S&S Motorsports muddles to fourth-place finish at Madera

MADERA, CA -- Even though S&S Motorsports driver Troy Regier, of Dinuba, Calif., posted second-fast qualifying time and produced consistent lap times in the trophy dash and heat race -- both of which he finished second -- the best he could pull off in the 50-lap main event was a solid fourth-place in the Pombo Classic race at Madera Speedway in Madera, Calif. in the Supermodified Racing Association.

After convincing wins at The Bullring in Las Vegas and Rocky Mountain Raceways in West Valley City, Utah, recently, the S&S team continues to struggle with handling on the racecar at the shorter tracks. Just when they thought they were doing better after last month's second-place finish at Madera Speedway, their Achille's heal flared its ugly head Saturday, sending them for a loop.

"We sucked," admitted co-owner Steve Shaw. "We just can't get a handle on this track with this car."

"We know it's not the engine or the brakes or wings, it has to be the chassis," added Tom Silsby, co-owner.

Regier said handling on the car started out as loose, then went tight. Like Silsby and Shaw, Regier was not pleased with the car.

"It was ugly," Regier said. "I just couldn't get the car to work tonight. It was loose, it was tight and it was bottoming out on the straights. A lot. I can't remember the last time I finished fourth at Madera."

"Maybe it is a shock problem," Silsby said in another thought. "I just don't know. I'm ready to take everything off that car to check it out."

With posting second-fast time and a 10-invert in the main event lineup, Regier began the race ninth position, fifth row inside. A few cautions for solo spins slowed the race, but Regier slowly worked his way toward the front, up to sixth on lap 8, and finally fourth on lap 24, where he would finish. Each time Regier looked as if he would advance, slower, lapped traffic -- also battling for position -- would impede his progress.

"Troy had good qualifying numbers and drove the second-fastest lap in the main event," Shaw said. "He got hung up a couple of times with lapped traffic, but bottom line, the car just sucked."

Silsby and Shaw plan to "break down" the car to the chassis to inspect it over the next few weeks. The Supermodified Racing Association's next race is Aug. 15 at Madera Speedway. For information, points and photo galleries on the SMRA, visit www.smrasupermods.com.