Ukiah Speedway

Coming off a big main event win at Stockton, I felt really good about going to Ukiah Speedway – a track that is four hours from home. We arrived there around 12:30 pm. After unloading we all decided to take a breather because it was very hot. We were standing in a competitors’ enclosed trailer with a fan blowing on us and the thermometer read 109*f. This was my first time at this race track so followed Jack Humphrey in practice and learned a lot about the track he has raced there for many years, I even tried the high line a time or two. After the first session of hot laps I felt really comfortable. The temperature made for a long day as we waited for other divisions to do their thing before we could get back on the track for more practice.

 It was real late in the day when we finely got to qualify I turned a good lap of 14.915 this put me 5th in the times, just missing the trophy dash. I knew we'd have a good spot to start the main event no matter what the inversion was. With the temperature coming down I decided to make an adjustment to the setup before the heat race. Unfortunately, with time running out the heat race was canceled but I figured the track would change a little more and stayed with the adjustment I had made earlier, it worked really well. After the invert I started on the outside of the front row.

On the start of the main event with the track still dirty from the race prior to ours I slipped the tires a bit and fell back to 5th spot on the first lap. Being on the out side of a really dirty track I took my time, using patience and finding a grove I felt comfortable in before making any big moves. I spent all 30 laps trying to get back around some real fast cars, and on the final lap I felt confident enough to make my move on the outside of turns three and four, it worked out well and I finished third.

After going through tech inspection we loaded up, said our goodbyes and started that long journey home. Everything went really well and I enjoyed my time at the little track with no walls and no sweep crew. The car ran real well and as we get ready to head to Lakeport Speedway this coming weekend, I know that we'll be ready for that track.

Thanks to all of my sponsors and fans that support me each week.

And a special thanks to Dave Sullivan for all the help this season. It truly means a lot to know that all of you stand behind the team and me.

David Ball #3

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