Sideways with Bubba
Bubba Broderick Racing Report - Edition 5 - Second Night Success - By Rich Vleck
For the third time this season, the Broderick Racing Team bounced back from a less than impressive first night of action to follow it up with a performance they could be proud of the following night.
The team made the long trip to Ohsweken Speedway for a Friday Night event, and were joined by 50 other teams. With just about half of the cars getting sent home, qualifying for the event was the primary task.
"This was a great way to measure ourselves," Bubba reflected. "I like having a little extra pressure to perform while not having it be a regular point race."
After another unlucky draw, Broderick put together a solid performance in his heat race, charging from ninth to fourth to put himself in great shape to qualify for the A-Main, but work was still to be done. Under the Northern Summer Nationals format, a second set of heats, known as qualifiers, was required to set the field.
The inversion put Broderick near the front of the pack and was solidly in the top-three, however, he would lose control on the slick track and spin out his No. 5. Broderick would charge back up to place eighth, which was still not enough to qualify directly to the A-Main.
"We just didn't have the car connected to the track," Bubba noted. "When Bobby Breen got by for the lead, I tried to go back after him but the space tightened up and when I lifted off the throttle and sent car around."
Bubba ran the B-Main, which has become a familiar sight for him in big event at Ohsweken, where he has won one in the last two Canadian Sprint Car Nationals. As soon as the race started though, it was clear that the No. 5 was not set up correctly for the slick track conditions.
"We were chasing the track all night and we tried some changes and knew right away that it didn't do much. I was leading, but I knew that I didn't have much of one because I could hear the guys right on me."
Broderick was trying to hang on when he spun around the car in turn one. Trying to stay in the mix, Bubba gassed the car, did a '360' and kept going, when a car behind him spun around and drew a caution. Because the lap was not completed, they would revert back to the last completed lap, allowing Bubba to get the lead back.
"I don't even know how I kept that car going after spinning around," Bubba admitted. "I was the luckiest guy there that night because there was no way I was going to run back into one of the top-two spots. I was thanking God at that point."
After picking up the win and transferring to the A-Main, the 20-year-old found himself in a massive pack of top contenders fighting for limited real estate around the 3/8-mile. He would card an 18th place showing, eighth best among Patriot competitors as far as points were concerned.
The next night the team headed into the unknown to compete at the Little Valley Speedway. Upon setting his eyes on the ½-mile, Bubba quickly realized that this track was much different than anything else on the tour.
"I was excited when I saw the track because I love speed and I felt that it could suit my driving style. We do pretty well at the really big tracks and it looked like it would slick off, which was also beneficial."
Starting near the back of his heat, once again, Bubba quickly charged from seventh to second, easily making the redraw. Like his heat though, he would have another unlucky draw, selecting the No. 8 starting spot in the A-Main.
"The car handled really well after practice, and it continued through the heat. I was unsure about running the high line and didn't test it up there. After talking with Chuck Hebing earlier in the week he said that was where he ran when he won there. The bad draw basically committed me for doing something different, even though I hadn't practiced the line."
On the opening lap, a major crash occurred heading into the first turn right near Bubba, who was able to scoot on by. Unfortunately, Bubba's friend Scott Bonnell was not as fortunate, and would suffer two broken vertebrae as a result of his flip.
"All my prayers go out to him. We have hung out with him a lot of late and he is a terrific guy. I felt really bad and thought about him the entire time under the red flag. I was also thinking about how I could have been a part of it if I didn't try the high line."
Bubba would have to refocus and after one more caution flag the next time around, the race would go to the end without stoppage, which is when Broderick made his moves.
The No. 5 Eagle went up to the top and began rim-riding his way up through the pack. After restarting on lap one in seventh, he would charge to third by lap five and begin to challenge Kyle Moffit. The two youngsters would put on a spirited battle, with Bubba finally getting the spot coming to the white flag.
"I had so much fun up on the top. It was probably one of the top-five races of the career because the speed I was carrying just two feet off the wall was awesome."
A caution flag may have put Broderick in the mix to pick up the win, but without that aid occurring he would have to settle for his fourth top-three of the season.
"I wish we had a caution because it would have put on a great show for the fans. Bryan was really quick but I would have liked to take a chance at him."
The team will now take a weekend off, with the next action occurring on July 17 and 18 at Brockville and Cornwall Speedways in Ontario. These ¼-mile ovals favor Bubba's driving style, and should give him a great chance to be the first three-time winner on the ASCS Patriot Tour this season.
"I am really looking forward to these shows because we always do really well up there and hopefully can pull off another win."
Broderick Racing is supported by Northeast Carpet, Brownie's Towing, Pink Monkey Water, Eagle Motorsports, Mike Emhof Motorsports, Fyne Line Construction, Campbell's Painting, Jim's Welding Supply.
For more information, be sure to visit www.BroderickRacing.com.
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