Emily Parkard
EAST MONTPELIER, Vt – Determined to put the previous finish from last week in the Vermont State Late Model Championship race at Thunder Road behind her, Emily Packard went out and drove her 9x Northstar Fireworks/Packard Fuels Ford to a third place finish in the second race of the 4 race championship battle.
“We had a great run and a great race,” Packard said, “The car was really fast and we were impressed with how well it ran tonight.” The night began with her starting in the back (7th) in her heat race, Packard found herself held up for a couple laps, but was able to move her way forward. At the end of the 10 lap heat, Packard finished in the 4th position (with a plus three), which safely got her in the race and a decent starting position for the feature. “We got held up a little bit in the beginning, but we were able to maneuver past them,” said Packard, “We caught the third place car right there at the end, and with a few more laps could have had at least one more spot, but I am happy with the starting position it gave us.”
Starting in the 5th position for the feature, Packard wasted no time setting her sights on moving to the front. By lap 7 Packard had already moved to 4th place and within 7 laps later, she was pressuring the 18vt for 3rd place. “The team made some changes to the set-up from the last time we were here,” said Packard “we had a good car all day, and knew that we were going to be fast.”
Packard stayed in the 3rd position until lap 42 when she was passed by the 18vt. The two cars battled for position running side by side for a number of laps both wanting that third spot. They traded the position back and forth through lap 96, when the caution came out. Packard found herself in 3rd, on the restart and battled with the 4ny to try to get up to second. The final caution came out on lap 98, and Packard was third on the final restart. “On that last restart we had a little more car left, and we were able to get a great run off the corner,” said Packard, “Unfortunately, we weren’t able to get second, but third is still great and I am so happy.”
With a green, white, checker finish, Packard tried to catch the second place car, but was third when she came across the line. “This is the first time that the Ford has finished a race, and it’s great to finish in third with it,” Packard said “It gives us a little bit of a confidence boost and we are definitely happy that we made it the full 100 laps.”
“Thank you to my guys for all their hard work. The car was great tonight.” Packard said. “I also want to make sure I thank my sponsors, Northstar Fireworks, Packard Fuels, Yipes! of Barre, Fecteau Homes, Berlin Optical Expressions, GossCars.com, Be the Match, Rutland Regional Medical Center, and R.G. Paving.”
This week Packard prepares to start her weekly racing at Thunder Road, and continue with the ACT series as they travel to Riverside Speedway in Groveton, NH for the ACT Riverside 150.
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Emily Packard on Twitter: @EmilyPackard9