Column By: BOBBY CHALMERS / RPW – BARBERSVILLE, FL – Almost!
Demetrios Drellos came within two corners from capturing Thursday night’s DIRTcar Nationals Super DIRTcar Series feature at Volusia Speedway Park.
That was, until, Mat Williamson snatched the $5,000 payday away from the Queensbury, NY driver on lap 29.
Even with the disappointment, Drellos had a positive outlook on his run, although, he has some questions as well.
“We sure had a great race car for the first 26 laps,” Drellos said. “It sure seemed like the last four, our car just didn’t like the racing surface. I’m not sure what exactly happened but we lost a lot of our ability to rotate up top late in the race.”
Did lap traffic late in the non-stop 30-lap feature play into the outcome of his race?
“Yea, lap cars broke my momentum a tad,” he said. “However, that wasn’t the reason why we lost. The 88 surely had the better car in the closing laps.”
Did the track present any challenges to Drellos?
“Entry into turn one was very tricky tonight,” he said. “The cushion was tough to run and it was pretty shined up until you got to the cushion. It was right on the edge so to speak.”
After drawing the pole for the main event on Thursday, Drellos was able to drive out and hold a commanding lead, at some points outdistancing the second place runner by over two seconds. Was the 111 a good enough car that he could have driven to the front even without the front row starting spot?
“I’m not 100% sure,” he said. “Maybe. We had a really good car tonight (Thursday). Clean air definitely helped I think. We would’ve been able to pass up from a few rows back but I honestly don’t know. The track was pretty racy tonight.”
Does he, and his Drellos Motorsports team, have any ideas as to how to make the 111 one spot better for Friday and Saturday night?
“There are a few things I’d like to try tomorrow,” he said. “I think that would help later in the race. I think if we can free our car up a tick more, we would be light years ahead. However, I’m sure everyone is wishing the same thing.”
