[JRyan]

I ran my first Divisional event at Brainerd in 1998. I had just turned 16 3 weeks prior. Got everything sorted a little late and didn't have time to run across the scale before the first pass. We knew we were close ended up 10lbs light. Next pass the fuel dad had purchased earlier in the season didn't pass. Cleaned out the system and put in the tracks fuel which was so bad that it barely tested straight out of the tank. The car slowed down .20 but at least I was on the sheet. Before first round we drained the system again and found some c-12 to use the rest of the weekend. Was lucky enough to draw Gary Stinnett first round. We ended up qualifying with an 11.54 with the bad fuel. The first pass the car had gone 11.32 when we were light. So we dialed the car an 11.3-. Gary was uncharacteristically late. I was like .016 to his .074 and I ended up picking up the win. We made it to the semis that day. Went up to the tower to get our check and Gary was standing there picking up his check for super comp. The whole time we were waiting he was just staring at dad and I. Finally he walks up and says why the hell did we dial a 30 when we had only gone a 54. Told him what had transpired over the weekend and he shook his head. Said it had bothered him all day. We got a good chuckle out of it. Since then I have run Gary 3 times all in either the semis or quarters. I've had pretty decent lights all 3 times and all 3 times I've left second and the win light has been on in the other lane. Go figure.

Rick Ryan