This past weekends Knoxville Mid-States 305 Sprint Championship proved to be a valuable learning experience for Trish Dover and team. Three nights of racing in a row with changing track conditions each night proved to be a challenge, but they came away from Knoxville with three solid runs.
The Team Dover crew of Marc and Jack Dover, Dave Seddon, Randy Lawrence and Michigan’s Nate Devard, who joined the team for the weekend, gave Trish a fast car on Thursday night and she made the most of it. A dominate heat race win, her first at Knoxville Raceway would result in a front row outside start for the 15 lap “A” feature. Dover took the led at the start and paced the opening five laps but finished the night in third place and with a spot on the podium.
With the No. 9T Eckley powered Eagle locked into Saturday’s night finale, second in Thursday qualifying points the crew used Friday night as a test session and more valuable seat time. Starting sixth in the third heat Trish ended up third at the finish in the six lap event. The feature would end where it started with a twelfth place finish and the team set its sights on the final night of racing.
In Saturday night’s 20 lap Championship feature Dover was to start from the fourth spot but pole sitter Rager Phillips scratched for the night moving her to inside of the second row. Running a smooth and steady race Dover ended the weekend with a fourth place finish behind Knoxville 360 regulars Stacey Alexander and Jack Potter and 410 competitor Clint Garner.
“I’m a little disappointed not to get my first Knoxville feature win this weekend. ” Dover commented. “But, we did end up with two top five finishes and a spot on the podium Thursday night. ” I had the opportunity to race with a full field of cars, against some great competitors and I feel it made me a better driver. ”
Dover seemed to have made a lot of new fans over the weekend as well. With the Lucas Oil Late Model Knoxville Nationals headlining the event many of those waiting in line for autographs sported Late Model T-shirts and jackets. For over an hour she signed autograph cards, chatted and had photos taken with the crowd after the races.
“I’d like to thank all the great fans that have supported me throughout the year and everyone that stopped by during the weekend and to all my sponsors for helping make this possible. ” Dover concluded.
Trish Dover’s 2007 Sponsors include: 3 D Auto Transport, Inc., RMS, Culver Construction, Langfeldt Overhead Doors, Trail Performance Powder Coating, Keizer Aluminum Wheels, Eckley Racing Engines, Eagle Chassis, Thorpes Auto Body, Chad Nolte Repair and The Sprint Car Forum.
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