Bittersweet weekend for Powell Motorsports USA

(May 27, 2002) - Last Friday evening was bittersweet for Powell Motorsports USA.  Travis Powell had another successful night at the races winning the heat race and Main event taking a commanding lead for the WWRA championship.  He is 52 points ahead of Ian McHutchinson. 

above: Travis Powell at Wenatchee Valley's Super Oval

Travis and his Car Chief and teammate Bill Shaw thought they were prepared to start two cars for the NASCAR Raybestos Brakes Northwest Tour race to be run on Saturday in Wenatchee when the worst happened.  On a short shakedown of the 2^nd car at Evergreen Speedway the engine blew after only eight laps with Shaw at the wheel.  To make matters worse Shaw, who was to drive the 2^nd car at the Wenatchee race, got a foreign substance in his eye just after the incident, causing severe swelling necessitating an ambulance ride to the emergency room.   After treatment he was released and was able to crew during the In Wenatchee race but it will be a while before the engine will be rebuilt and he can run his first Tour race.

On the upside, it was another close qualifying session for the “Cellular One 125” and Powell, not quite having a race qualifying time and not using provisionals, raced his way into the show.  Travis finished 2^nd in the qualifying race allowing him to move to outside row 11 for the main event.  It was a night of pure short track racing with a whole lot of bumping and banging going on.  Powell made it through the race, mostly intact with just cosmetic damage he but faired better than some.  He finished 15^th which puts him 17^th place overall and in the rookie race he is a mere 3 points behind leader Kelly Mann.

The next RBNW Tour race is in Saturday June 1 in Yakima WA and another shot to overtake Mann for the Rookie run. Powell Motorsports USA invites the fans into the pits after the races to meet the team and we may be coming to a mall near you so watch our web site Team News www.race-fans.net/powellmotorsports for updates.