News Room: September 1 2007

Team Finley Racing completes a very busy weekend but not with out major issues. Deciding to stay home Friday night and compete at the Spartan speedway the race team did exactly what it set out to do. With high hopes heading into the start the race to capture rookie of the year honors Chad Finley set his sights on a solid finish and did just that. Starting in 6th place Chad paced his self and got settled in and started reeling in the leaders. He was able to get to a 4th place finish and was working very hard to earn another spot when the checkered flag flew. His 4th place finish earned him the 2007 rookie of the year honors. Chad tells about that night. " This is truly a personal honor for me. This means a lot. My grandparents have been here since the early 60s with Gary Fedewa and my dad and uncle Doug have raced here and can say between the both of them 12 or 14 championships over the years. I grew up here watching them race and only I hoped I could do this some day. The car was real good tonight we just needed more time. Man this is great." Luck would not be so good the next night as the team loaded up and headed 8 hours down the road to compete in the ASA latemodel north race at Cedar Rapids IA. Limited sleep and the hot sun had the team poised to give it there all race day but to no avail. Struggling all day in practice the team never could get the car to drive the way Chad needed it to. After the final practice finding them selves a very disappointing 26th fastest there where no more options left but to gamble. Team owner Jeff Finley tells all. " We just never could get going the right direction today. We raced here last year and had some confidence we would be real good here. When it came time to qualify we went right back to where we were last year and only taped it up and put a set of new tires on it. He ran a 19.09 and we thought wow where in. But the last 3 cars went faster and bumped us to 21st needing a provisional to get in which we had already used the only 2 you get for a year. But what it tells me is that we need to somehow find the money to practice with a set of new tires and get the car right instead of chasing the car on worn out tires. How we accomplish that I do not know. We are doing all we can to market this team trying to get some more marketing partners to help us grow." Having to run the GM Performance Parts shoot out to make it in Chad was able to run 2nd to get in the race. Starting 28th on the field they where ready to go. Slowly making there way thru the field they found selves up to 15th place. The caution waved on lap 48 and bunched the field back up. Coming for the green a car was stalled in turn 4 with field anticipating a green flag when that caution waved instead it sent every one scrambling. Chad chose the grass in the infield and a car bounced off the wall and hit Chad in the right front wheel knocking all the suspension parts off. The team found them selves done for the evening. Chad tells his side of it. "We where just riding being very patient making are way towards the front. Are lap times were close to what the leaders was. It was not that bad. Out of 4 for the green they just started stacking up and we went low and got caught up in it. That's the way our lucks been. I think we had a top 10 car but we will never know. My thumb hurts real bad from this deal so we will get that checked out after we run Spartan tomorrow night and see what's up with that." And run Spartan Speedway they did the next night in Mason Mi after driving another grueling night to get back home. Qualifying 6th fastest in the biggest race of the year. The 100 lap event would bring home a solid 7th place finish and close out the year for the outlaw super latemodel for the 2007 season. As this post was being put out Chad Finley did go to the hospital and had both hands x-rayed. With more disappointing news to find his right thumb broke in the joint and also re injured his left finger with a spiral fracture. He will see a specialist Tuesday morning. We will update you as soon as we know more. Again thanks for checking in and support are marketing partners when ya can.

Update:

Doctors confirmed that Chad Finley does have a severe break to his left thumb and will miss the next ASA race. The break has torn his thumb away from the joint and may need some surgery. They have set the thumb in hopes it will grow back together in a week. If it does not he will require surgery and miss the remaining 2007 series schedule. At this time Team Finley Racing owner Jeff Finley has some good news out of there misfortune. " We contacted Roger Andrews last night and asked his race team with veteran driver Robbie Pyle to run the #25 at the Bob Milner 125 race at Grundy County Speedway this Sunday the 9th of September. He was more than happy to help and reminded me of letting them use our distributor at Madison where they went on to victory lane so we appreciate there kindness. Robbie is a very talented racecar driver and we know he will do us a good job." Robbie Pyle's comments reflect the same about Team Finley Racing. " We are glad we can help Team Finley Racing thru there misfortune. They helped us when we needed it with no problems and we are thankful we can help them this time. Chad will be fine and we look forward to his return." Team Finley Racing will continue to work and prepare cars for upcoming events.

Thank You.
Team Finley Racing