Brainerd: Mark Pawuk eliminations summary

Spool, Spool, Who's Got The Spool?
Freak breakage ends Pawuk's day early

BRAINERD, MN 8/17/03 After failing to qualify at the last two NHRA national events contested in Brainerd, Minnesota, Mark "Cowboy" Pawuk and the Summit Racing Pontiac Grand Am appeared for the first round of Pro Stock eliminations at this year's Rugged Liner Nationals. Ah, but in this instance "appeared" is the operative word, as unlikely breakage ended the team's day in that first round when the steel spool in the car's rearend assembly unaccountably failed. "It's really rare to break one of these things," a disappointed Pawuk said back in his pit area. "Rare or not, it happened when we least expected it, and if memory serves me on this, it's the first time we've lost a spool since we started racing in Pro Stock about 14 years ago.

"There's obviously nothing we can do about it now, but from now one this will be just one more thing we'll be checking each and every week."

Pawuk did return to the exceptional driving form he's shown this season, leaving on first round opponent Taylor Lastor by a considerable margin. "We're pleased about that," admitted "The Cowboy," "but in reality, I wouldn't have cared if Taylor'd killed me on the starting line if we'd've gotten the win light. That's what really counts."

After the team returns to Ohio to have the engines gone through once again there'll be extensive testing undertaken in preparation for the NHRA Mac Tools U.S. Nationals.

"This is undoubtedly the most prestigious and important race of the year," Pawuk said. "We're going to go all out to make a good showing at Indy. It's important to everyone on our team that we do well."