[Jeff Lee]

With no time to T-N-T as I would have liked ( car ran on its own for 1st time Wednesday night around 10:30), we found out the hard way there was not enough tire clearance to the left slick on the 96" 30" roll-out Hoosiers (previously always ran 91"-92" 29.5 M/T's), which I've stated elsewhere.
My 1st pass left some nuts that were in the trunk along with fuel from the fuel cell vent on the starting line along with heavy tire smoke in 4th. Bring on cleanup crew for 20 minutes. 2nd pass was same problem less the nuts & again 20 minute delay as NHRA checked the track & cleaned up the fuel.

D7 Tech director Ben told Rob Youngblood (as we were pitted together) that if I caused another delay, I'd be DQ'd. Rob told them we had the problem licked (or so we thought). Made 3rd run same problems, same delay.

So I spent the next few hours with a body grinder & tin snips only to find they meant what they said. The clearance is finally right (so I hope) and the vent was re-routed. Causing 30-45 minutes in delays is understandably frustrating and a burden on those racers following me so I certainly understand. I just wish I could have had time for a T-N-T but I wanted to make the last D7 race of the year. Sorry to those that had to endure the delays!