Tim Russell Adapts to New Tire with Another Victory

22-Year-Old Victorious in Goodyear Challenge at Lakeland

It’s been July since Tim Russell has run a race and not finished in the top five.  During that time period, the 22-year-old’s worst finish has been a fourth and he had collected three victories and two runner-up finishes entering this past weekend’s FASCAR Goodyear Challenge race at USA International Speedway in Lakeland, Florida.

So what could derail Russell’s victory bandwagon?  25 other competitors?  A new tire compound?  A starting position back in the fourth row?

As it turned out, none of the above.  Russell’s #36 Rinnai/Tempaco/Dave Brewer Custom Homes Late Model team adapted to everything that they were faced with in winning form and Russell came away from the event with his third consecutive Late Model victory.

Preparation and a good team helped with the unknowns of a new tire.

“We had a new compound of tires this weekend and that kind of threw everyone a curveball,” said Russell.  “We came and tested on Wednesday night and learned some stuff.  We built a couple of adjustments into the car.

“It just shows how good my team is.  My crew chief Cam Gibson works hard on the set-ups of the car.  He got it dialed in.  About halfway through the race, I was a little nervous about it and he told me not to worry, that it would come in.  Right when he said that, it did.  We had an awesome car from there on.”

Tim is getting used to ending his race in victory lane.

Patience, and a little bit of bad luck for another competitor, helped to overcome the starting-position problem.

“We qualified on the pole and drew a seven, so we started seventh.  At the beginning of the race, we had a pretty decent car.  It was probably a second- or third-place car.  About lap 50, the car came alive.  We passed a couple of cars on the outside and then got up to the lead.  Sam Watts had been leading and his car shut off.  I think that it would have been a good race between him and me.  We were probably the two quickest all weekend.  He qualified second.” 

Once Watts was history, so was any chance of a battle for the lead.

“Once we got out front, we built up a pretty comfortable lead and went on from there.”

Russell is optimistic about continuing his win streak this weekend as he gets ready to invade the Late Model ranks at DeSoto Speedway (FL).

“They have a track series at DeSoto with 12-14 races a year.  Whenever we have an off weekend from the Goodyear Challenge Series, we go over there and run.”

And will he win again?

“I hope so,” said Russell.  “We’ve won four out of five races there.  We have three wins and three poles in a row with the Late Model, so we’ll try to keep our streak alive.  We have a good chance.  We try to run in the top three every race and if you are in the top three, you have a good chance of winning the race.”