I was part of the problem on Friday night, totally unexpected and not something our team wanted or would wish on anyone.  We were only 3 laps in. I was on the outside running about 18th, way back.  The car in front was #69, and inside me was #41.  I was planning to bide my time and get through the early part of the race hoping to get a top ten finish.  Going down the front chute the 41, who was beside me,  moved ahead of the 69,  slowly edging by him.  That lane looked like the fast lane.  My sotter said "go after the 41". So I immediately cut from the outside lane to the inside assuming the lane was clear.  As soon as I committed the move I felt the hit from the car on the low lane. My instant gut feeling was "this shouldn't be happening". While all kinds of scenarios were going through my mind in milli seconds, my spotter was yelling  "car low". By then it was too late and I was hard into the cement, unhurt, but out of the race and in to some very serious repairs to my car.  
My spotter and I talked after and I told him he should never have made that call. He said he realized as soon as he said it that it was wrong. He felt bad and I knew it, but like many other incidents in 41 years, we'd have to move on from this deal.
The car will go to Mike McColl on Monday and we'll be back July 10th.
On Saturday night we ran our 36 car at Flamboro, and finished 2nd in the heat and 6th in the feature. We were running 4th when a long red flag, brought out by a fan fainting in the pits (maybe from watching my replay the night before) had us sitting on the front straight for 30 minutes. While there, our left front tire went totally flat and when the yellow came out we I went to the pits and the boys put on our spare and we returned to the track scratch but managed to  get back to 6th. My spotter was perfect that night,  like he has been the past 4+ years, he just made a mistake Friday night.....and we'll learn from it.
By the way, that was my hardest crash in any race car, and I had some good ones in the Hobby car.
So to all those who saw a terrible show, too many cautions for sure, I do apologize for our part, we're there to entertain not mess up the program....or our race car.  

It looked like a hard hit Gary, I hope you can get it back together for the next race.

It looked like a hard hit Gary, I hope you can get it back together for the next race.

I'll second that. You came to a stop right in front of our seats and it looked like a tough hit. I was only trying to figure out who got you, because most of the time when someone goes into the inside wall the way you did, they usually had help.

We were rooting for you to get it back together though, and it looked like at one point you might be thinking of coming back out.

Hope you get it worked out, and nice job on Saturday night.

I know who hit me, but it was totally our fault so I don't want to say his number.  He probably felt bad and if anything, I should have apologized to him for making the move I did, regardless whether it was a mistake on communication or not. Imagine if I wrecked him as well.   I'll wait until I see him at the next race and talk to him then........... After the race my daughter let me have it for not getting out of the car on the front straight to show everyone know I was ok.  I told her I wanted to stay in the car in case we could get back out.  She said "I don't care, you hit so hard we thought you were hurt, next time get out of the car"!!!......"What about a wave out of the window"? I asked...."get out of the car"!!! she insisted, then she hugged me, and I agreed next time I'll get out.........as for getting back out in the race, there was a better chance of the Leafs drafting Tarvares then us getting out of our pad.  We'll be there on July 10th, can't wait.

Since this thread is starting to get longer and there is not much more to say I just need to chime in and vent just a little.

First thing - not a vent - Shadow - doing a great job - keep it up.

Now the vent - As an owner of a race team I am getting pretty fed up with the quality of the driving at Delaware, specifically in the Late Model division. For the last two weeks we have brought our car home with serious amounts of damage. Damage that was done by the same untalented, hasn't got a clue driver. This same driver has been the cause of many many wrecks, several of them within the same evening. And what has the officials at Delaware done? Notta. Gotta keep the car counts up.

In February we raced for nine nights straight at New Smryna Speedway - another half mile track with a car count even greater than Delawares current counts - and the number 5 car with Kyle behind the wheel, came home without a scratch - NINE NIGHTS STRAIGHT.
Is the track a little better - yes
Are the Delaware officials doing a good job - ABSOLUTELY - my hats off to each of them

But its about time that something is done about the weapons and there inability to hold a line or hear a spotter - I'm thinking the teacher needs to go back to school - specifically driving school.

For the amount of money our drivers are being paid to put on a show - spending an extra $5- $10000 each week on repairs is becoming very tiresome.

I know some fans want to see the spins, they can be exciting but it comes at a major cost to us.