Rip Michels and his Stock Building Supply/Andersen Windows/ Victory Circle Chevrolet headed to their home track of Irwindale Speedway this past Saturday night to compete in the “Stock Building Supply, Andersen Windows Series “100” Race and Home Improvement Show.”
This was a huge weekend for the team, not only was their sponsor, Stock Building Supply and Andersen Windows, sponsoring the race, they would also host a spectacular home improvement show featuring displays from many of the nation’s largest manufacturers and distributors of the top brand name power tools, windows, doors, decking, siding, fasteners, connectors, paint, and more.
The team unloaded the car from the trailer, a car in which they had not raced since October of 2006, and it was fast. Rip set the fastest lap in qualifying with an 18.113 around the Toyota Speedway half mile. Rip would pull a 10-car invert, which would put Rip in the 10th starting position, outside 5th row. The team was also pumped for their team car of Dan Moore, as he qualified third in his first SRL race.
At the drop of the green flag, Rip and fellow competitor, and 2nd fastest qualifier, Jim Pettit, raced hard to the front. Rip on the high groove, and Jim on the low groove. As they came through the field, passing cars left and right, they ended up first and second by lap 47. Joining the two champions in the top three was another former Southwest Tour Champion, Craig Raudman.
The race, which was only slowed down for three cautions, totaling a total of nine laps, became a chess match for the two multiple time champions, as Jim Pettit took the low groove, a move that defensively kept Rip out of his preferred line. As the two battled with two to go, Rip made a move to the bottom, the two leaders made contact but both, with skill, managed to save their cars from crashing. Jim Pettit went on to win while Rip finished 2nd.
“What an awesome race this was,” said Rip Michels. “To run with guys like Jim and Craig, and all the guys in this SRL division was a lot of fun. I absolutely think this is the best, most competitive racing series here on the West coast, if not in the nation. I’m a little disappointed I didn’t give my team and Stock the win, as I felt we had the fastest car, but I have been racing long enough to know that the fastest guy does not always win. Jim did a great job, he protected and prevented me from getting to my low line groove. I had really one shot at him, and I couldn’t get my nose in there. It was a great race”
“I want to thank the great folks at Andersen Windows for their sponsorship of the race, and of course Stock Building Supply for getting this race to happen, and, of course, supporting me and my team, ” commented Rip.
Rip and the team would like to also personally thank Art and Lori Johnson of “Works of Art Johnson” for the awesome glass trophy that they made for the race. Also Tim Sweet from Apache Rental Group for his contributions to the Home Improvement Show.
They team would also like to pass on a special thanks to all of their associate sponsors, Redline Oil, Wildwood Brakes, Ringers Gloves, Orme Brothers, Quarter Master, Circle Racing Wheels, Aurua Bearings, BC Sportsimages, Johnson Oil Pumps, DJ Safety, Schroeder Torsion Bars, Ron's Rear Ends, Apache Rental Group, and Proline Pit Carts.
For more information about Rip Michels and his sponsors, please visit www.ripmichels.com
