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2002 SEASON :::
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Johnny O's
Road America Race Report:
Well, it was bound to happen sooner or later, and at Elkhart Lake our winning streak came to an end. It is disappointing in that it would have been great to have kept the streak going, but then losing reminds you how much you love winning. Rest assured that at Washington we will once again be giving 110 % and work to get that three car back on top.
 
As far as the race goes, well man it was hot. Brutal. Ron once again gave me the car with it in the lead, but this time the number 4 car was right with us on speed. During my first stint, I was able to open up a margin to Kelly, but then a yellow came out that brought the two cars together again. The crew made a change to the car based upon what Ron had told them, and for me it turned out to be the wrong direction as we picked up a lot of understeer in the car. During the caution, Andy got back in the car, and he was very hooked up. After about 10 laps he ran me down, and then the two of us just pushed as hard as we could. I would get a break in traffic, open up a gap, and then would get jammed up and he would be right there again.
Now you have to be fair, and really, had he been in front of us it would have been real hard work to stick with him as I think their car might have just had a little better handling then us on the day. We could not get through the slow corners as well as they could. Luckily for me he never got the chance to take a run at me ! There was one moment when traffic held me up pretty good and he did get a run, but my line would have made it difficult for him to get by. Anyway, a full course caution came out and we both pitted together…and that was where things went bad for us.
 In a million years I would never have guessed that a window net would fail, but that is exactly what happened as Oliver got in the car. It cost us a lot of time and a few extra pit stops to get it repaired, and we fell down to about 45 seconds to the 4 car. We did a final driver change with over an hour to go and Ron got in the car. I still felt like we might have a chance, but the car developed a handling problem and it was just a case of Ron bringing the car home. That in itself was I’m sure no easy task as the heat in the car was incredible.
So we finished second, but Pratt and Miller still showed themselves to be the best team as Andy and Kelly got the win in the 4 car. They both having been driving great, and hey, if it’s not Ron and I winning, I’m glad it is them. Washington DC is up next, and needless to say, I’m quite hungry to win again.
Johnny O
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