July 23rd Racing

July 23rd, 1999 - The car seems to be getting alot better. The past couple of weeks Mark hasn't broke the 20 mark and hasn't made the dash. This week he accomplished both of those. He set a time of 19.924 which was 5th fastest. Mark started on the outside of the front row. During hot laps before the dash Mark seemed to have the start. Mark came across the radio and said "I have the start" At the green Brinkman held his own as Mark and him battled side by side. Brinkman was sliding up during the feature and bascially Mark was into the wall. Dropped back in behind Brinkman. Wheeler and Baldry would go around both of them and Mark would follow them around Brinkman. At the checkers Mark had 3rd place. In the feature Mark started about mid pack on the inside. As the feature took the green Mark was sticking with the pack. At one point he would move up to 4th place, but had no where to go. Bennett was trying to get by gracy and Rod was trying to get by both of them. As everyone was bumper to bumper Baldry used the outside line and passed Mark. Jeff Van Oudehoven was along wih him. As the laps went by there were a few cautions but nothing that amounted to any lengthy clean up. At the checkers Mark came in 6th place. After the races I talked to Mark's brother Lee and he said the car is getting closer.

Qualifying - 5th @ 19.924
Dash - 3rd
Feature - 6th
Points - Tied for 6th place and 74 points behind point leader.