Story By: BOBBY CHALMERS / GILARDI MOTORSPORTS – PITTSFIELD, MA – After a sixth place run last Saturday night at Lebanon Valley, Paul Gilardi was looking to build on the momentum. While a 16th place finish doesn’t show it, the team made great strides as they continue to learn their new HigFab race car.
Gilardi and the Superior Seamless #87x team narrowly missed qualifying through their heat race and started the feature event in 21st. After making some adjustments for hot laps just before the feature, the Pittsfield, MA driver stayed out of trouble and worked his way through the 30-lap main event, and in turn came home 16th.
“This car is a great piece,” Gilardi said. “It reacts to everything we do to it and I’m still just getting comfortable in the car. It’s the first brand new piece I’ve had since 2005 and I love this thing.”
Gilardi and company are working to get their primary powerplant back in action within the next few weeks. At that point, with the gains the team is making with the chassis, they will be at full strength as the summer months roll around.
“We are getting there, but it takes time,” he said. “I am very happy with the way things are going so far, even if the finishes don’t exactly show it. This is a big improvement, all around, from where we’ve been in recent years.”
Through May 27th, Gilardi sits 16th in points, just 29 markers out of the top 10. The team will be back in action this Saturday night for the 5th Annual $3,000-to-win JC Flach Memorial at Lebanon Valley. Gates open at 5pm.