Another Podium for Cadillac Challenge Series Racer Bob Michaels & Heavyweight Racing in C3 Modified
- Jul 12, 2013
Racing in the C3 Unlimited Modified class, Michaels challenged his competitors with vigor in round-one, at the Auto Club Speedway, in Fontana, California. When the checkered flag deemed the event over, the driver was sitting in second place, less than one-half a second behind the winner. With the first event of the season in the rearview mirror, Michaels headed for the Chuckwalla Raceway, situated about 60-miles east of Palm Springs, California. And his intentions were no different. He had aspirations of earning yet another position on the podium. Lining up against a record turnout in his class, the driver focused on the task at hand. After a fierce battle, Michaels closed the race in third place with only two-seconds separating him from the victory. Although a win would have been most savored, he was more than happy to have earned a rightful spot on the podium. The driver's next bout in the C3 Unlimited Modified class took place just north of Bakersfield, California, at the Button Willow Raceway Park. Round-three brought with it another huge turnout of competitors, but Michaels had no intentions of letting numbers prove intimidating. In fact, he managed to finish the event in second place, putting team Heavyweight Racing in the overall points lead. Looking back at his recent string of success, the driver said, "This season has turned out to be one of the most competitive and challenging racing series I've competed in. Many teams stepped up their programs from the C2 class and modified their cars to run in C3. Consistency has been the key to success this year. We have managed to place on the podium at each of the first six events, with our first win of the season at Willow Springs Raceway.
"We currently sit first in the championship point standings in our class," he continued. "But we are only half-way through the season, with five more races to go." When asked the key to continued success throughout 2013, Michaels explained, "I don't know if there is necessarily one thing or another that captures success in this series. Minding your program and staying focused on the fundamentals in preparing for each race has been my practice. "The key to holdong the lead (overall points) will be maintaining the constant pace we've established. We must keep the car on the track for each session and avoid any mistakes with set-ups. I fully expect my fellow competitors to be focused on catching me, and it will get tight by the end of December." Bob Michaels is mindful that his team will play a significant role in his overall success throughout the season. "I started Heavyweight Racing to support my time attack efforts with the car," recalled the driver/team-owner. The team sets the foundation for the level of performance we want to achieve. All of the guys associated with the team are devoted to winning, and likewise, I stand behind the them, and our efforts." With an increasing stiffer competition, Bob Michaels and his team will be quick to agree that mechanical issues must be avoided in order to experience success on a consistent basis. That being said, they are strong advocates of using K&N products to keep their engines running contaminant free. "When you push your equipment to the edge, it's very important to be proactive with maintenance," explained Michaels. "It can be the difference between winning and losing. With regular maintenance, we can avoid the distractions caused from a mechanical issue." Referring to their filtering systems, the driver continued, "I run K&N products on all of my equipment. For the race car, we run a custom cold-air intake with a K&N air filter. Since we run on remote and dusty tracks, I also use the K&N pre-charger filter wrap as well. It's surprising how much dust you can collect throughout the day. K&N products have always represented quality," he continued. "When we built the car and needed a special size and shape for the air filter, K&N had what we needed. K&N air intakes on my trucks and transporters certainly help us get to and from the tracks efficiently." With one-half the season ahead of them, Bob Michaels and Heavyweight Racing are anticipating more trips to the podium in the weeks to come. When asked what fans can expect throughout the remainder of the season, The driver ensured, "We're headed into the second half of the season with determination to continue with our pace and consistency. We're determined to take the championship for a second straight year." |
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