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2007 RACE REPORTS

SUPER TRUCKS

Race 1...Connor made his Truck debut in respectable fashion as he qualified 10th and finised 10th despite a lap three incident where he was forced into the wall by another Truck. That contact resulted in right front end damage making it nearly impossible to compete. He turned in the 5th quickest time despite the contact, and is hopefull for better results in Race Two.

Race 2...A great start to the day as Connor practiced in the Top Five and qualified 10th. The race was even better as Connor turned "the" fastest lap of the race, and was up to 6th place until he was taken out by yet another competitor for the second race in a row. Connor had to retire from the race as that incident damaged the front end preventing him from finishing the race.

Race 3...Connor once again practices well, Qualifies 7th, and finishes 10th as the team still tries to figure out the limited tire rule and how to get the most out of the truck in race conditions.

Race 4...Practice was once again strong, but we are still missing something in qualifying trim as he started from the 9th position. From there he went forward pretty quickly and made it to 4th position before a transmission problem developed forcing him to nurse it home for the final five laps. Connor and crew chief Dave Reeves continue to work flawlessly together as they improve the truck each time out. The 4th place finish moves him to 8th in points, and 2nd in the Rookie of the Year standings.

Race 5...Connor practiced well once again, qualified 8th just 4/100's from the 4th position, and then an eight car inversion placed Connor on the POLE! Connor was jumped at the start, and was just a half car back when a 2nd lap crash brought out a Red flag. He would restart 2nd and remained there with numerous challenges from veterans Pat Mintey Jr and Joe Herrold. After a late race caution Connor retook the lead and led most of the final laps. Connor and Mintey battled for the lead racing side by side, just inches apart for over six laps allowing veteran Kenny Smith to get into the mix making it three wide with five to go. The three raced three wide for three laps until Mintey and Connor touched allowing Smith to get by. Connor finally cleared Mintey for 2nd, but ran out of laps as Smith took the checkers. Connor once again gained some valuable experience, posted fast time of the race, finished 2nd, took over the points lead for Rookie of the Year, and climbs to 7th in the overall Point Standings making it a great night for the 9 Team!

Race 6...The first race of the year on a very hot race track had the team reeling all day. Practice, qualifying and the race was mid pack as Connor finishes 12th. The team plans to test this week as a result of the mediocre day.

Race 7...The team was much better this week and practiced in the top five, qualified 7th and looked good early on in the race but faded late as a result of ignition problems. Connor merely rode out the end of the race and hung onto a 10th place finish.

Race 8...Probably the best effort of the year as the team once again practiced very good and had a great run going in qualifying until another competitor spun out during the group qualifying session. The spin halted the session and Connor's best lap that was easily top 5. Once restarted he could only manage 8th. What seemed to be a bad break quickly turned into a good one as the invert placed him on the outside pole position. From there he moved to first on lap 5 and led 30 laps until contact from the 28 truck knocked him to 12th. The truck is getting better though, and we are confident the best is yet to come!

Race 9...Race nine is in the books and the 9 truck continues to improve. Connor practiced 6th and 2nd in the two practices and then qualified a season high 2nd. The invert put him in the 4th position and he brought it home in 3rd for his second podium finish in the truck. Although extremely good in the corners the truck still seems down on power and the team will address that this coming week. Huge thanks to crew chief Jeff Latimer, and also for the help from Keith Johns and Larry Vannix. Connor remains in 6th position in points, and widens his lead in the Rookie race. Next race is on August 11th and we look for even better results then! Thanks to the guys from Low Budget TV for going on-board with Connor on Saturday.

Race 10...For the second race in a row Connor finishes in the top three! Race ten may go down as the day things really started to gel as the team posted fast time in both practices, and then Connor got his first pole ever on the half-mile! Spinning a three meant he would move championship contender Matt Hicks from the third spot to the point, and placing himself directly behind him on the inside of row two. Behind him was Southwest Tour vet Joe Herold and points leader Pat Mintey Jr. making for quite the challenge for a Rookie with only ten races under his belt at this level. At the drop of the green Connor immediately went to 2nd and then he and Hicks gapped the field by over fifteen car lengths. Connor stayed glued to the 28 for the entire race as the two trucks turned almost identical times each and every lap. Connor knew that a win might require a good ole short track bump and run, and pay-back from a recent incident where Hicks used that move on him might have been fair play, but Connor decided otherwise. A look down low in turn one was blocked, and then a nose inside of Hicks off of four with the checkers in the air, nudging him slightly (just trying to rattle his cage as one former driver liked to call it) was to no avail as Connor backed out assuring himself of another good finish, a legit shot at a Top 5 in points, and a bigger lead in the Rookie of the Year race. Huge thanks to crew chief Jeff Latimer, Vinny Lizzard engines, Race Car Factory, our sponsors, and Irwindale Speedway. Next race is in two weeks and the team looks for even better results!

Race 11....Connor once again posts quick time in pre-race practice, qualifies 3rd, starts 6th and then raced his way to the front by lap twenty-four. From there he set his sights on Southwest Tour vet Joe Herold, was definitely catching him, but simply ran out of laps as he posts yet another 2nd place finish. The team is a full stride now as crew chief Jef Lattimer and Connor continue to improve the truck.

Race 12....Connor qualifies 3rd and starts 5th as the team continues to show great speed late in the season. Connor was turning the races fastest times and made it to the bumper of race leader Matt Hicks with seven laps to go when a late race caution stopped his momentum. As the race resumed Connor once again applied heavy pressure to Hicks until debris on the track punctured Connor's RF tire and bringing the night to an end. Connor remains in the lead for Rookie of the Year but may have seen his best oppoutunity for a win slip away tonight.

Race 13....Connor again practices up front, qualifies 3rd, and starts 4th. He also started 4th in the Trophy Dash and won giving him great hope for the main event. As the main started Connor battled very cold track conditions and contact with another competitior hurt the truck enough to keep Connor out of contention. He finishes 13th and now looks forward to double-points for the last race of the season.

Race 14....For double points the team was at the ready and once again practiced up front, qualified 6th and would start from the 4th position. Connor would once again make it to 2nd behind race leader, and eventual Series Champion Pat Mintey Jr but could not get by him for the win. Connor gets his fourth 2nd place finish of the season, wins the Rookie of the Year title, and finished the season point standings in 4th place.

Special Post Season Race...Connor qualified 5th and made it to 2nd by lap 30 and then battled door to door with Sedgewick for 5 laps late and led by a nose at the stripe a few times before his tires gave up due to running that low line hard. The race was finished at lap 66 due to time concerns and finished 2nd once again to a very experienced veteran. Bill Sedgewick was a NASCAR Winston West Champion, not once-but twice - 1991 and 1992. He has worked as a tire changer for the legendary Hershel McGriff and was crew chief for Ron Hornaday. He competed in the NASCAR Craftsman Super Truck Series in 1995 and 1996 so Connor was up against very tough competition for this race. Connor still plans to run late models in 2008 but due to sponsorship issues he may be forced to remain in the truck series. Anyone interested in sponsoring connor next year can email at connorcantrellracing@hotmail.com

LEGEND CARS

RACE 1...Connor tied for the pole, started second, and made a pass for the lead on lap 25 of 35 and went on to a half-second win in the season opening Legend Car Season at Irwindale.

RACE 2...Pulling double-duty in both Trucks and Legends, Connor qualified 2nd and started 4th after the invert, and then made his way to the front before being passed late as the handling faded late in the race. Connor finishes a close 2nd and remains the point leader after two races.