We just got back from the ChumpCar race in Rockingham and we had a blast! The CCWS staff was very friendly and it was nice to see some familiar faces from the three races at CMP we ran in the previous years. The teams/cars are definately getting better. There are some very well prepared cars out there. The three ahead of us were amazing as well as a few others behind us that ran into a few mechanical problems.
The race was scheduled to be 24 hrs, but with 20+ cancelations after the recent CMP race, CCWS shortened the race to a straight 14 hr (9am - 11pm) I think 21 cars took the green flag...which was nice since there was plenty of fast open track. The 14 hr race let us have plenty of track time in the day and night! (Boy, night racing is awesome if you can see the track. My last stint at night I had about 20% visibility.) Also the 14 hrs was plenty with our tire supply. Of the 12 tires we had with us, we used 11 of them. That is a very abrasive track.
Back to the staff... there were times when our car had 4 wheels off, or we were hit by the pink piggy Saab which would have gotten us black flagged in LeMons, but not with CCWS. The series understands that sometimes you will go off track and they understand that there will be some contact. That's racing. In the drivers meeting on Friday night, the Chief Chump John told us if you don't spin or go off, then you aren't trying hard enough.
Our little Escort GT ran great all day and we are looking forward to step it up a notch when we debut the Mustang in Homestead in May! Man, the local races with the CCWS are great!! Homestead, Sebring, Roebling!! WOO HOO!!