(Image Credit: Patrick Shaw)
26 Promotions – Queen Creek, AZ – (April 25th, 2017) – Colton Hardy scored his fourth Carlyle Tools ASCS Southwest Region podium finish Saturday night at Arizona Speedway even though he lost his brakes early in the Feature.
Despite a broken wing ram, causing the car to tighten throughout the race, Hardy finished 2nd from his 4th place starting spot in his Heat. Hardy made the Feature redraw, where he drew the 6th starting spot.
With the broken wing ram replaced, Hardy was ready for 25-laps around the three-eighths mile oval. Hardy quickly worked his way into 4th as the second lap was completed. After two back to back cautions, Hardy went to slide for 3rd when he realized he no longer had brakes.
“I rolled the bottom of 3 and 4 really good,” he explained. “I pulled equal with Rick (Ziehl) for 3rd and went to slide him. As soon as I went to grab some brake my foot went right to the motor plate. With it being so early in the race, I just went into conserve mode trying to save as many spots as I could. Come to find out a fitting on the front brake came loose, which started puking brake fluid out and causing us to lose brakes”
Without the use of his brakes, Hardy would fall back to and run most of the race in 5th. Hardy picked up two spots late in the race when two competitors retired to the infield with under 5 laps to go allowing Hardy to pick up his fifth Top 5 in the Carlyle Tools ASCS Southwest Region this season.
“I’m happy with the speed we had. It’s hard to say how good we really were with losing brakes so early,” he said. “I can’t thank Ted and Stacey Williams enough for the opportunity to drive their race car. Also, can’t thank Nate, Aaron, AJ and Randy enough for getting the car ready throughout the week and making sure it’s nice and clean when it hits the track.”
Hardy has the weekend off from racing before returning to Sprint Car action May 6th back at Arizona Speedway.
Colton Hardy would like to thank Diamond Mechanical, M & J Trophies, Mark’s Nuts & Bolts, Elite Technical Coatings, CSI Shocks, F.S.C, NAPA Auto & Truck Parts, Borrello Race Engines, A & C Remodeling, Engler Machine & Tools and Simpson Race Products for their continued support.
Results:
Heat: 4th -> 2nd
Feature: 6th -> 3rd
Links:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/colton.hardy41
Twitter: https://twitter.com/colton_hardy41
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/colton_hardy41/
Website: http://www.coltonhardy.com/
Article Credit: 26 Promotions