do everything possible to get the car back on the track. They worked the next 6 hours and missed qualifying but were able to start the race provisionally. Rick started at the end of the field in the 27th position. 5 laps into the race, Wall radioed in, "The car feels good, let's see what we can do with it."

During the halfway break the car felt good, no changes were made with the exception of two right tires and fuel. Rick passed car after car with ease, avoiding race pile ups and was able to finish 11 th.

It was an insurmountable victory for a team that did not give up. Rick would like to give a special thanks to car owners Brian Pannone and Rich Wall, crew chief Bob Johns and crew members Mike, JD, Bob, Dale and Tom for not giving up and taking a bent race car and making it right .

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