Good start ends in DNF

Alexander, IL - What was looking to be a good night for Osman Racing quickly turned sour as they picked up a DNF. A poor draw relegated their driver, Greg Osman, to a 5th place starting spot in the heat race and things were looking good. After a good start to the race, Osman quickly found himself in the 2nd position, trying to run down race leader and eventual winner Larry Russell, Jr. The run wouldn't last though as about halfway through the race, Osman got loose coming out of turn 2 and almost spun out. He was able to save the car but lost 2 positions in the process. The rest of the race would be fairly uneventful as Osman Racing would pick up a 4th place finish in their heat race. "It was just a rookie mistake," Osman would go on to say. "I was catching Larry (Russell, Jr.) and I just got back in the gas too hard, too quick and almost looped it. It’s disappointing but it happens."

The 4th place finish in the heat race would give them an 8th starting spot come feature time. Being late in the running order for the night, the track had dried out quite a bit and was considerably slicker than the heat race. It would take two tries to get the race started but once it did, Osman fell a couple positions. “I knew it was going to take a few laps for the (right rear) tire to heat up so I figured I would lose a few positions on the initial start. I didn’t really expect the car to be as loose as it was though.” About three laps into the race, Osman Racing would see their night come to an end. Through turns three and four they were in the middle of a 3-wide race for the 7th position when, coming out of turn four, the car on the outside got into the sideof the #25 Osman Racing machine, sending it do into a spin. Before the car could get around, the car on the inside came by and hit the left front of the Osman Racing car, doing heavy cosmetic damage and blowing a left rear tire, retiring Osman Racing from the event with adisappointing 14th place finish, and a DNF. “It’s really disappointing but I was just in the wrong place at the wrong time. Coming 3-wide out of a corner here isn’t a good idea and I didn’t really know how good of a run the guy on the outside had. You can’t really blame anyone for it though. It’s one of those racing deals. We’ll get it fixed and be back this weekend.”

Osman Racing is looking at finally making it to Macon Speedway this Saturday. Earlier in the day though, be sure and make it out to downtown Decatur for the Cruisin’ Downtown car show, where the Osman Racing Show Car will be on display.