Night After Night, Youngster Is Fast... But Bad Luck Prevails
Andy Seuss had a better car at this year’s version of Florida Speedweeks than he did during his championship-winning season of 2005. The 20-year-old racer also had a few extra years of experience. But the difference this year were some bad breaks that went the way of Seuss and his #70 team, and on the final night of racing at New Smyrna Speedway (FL), some bad brakes also capped off a frustrating week.
Seuss had a brake failure while battling for a victory on the final night of racing, which led to a heavy crash with Jon McKennedy. This was the week’s final setback for the team, which also had other wrecks and overheating problems sideline them early in several features.
Still, Seuss was happy for the potential that was there. His #70 Stuart’s Automotive/Profit Tools/Shark Lounge Modified was quick all week long.
“Once again I can’t say enough for my guys, we had an awesome car,” said Seuss. “We had a water pump stop pumping water last night. So we changed that today and the car ran nice and cool. Then a 39- cent piece on one of the fittings let go tonight and unfortunately it took somebody else with me. It was nothing intentional, the pedal just went to the floor and we went into the wall.
“The car was hooked and the only reason I was running so good when I was, was because the car. The car was awesome and I think we had a winning car the past two nights. I can’t say enough about this crew.”
For Speedweeks, the team rescued their 11-year-old car from the scrap heap after it was nearly destroyed in a wreck at Thompson last season.
Andy had his fair share of bad luck during the 2008 World Series at New Smyrna Speedway, but the team was still all smiles after it was all over.
“The car was totaled last time and they didn’t want to bring the new one, they didn’t want to bring the big motor. We had a decent motor and an 11 year old hacked up car. We were running just as fast as anyone else, it just wasn’t meant to be and we are going to have to really rethink this stuff, maybe we should have just taken the title a couple of years ago and been done with it.
Seuss finished the week ninth in the standings and despite the trouble that he had, the #70 team was still wishing for just one more race to show their stuff.
“We’re tired, but I think every single one of the guys would have stayed up another night if that meant we could have raced tomorrow and gone for the win because we were on the outside pole tonight and just running really good. We led laps in the 100 lapper and had to drop back when we were overheating. It’s just frustrating but I can’t thank them enough and can’t thank the sponsors that came on board enough for this week, the Shark Lounge, Profit Tools Trucking Software, Rockingham Boat and Stuart’s Automotive always standing behind me and making this possible. I can’t wait to get the season started with Riggs Racing and Advance Auto Parts coming in March [in the NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour opener at Caraway Speedway on March 22nd].
