MCDOUGALD JUST MISSES TOP-5 AT DCS

ROSEBURG, Oregon -- The #68 HayWire Motorsports / KMB Design Groups / Print-NW / Ringers Gloves / Mauritsen Enterprises Toyota Camry just missed a top-5 finish at Douglas County Speedway during round 4 of the Limited Late Model Racing Series championship chase on July 5th, 2008.

Hoping to feed off of the teams first LLMRS Main Event win, the #68 KMB Design Groups / Print-NW / Ringers Gloves / Mauritsen Enterprises Toyota Camry and driver “Terrible” Tim McDougald headed for Douglas County Speedway to continue the climb up the LLMRS point standings. But after unloading at the track, the team found the one thing they forgot to pack for this trip, a little luck.

The first few practice laps told the #68 HayWire Motorsports team that they had some major problems. With 1 cylinder in the engine not working, the team would have to suffer through the evenings events drastically down on power. “We missed some stuff back at the shop from the last race and the troubles we had there,” said driver “Terrible” Tim McDougald, “Once I got on the track it was pretty obvious, but a little too late. I hate it for my guys, they work so hard. They deserve a win every week. So to not be able to compete for one for them is a big bummer.”

After skipping practice to save any imminent engine problems, the team looked to qualifying to hold on to their 4th place in the point standings. Once qualifying was over, the #68 team found themselves in a familiar spot, the Trophy Dash. “I knew the car was turning good from the few practice laps we got,” said McDougald, “But I didn’t think we’d be that good. I’m pretty happy about it, it keeps our streak alive.” Unknown to the team at the time, the Trophy Dash would fall victim to time constraints and be pulled from the schedule, as would the Heat Races. “We were ok with the race being pulled,” said McDougald, “We knew we would have been in it, that’s what matters. And we also didn’t want to run the car any more than we had to.”

The 50-lap LLMRS Main Event would see the #68 HayWire Motorsports / KMB Design Groups / Print-NW / Ringers Gloves / Mauritsen Enterprises Toyota Camry start shotgun on the field, having won the series’ previous race at Port Angeles. Series rules send the previous race winner to the back, regardless of qualifying time, giving the fans added excitement and making repeat winners earn it. But even on 7 cylinders, McDougald and his #68 HayWire Motorsports Toyota Camry began moving through the field. Keeping the car out of trouble throughout the race, picking the right moments to make some passes and a couple timely cautions would all come together to see the #68 Toyota Camry finish on the lead lap in the 6th position. “I’m pretty happy with the outcome of the Main,” said McDougald, “We knew it would be a long night, we knew the car was ill, so we just put our heads down and went to work. The guys had the chassis figured out. We seemed to be the only one with a good handling car all night. Guys were sliding around all over the place. I could gain 3, sometimes 4 cars on the field going through the corners, but I’d lose way more than that down the straights. All in all, we did what we had to. We stayed close to the guys right in front of us in the points. It isn’t how you want to spend the day, but it you do what you have to. My hats off to my crew, once again they worked hard to keep me in the chase for this championship. Little things like this race are what make the difference. We still have a shot at a good strong finish, and we’ll keep fighting until it’s over.”

Look for the #68 KMB Design Groups / Print-NW / Ringers Gloves / Mauritsen Enterprises Toyota Camry to keep fighting their way to the top as the HayWire Motorsports team continues their run in the 2008 LLMRS championship season. And be sure to catch the #92 RPM Sales & Service / Old West Graphics / Ringers Gloves / KMB Design Groups / Mauritsen Enterprises Pontiac Grand Prix on the Whelen All-American series schedule at Evergreen Speedway.

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