Atlanta, personal report

Report from: Michael Lathrop <lathrop@IntNet.net>

JUST got in from Atlanta - it's about 2:30 - been up for about 20 hours caping that with a 7+ hour drive back - so I'll make it short for know - and post a longer version if (Mike) Buckley don't beat me to it.

Overall about a 300% improvement from Daytona - preparation, staff, organization etc. all much better than before.

First practice went quite well - got about 30 laps and the set-up looked great, tire temps were real close, lots of horsepower, Mike was comfortable in the car except for a minor vibration.

Got black-flagged twice during first practice - first time ARCA said that the car was smoking - we believe somebody in ARCA was smoking something - the car was clean and dry, none of the team saw anything, back on the track and the black flag again - this time was simple enough - forgot to put in the deck-lid pins.

Made a few minor adjustments prior to first-round quals... smoked the clutch in the run.

While replecing it - found out the bell-housing was not the right piece - missed a practice getting it sorted out. Mike took an intentionally conservative lap in second-round - mainly with the idea of making the show and saving the car - great call.

All considered the car ran pretty good during the early stages of the race - first pit stop was fuel, and removing tape. Picked up some positions on the track.

Second stop - the clutch was gone again - pushed him off - had to make a green-flag stop for fuel with about 14 to go - this time the trans was stuck in 4th - plus the clutch... tried to push him off but no such luck - just couldn't get it going again - without the clutch/trans trouble should have been a top-20 for sure.