NASCAR GDS: Washington Apple Race Team/Ricky Bryant Survive Hickory
30 April 1999
Ricky Bryant and his Washington Apple/Toyota Express Lube race team rolled into one of NASCARs most famous tracks, Hickory (NC) Motor Speedway, on Saturday night for the start of the 1999 Dash Series Short track season. The words of crewman Pat Weaver proved prophetic. Weavers rhetorical comment that the short track season was here was very well timed. Every race fan knows that the short tracks are where all the bumping, grinding door to door action takes place. That was certainly the case this past Saturday night as Bryant and his Washington Apple/Toyota Express Lube race team prepared for race # 2 on the 1999 Dash Series schedule.The day began with lots of promise as the Washington Apple crew adjusted their car all day to prepare for qualifying. After a hard 2 hour practice session Ricky and the crew were confidant. Bryants confidence was well rewarded when he guided the #5 Washington Apple/Toyota Express Lube Pontiac Sunfire around the . 363 mile oval in a quick 15.590 seconds. Good enough for 5th spot in the 28 car field. Bryant picked up where he left off last season with his qualifying efforts. In 1998 Ricky notched a 4.7 starting position average on his way to a 3rd place finish in the 1998 Dash season. The team was confident of a strong run in the race that evening.
Ricky stated " This is a new car we just purchased so we are not sure exactly how it will perform. I do feel with such a good starting position, and my experience at this track we should have a Top 3 finish at least." Unfortunately racing luck got in the way of Bryants confidence. As the field approached the start -- finish line and the green flag the Washington Apple/Toyota Express Lube teams luck changed. As Ricky shifted into 4th gear a hydraulic line on the clutch let loose and all the fluid was lost. All Bryant could do was guide the car around the track to his pit area. The crew worked hard to get the cars transmission into high gear so Ricky could at least return to the track. That took about 5 minutes and in the process Bryant found himself and the Washington Apple/Toyota Express Lube team 19 laps down. Not wanting to record a 28th place finish Ricky was determined to get back on the track and gain as many positions as he could.
Fortunately for Ricky, and not so fortunately for other teams, the race had numerous wrecks and 10 cautions. Typical door rubbing short track action. This allowed Bryant to pick up 10 spots in his Washington Apple/Toyota Express Lube machine and record a 18th place finish. Racing luck had given Ricky and the Washington Apple team a reprieve. Bringing the car home in one piece was also important since the team now faces a busy schedule with one less thing to do in the shop. Practice was on tap for Monday at Charlotte, race #3 is around the corner and the race team is also busy preparing their new Toyota for the start of the test program with Toyota and NASCAR.
Bryants turn of events, with the 18th place finish, also moved him into the top ten (9th) in the early season Dash Series point standings. Bryant said" Last season we got off to a very quick start only to have our luck change a little after the 7th race. This year we are struggling a little in the early going. We are planning on getting all our bad breaks out of the way early so we can go on and win the championship for Washington Apples - Toyota - Exxon, and all our sponsors. I believe we can win the championship this season!" With 16 more races on tap that is certainly a good possibility. Regardless of the results at the end of the day Bryant and his race team accomplished and overcame a lot this past Saturday night.
Race # 3 at Caraway Speedway (Asheboro,N.C.) takes place on Saturday night May 8th. Bryant holds the track qualifying record. He captured the pole for last years race on his way to a 4th place finish in the race.
In other team news Bryant - Granelli Motorsports has announced they will begin testing the new Toyota Celica right after the Charlotte race. If tests go well and NASCAR approves the car for competition Bryant and the Washington Apple/Toyota Express Lube race team will race the Toyota as soon as possible. Already there is intense media interest in this program as Toyota enters NASCAR in the Dash Series.
LATE NOTE: Practice for the race at Lowes Motor Speedway in Charlotte was rained out on Monday night. NASCAR has informed the race teams they will hold a 3 hour practice for all teams on Tuesday, May 25th to make up for the loss of practice time. The race at Charlotte will be held on Winston Cup Pole Night May 26th. The race will be carried on Fox Sports.
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