On June 25 and 26 we loaded the car and went to two car shows. Friday night it was the weekly show at Royce BBQ out on eight mile Rd. On Saturday it was a great little show at The Need for Speed Die cast Store in Lockeford. The little car was a big hit with all the people getting to set in it and get their picture taken. Chuck Carmen of REP-CO even brought his brand new stock car to the show painted just like Dale Earnharts Daytona car. Sean the crew chief for David Ball Racing #29 cooked and a good time was had by all. The next day we all went to the NEXTEL race at Sears Point (INFINION RACE WAY PARK) where Sean cooked for twenty two of the NEXTEL teams and has been setup to cook for them every time they come to the west coast. Talk about hitting the big time good show Sean you make all of us proud.

On July 3 the Legends ran at Roseville and we couldn't make it. This track takes a special exhaust system and we can't afford one right now. How ever Dina, David Winchel's mom did e-mail us to let us know how the races went it sounded like they all had a good time, sure wish I could have been there, maybe next time.

On July 10 the Legends ran at Stockton and we were there early to get set up before the weather got to hot. After we got every body signed in and the tents were all up I noticed that Terry Miller sr. the owner of the #28 was not at the track. After checking with his son Terry the driver who told me his dad had work and should get to the track before our first race. I kept an eye on terry all day just in case he might need some help but every time I looked over there he seamed to have plenty. Chuck Scott driver of the #15 car and winner at Roseville the week before spent a lot of time helping Terry. All there hard work paid off in the main event because by the time I had cleared heavy traffic and got a chance to breath I looked up and saw Terry and some of the guys had pulled away from the pack and he was flying. I don't know what happened to get him turned around towards the end of the race but any way you look at it Terry had a good night of racing as did I with a sixth place with no marks on the car.

OK this brings us to Lakeport and July17 My mother/crew chief was having a terrible time getting the day off from work so I though I had better get (as my dad calls it a plan B.) together. I called my cousin Keith to see if he could go along and help out he said no problem. Keith's father drove both early and late model stock cars for my dad for something like 17 or 18 years in the 70s & 80s. Keith's mother also drove for a couple of years before becoming head scorekeeper for Delta Speedway. Needles to say after being raised as a track rat he knows his way around a racecar. With a crew like him now all he has to do is talk Uncle Ted in to buying and driving a Legend. Then we could have a 99 Legend driving a Legend at 99.

Enough of that lets get on with the race. I really like this racetrack. We qualified fifth and started in forth position in the heat race. By the third lap I put it in the lead and it was smooth sailing from there. By the end of the race I had a pretty substantial lead and it sure felt good, it's been awhile sense I have won.

We rolled for the main in seventh position. On the start every thing went well and the car felt good and was stuck like glue. I could tell we were going to do well in this race. Every thing went fine until the forth lap when I was hit by the #43 car which drove me right into Rick Andrews #58 sending him strait up in the air and then in to the wall backwards. I dropped the anchor with both feet but with the spindle broke I'm not sure it did any good. When I finely come to a stop I could see Rick, who obviously had not seen the #43 hit me, was very upset and yelling at me. My dad always told me to never start trouble but also never back down from it. So I ripped off my helmet and yelled a few expletives of my own. I am not very proud of this but my car was also wrecked and the #43 wasn't there for me to yell at.

I called my dad to let him know how we did. All he said was I don't know why you like that little track so much because you always bring it home in a bag from there. We will be back at Lakeport on Aug.21 2004

Fred #55 Legend