After a strong run at Waterford, TC and the Eddie Whelan team headed to Thompson for the World Series hoping to get back into Victory Lane. It looked like it would happen until a late race caution changed what was shaping up to be a glorious day.
Teddy was strong in Saturday practice and followed that up by qualifying the Al-Lee Installations #36 Modified third fastest. He then redrew the third starting position for the 150-lap main event. With a strong steed under him at a track where he has often been dominant, TC was brimming with confidence headed into Sunday.
At the drop of the green flag Teddy settled into third behind Jerry Marquis and Tony Hirschman. When the leaders pitted under caution on lap 54 he inherited the lead and remained there until pitting on lap 98. Returning at the rear of the field, the #36 sliced through the field. TC passed Jimmy Blewett for the lead on the 123rd circuit and proceeded to drive away from the field. He was headed to victory until the caution flew on lap 142 and his margin evaporated.
John Blewett was on his back bumper when the race went back to green on lap 147. Both cars were nose-to-tail down the backstretch. Entering turn three the #66 dove to the bottom of the track and made contact with the #36. Both cars spun and slammed into the outside wall. It ended the day for both drivers and Teddy was credited with a disheartening 19th place finish.
“We had a great car all weekend,” stated TC after the race. “We were the class of the field today. We had the race won until that caution with eight laps to go – nobody was going to catch us. I knew John (Blewett) was right behind me on the restart. Going into turn three I ran my line and he tried to dive underneath me and we made contact. I wasn’t blocking him, I was running my groove. I guess he wanted the same groove and he got into me. I can’t control what other people do. I can only drive my racecar. This was our race to win but it just didn’t end up they way it should have.”
With a weekend off from the Tour, Teddy is headed to Martinsville Speedway where he will attempt to qualify the Kirk Shelmerdine #43 Cup car for Sunday’s Subway 500. He will return to Stafford on Saturday, October 28, for the rescheduled Fall Final to close out the 2006 WMT schedule.
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