AUGUST 29, 2009 –-- With the Golden State Challenge King of California Series concluded for the year we only had one race this past weekend and it was the 48th running of the Johnny Key Memorial. The Key, as it has been for the last couple of years, was contested at Watsonville’s beautiful Ocean Speedway. It is a 50 lap winged 360 race that consists of two 25 lap sprints separated by a twelve minute fuel and maintenance break. This special, once a year event is steeped in tradition and is one of our annual favorites.

Evan was one of the 14 pre-qualified drivers so all he had to do was time-trial for his starting spot in his dash. There were two dashes in order to set the starting 14 cars and Evan finished third in the second dash so he started the main in the third row on the outside (got that? J). The remainder of the field of nine cars was set by the B Main.

Ev lost several positions in the first dozen or so laps and by the time the flag flew for the first 25 he had slipped back to tenth. With Evan now out of the car he and crewmember Brian Poe went to work on the ailing ride and found the right rear had a leak and lost half of its air. The tire was replaced, chassis adjustments were made and ten gallons of methanol was added.

The car was immediately more competitive after the restart but several laps later a competitor spun and collected Evan sending him to the back. 

As the laps ticked down Evan was able to catch and pass several cars and when all 50 were elapsed the 33e came home in fifth. This is not the finish we were looking for but sometimes it is just not your night!

We have this week off and we are looking forward to spectating this Sunday at the USAC sanctioned Louie Vermeil Classic at Calistoga. This will be a nice break prior to the biggest West Coast race of the year, the annual three day WoO Gold Cup at Silver Dollar Speedway in Chico.

If you have not been to the Gold Cup you are really missing something. It is not just a race…..it is a spectacle. A three day orgy of 410 winged-car racing and fun.

Hope to see you there and, as always, thanks for checking in.

Suggs Family Racing