By Michelle Petroff
SPARTANBURG, SC (May 10, 2004) – Sometimes racing comes down to Lady Luck more than determination, skill, desire or pit strategies and Jeremy Clements and his #3 Broadway Motors/One Stop Convenience Stores Chevy team did not receive a visit from her at Saturday’s “Channel 5 205” at Kentucky Speedway. Jeremy qualified an impressive 4th place with average speeds of 167.551 mph at the paved 1.5-mile track and the team had high hopes going into to Saturday’s race. However, there was a dark cloud looming overhead. In Jeremy’s 7 ARCA RE/MAX Series starts, every time that he previously qualified in the top-10, he had disappointing finishes due to mechanical problems or accidents.
The #3 team diligently prepared the car on race day and Jeremy showed his improved speed-shifting skills when the green flag dropped and he jumped into 2nd place behind veteran, Frank Kimmel. The race was going surprisingly well as Jeremy settled in and didn’t drive aggressively too early in the race. He was solidly locked into the top 5 when he started reporting a slight loss of power after lap 20. As laps ticked away, he was radioing reports back to the team so they could try to plan for their next pit move. But, on lap 42 the team noted it was a dreaded battery failure and there simply wasn’t enough juice for Jeremy to keep going and they ended their night officially scored in a disappointing 29th place.
While we have amazingly generous and committed sponsors, we do not have monolithic financial support or resources behind us. The team decided that it was best to be practical, save tire money and laps on our engine and call it a night rather than risk damaging our only car by going back on the track several laps down with no chance for major improvement.
As Clements stated, “We had a good run going and I know we had a car that could win so it is disappointing; but we had a battery go bad and that stuff happens in racing. We’re just going to go home and get ready for Lowe’s and hopefully have an opportunity to show ‘em what we got there.”
If last year’s performances are any indication of “what he’s got”, the young guns and veterans alike better hold on tight because Jeremy notched two third place finishes at Lowe’s Motor Speedway last year in only his 5th and 6th ARCA RE/MAX starts. The team will not compete this weekend at Toledo Speedway since they are planning on slingin’ dirt but stay tuned for Charlotte… unlike batteries, tenacity never dies.
SPARTANBURG, SC (May 10, 2004) – Sometimes racing comes down to Lady Luck more than determination, skill, desire or pit strategies and Jeremy Clements and his #3 Broadway Motors/One Stop Convenience Stores Chevy team did not receive a visit from her at Saturday’s “Channel 5 205” at Kentucky Speedway. Jeremy qualified an impressive 4th place with average speeds of 167.551 mph at the paved 1.5-mile track and the team had high hopes going into to Saturday’s race. However, there was a dark cloud looming overhead. In Jeremy’s 7 ARCA RE/MAX Series starts, every time that he previously qualified in the top-10, he had disappointing finishes due to mechanical problems or accidents.
The #3 team diligently prepared the car on race day and Jeremy showed his improved speed-shifting skills when the green flag dropped and he jumped into 2nd place behind veteran, Frank Kimmel. The race was going surprisingly well as Jeremy settled in and didn’t drive aggressively too early in the race. He was solidly locked into the top 5 when he started reporting a slight loss of power after lap 20. As laps ticked away, he was radioing reports back to the team so they could try to plan for their next pit move. But, on lap 42 the team noted it was a dreaded battery failure and there simply wasn’t enough juice for Jeremy to keep going and they ended their night officially scored in a disappointing 29th place.
While we have amazingly generous and committed sponsors, we do not have monolithic financial support or resources behind us. The team decided that it was best to be practical, save tire money and laps on our engine and call it a night rather than risk damaging our only car by going back on the track several laps down with no chance for major improvement.
As Clements stated, “We had a good run going and I know we had a car that could win so it is disappointing; but we had a battery go bad and that stuff happens in racing. We’re just going to go home and get ready for Lowe’s and hopefully have an opportunity to show ‘em what we got there.”
If last year’s performances are any indication of “what he’s got”, the young guns and veterans alike better hold on tight because Jeremy notched two third place finishes at Lowe’s Motor Speedway last year in only his 5th and 6th ARCA RE/MAX starts. The team will not compete this weekend at Toledo Speedway since they are planning on slingin’ dirt but stay tuned for Charlotte… unlike batteries, tenacity never dies.
