Bryan races the high banked Randolph County Raceway (Mike Musslin – Checkered Flag Photography)
(Bill W) April 5, 2016 – The Matt Wood Racing #17w team and driver Bryan Clauson had things going their way in NSL National 360 action last Saturday night at Randolph County Raceway near Moberly, Missouri. The team had a fast car on their hands on the high banked 4/10-mile oval before a motor issue slowed things in the heat race. The Noblesville, Indiana driver bounced back through the field in the feature to record an eighth place finish. While Bryan plans to race in USAC National Midget action along with MWR driver Shane Golobic in Kokomo, Indiana this weekend, any weather issues there could shift the team’s plans toward a pair of sprint car events in southeast Iowa.
Bryan started fifth in his heat Saturday. “We got a good start out of the gate and we were able to get up to third,” he says. “I felt like we had a good enough car for second, or even to challenge for the win. We had a motor issue there, just past halfway and that put us behind the 8-ball for the rest of the night.”
The DNF meant he would start the Qualifier on the tail (12th). “The team did a great job of getting the motor swapped,” says Bryan. “Unfortunately, they’ve had some practice this year! That gave us a chance to get ready for the Qualifier and pick up a couple starting spots for the feature. We were able to drive up to sixth. We felt really solid about that. We didn’t have a whole lot of time to look at the track or anything while changing the engine. We were able to pick up some passing points there.”
It was enough for Bryan to start inside row seven for the feature. “It looked like it was starting to lock down a little bit during the Qualifiers,” he says of the track. “We kind of anticipated that a little bit. We were a little aggressive early and we were able to get up to eighth using the high side of one and two. About halfway through, the track cleaned off on the low side and we had to get in line.”
He could have used a caution or two that never came. “Unfortunately, the race went non-stop,” says Bryan. “We could have used a caution or two there. Overall, it was a pretty good recovery for the team to get back into the top ten. We had a lot better car than the results showed for sure.”
Matt Wood Racing would like to thank: Elk Grove Ford, Cancer Treatment Centers of America, Jonathan Byrd’s Hospitality and Restaurant Group, America’s Best Value Inn, Quick Lane and Impact Signs, Awnings & Wraps!
To follow the Matt Wood Racing’s progress online, visit www.ColeWoodRacing.com!
Bryan races the high banked Randolph County Raceway (Mike Musslin – Checkered Flag Photography)
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