Good News/Bad News at Nazareth
Williamson, NY -With high expectations, Jan Leaty and the Branich Motorsports modified team made the trek to Nazareth (PA) Speedway last weekend for the NASCAR Featherlite Modified Series "Service Electric 100." With the knowledge gained about the team's new 2003 Troyer in the "Spring Sizzler" at Stafford Motor Speedway last month, and after a strong runner-up finish at Spencer Speedway the previous weekend, the team felt a strong competitive showing was in the cards.

The good news was that they were right. Taking advantage of a long morning practice session on Saturday, the team learned more about the car and its reaction to the Hoosier tire package provided for the race. During time trials, Leaty qualified 17th in the starting grid of 39 cars. During the late afternoon "Happy Hour" practice session, the team concentrated on their long run set-up and made several adjustments prior to Sunday's race.

Early in the race, the car was "loose," so the team took advantage of an early caution period to pit, and a new set of tires did the trick. Leaty methodically marched up through the field and was sitting tenth with 18 laps to go, when a red flag temporarily halted the race. After the restart and despite another caution period he was able to move to 8th, when the race was again red flagged on lap 97 because of an accident and fire on the backstretch.

NASCAR rules require a "green-white-checker" finish, so the race would be extended beyond its scheduled 100 laps. The race restarted after lap 105, and Leaty was immediately able to move to 7th, and at the beginning of the last lap, moved up to 6th. All of the top five cars started the race in the top five positions, and did not pit.

The bad news was the team's effort came up one turn short. Entering the last turn of the last lap of the race, Leaty's Pace Electronics/Heluva Good Foods mount was hit from behind, sending him careening into the turn four wall. The car sustained heavy right side damage.

"Disappointment comes so fast in racing," Leaty later said. "I normally would not have driven such a badly damaged car, but the team and owners worked so hard getting us ready and over the weekend that I had to finish the race." And that he did. He powered up the car and took the checkered flag amidst a shower of sparks and a dark plume of tire smoke, still on the lead lap. He claimed the 18th finishing position.

The next planned outing for the team will be the NASCAR Featherlite Modified Series race at Lake Erie (PA) Speedway in mid June. For more information about Leaty, Branich Motorsports, and our sponsors, visit the team website at www.speedwayad.com/BranichMod.

Branich Motorsports
P.O. Box 897
Williamson, NY 14589
Call: 315-589-4444
E-Mail: FKae4@aol.com