Wood and Family Frantically Prepare for Golden Sands
by Matt Panure
Ft. Atkinson, WI (April 25) - In only his second start at the Rockford Speedway in Love’s Park, IL it seemed as though Don
Wood was poised to take the checkered flag. However, on a restart with only eleven laps remaining, Wood lost the brakes
on his machine and plowed into the turn one wall. It was a disappointing end to what would have been an excellent start to
2008 for Wood. “That definitely wasn't the way I wanted to leave Rockford. I was having a good time until that happened,”
said the driver from Denmark, WI.
It was another surprising run for Wood at Rockford. In the spring session of 2007, Wood started 16th and worked his way
up to fifth. “It's quickly becoming my favorite track. The banking in the corners really suits my driving style,” commented
Wood.
Wood’s wife, and fellow Mid-American driver, Crystal was on hand to witness his run to the front. The end result was just
as disappointing for her as it was for Don. “I know he was disappointed. I'm not sure that he ever thought he would lead the
race, much less lead for over half the race. He was happy about that, but the ending could have gone a little bit better,”
she said.
Although Crystal has her own car to wrench on, her focus immediately turned to Don’s car after the wreck. “Don pretty
much works Monday through Friday, he drives a truck over the road so he's gone all week,” she said. Crystal and a whole
host of others jumped into action the following day. “I never thought I would get it done in time. But my family, my in-laws
and my pit crew all chipped in,” said Don.
Don’s dad and crew member Josh began the project by tearing everything off of the Chevy Monte Carlo. After examining
the entire drive train and putting some new rear trailing arms on the car, it was sent to have the frame straightened out. As
soon as it got back, Don finally had some time to tend to his ailing machine. “The next day was a parts running day. Don
worked all day on Friday to get the rear end out of the car because it turned out to be bent. Then he had to run that back
down to get it internally checked out,” Crystal recalled.
After a full week of making the final touches on the car, Wood will be ready to race this Sunday at Golden Sands. There
will be a familiar face parked alongside of him in the pit area as Crystal is set to make her first run of the season. “Crystal’s
car wasn’t quite ready for Rockford. I know that she helped out with my car because she wanted to make sure we both
could go,” said Don.
With so much time and effort placed into Don’s car this week, it is expected that Crystal will be a little more forgiving to her
husband than to other competitors. It will be the first time Crystal will enter a race with the name Wood above her driver’s
side window. “It won’t be any different, she'll probably still beat me half the time,” said Wood. “But it’s nice to have
someone on the track that you can trust. I would hope she would give me some extra room,” he added.
The Woods will both be making their second appearances at Golden Sands this Sunday. Don finished 15th in last
season’s event and Crystal finished 18th. “Last year was a learning experience,” said Don. I'm optimistic. I don’t think I'll be
a front runner but I hope to come out of there with a top ten.”
Pit Gates open at 10 a.m. this Sunday morning for the Golden Sands Spring Spectacular. Qualifying will take place at 1:15
and racing begins at 2:30. The Mid-American Stock Car Series will be accompanied by several of Golden Sands’ local
classes.
For more information on the Golden Sands Speedway please visit www.goldensandsspeedway.com. For more information
about the Mid-American Series including results, current 2008 standings, the remaining 2008 schedule and driver info
please visit www.midamericanracing.com. The Golden Sands Speedway is located approximately 7 miles west of Plover
on Highway 54.
by Matt Panure
Ft. Atkinson, WI (April 25) - In only his second start at the Rockford Speedway in Love’s Park, IL it seemed as though Don
Wood was poised to take the checkered flag. However, on a restart with only eleven laps remaining, Wood lost the brakes
on his machine and plowed into the turn one wall. It was a disappointing end to what would have been an excellent start to
2008 for Wood. “That definitely wasn't the way I wanted to leave Rockford. I was having a good time until that happened,”
said the driver from Denmark, WI.
It was another surprising run for Wood at Rockford. In the spring session of 2007, Wood started 16th and worked his way
up to fifth. “It's quickly becoming my favorite track. The banking in the corners really suits my driving style,” commented
Wood.
Wood’s wife, and fellow Mid-American driver, Crystal was on hand to witness his run to the front. The end result was just
as disappointing for her as it was for Don. “I know he was disappointed. I'm not sure that he ever thought he would lead the
race, much less lead for over half the race. He was happy about that, but the ending could have gone a little bit better,”
she said.
Although Crystal has her own car to wrench on, her focus immediately turned to Don’s car after the wreck. “Don pretty
much works Monday through Friday, he drives a truck over the road so he's gone all week,” she said. Crystal and a whole
host of others jumped into action the following day. “I never thought I would get it done in time. But my family, my in-laws
and my pit crew all chipped in,” said Don.
Don’s dad and crew member Josh began the project by tearing everything off of the Chevy Monte Carlo. After examining
the entire drive train and putting some new rear trailing arms on the car, it was sent to have the frame straightened out. As
soon as it got back, Don finally had some time to tend to his ailing machine. “The next day was a parts running day. Don
worked all day on Friday to get the rear end out of the car because it turned out to be bent. Then he had to run that back
down to get it internally checked out,” Crystal recalled.
After a full week of making the final touches on the car, Wood will be ready to race this Sunday at Golden Sands. There
will be a familiar face parked alongside of him in the pit area as Crystal is set to make her first run of the season. “Crystal’s
car wasn’t quite ready for Rockford. I know that she helped out with my car because she wanted to make sure we both
could go,” said Don.
With so much time and effort placed into Don’s car this week, it is expected that Crystal will be a little more forgiving to her
husband than to other competitors. It will be the first time Crystal will enter a race with the name Wood above her driver’s
side window. “It won’t be any different, she'll probably still beat me half the time,” said Wood. “But it’s nice to have
someone on the track that you can trust. I would hope she would give me some extra room,” he added.
The Woods will both be making their second appearances at Golden Sands this Sunday. Don finished 15th in last
season’s event and Crystal finished 18th. “Last year was a learning experience,” said Don. I'm optimistic. I don’t think I'll be
a front runner but I hope to come out of there with a top ten.”
Pit Gates open at 10 a.m. this Sunday morning for the Golden Sands Spring Spectacular. Qualifying will take place at 1:15
and racing begins at 2:30. The Mid-American Stock Car Series will be accompanied by several of Golden Sands’ local
classes.
For more information on the Golden Sands Speedway please visit www.goldensandsspeedway.com. For more information
about the Mid-American Series including results, current 2008 standings, the remaining 2008 schedule and driver info
please visit www.midamericanracing.com. The Golden Sands Speedway is located approximately 7 miles west of Plover
on Highway 54.
