Saturday night was an eventful night for Jimbo and the #16 crew. Everything was business as usual until they got to the track. When it came time to unload the car, the crew discovered that there were multiple broken bolts in the rear end of the car. With no parts on hand, the only option for fixing the car was to load it back up and head home to work on it. There was no guarantee of evening getting it fixed in time for the heat race, let alone the feature. But the crew was determined to try. So they all loaded up headed back to the shop in Grand Bay where they went to work. After 2 hours and alot of sweat later, the car was fixed and on it's way back to the track arriving with time to spare before the heat race. However, since Jimbo had missed hot laps and qualifying, he had to take up tail end of the heat race. This gave him an opportunity to run laps and make sure all of the repairs were right. After a little side by side racing, he dropped back in the field and ran laps away from the other competitors for further testing. Of course missing qualifying meant he was going to start last in feature--again! But much like last week, he started passing them one by one until he ran out of time. Jimbo ended up with a 4th place finish. Considering that at one point it looked like they'd never even make the show, Jimbo and the crew were satisfied with the outcome. As a footnote, Jimbo unofficially moved up 5 spots in points. After racing just 3 races, the #16 now sits 12th in points. |
Saturday night brought another great Super Stock race to Mobile. With 14 cars in hot laps, the race would feature one of the largest Super Stock fields of the season. Because this night also featured a 100 lap Miller Light Late Model race, there was no qualifying nor heat races. That meant the field was set by points. And since we'd only raced one other race this year, it meant the #16 was starting last in 13th place (one car failed to make the show). Things got off to a rough start and there were two cautions before we ever completed lap 1. But at last the race was underway and Jimbo was in the business of passing cars. And pass 'em he did. Some went down on the outside, some on the inside and some so fast Michelle could barely keep up with the spotter's call to the driver. With 5 or so to go, Jimbo was in 3rd and stretching the 4th place car. With 2 to go, Jimbo looked like he was closing the gap on the 18 (for second) but time ran out. That didn't matter though. After starting last and passing 10 cars, 3rd place felt almost like a win. |
It has been nearly 9 years since Jimbo and the #16 Super Stock were in victory lane but at long last the drought is over! Saturday night, July 16, 2005 Jimbo finished first in the MIS Super Stock feature race. With the exception of a 3rd place finish in the heat race, things pretty much went the way of the #16 all night. Although the Super Stock qualifying times were within a few tenths of one another, Jimbo prevailed as the fast qualifier of the night. To make things even better, Jimbo rolled a one in the dice roll to determine the starting order for the feature race. The 15 lap feature race ran caution free for the first 9 laps then the #30 car of Chris Loepke spun coming out of turn 2. On the restart, the #8 car of Donnie Hamrac made a good run for two laps but Jimbo was able to stretch his lead by more than 5 car lengths by the time he took the checkered flag. It was a great moment for the driver and crew! Back in victory lane after 9 years of waiting. After the race, Jimbo said he wanted everyone to know how hard a struggle it has been to get this feature win. The win is even sweeter considering how the season started for the #16. "To win in only our third race this season feels great. Our car was really tore up earlier this year," Jimbo said "but this is a car built with heart and soul. We don't have the money everybody else has. We have limited sponsorship and my wife and I foot the bill for most of this. So for us to get this win, well it means alot." Jimbo also wanted to thank his brother-in-law, Jay Stewart for helping out. "We're a small crew, but tonight we out ran some good cars. There may not have been many here, but those that were here are top 5 cars every week. We'll treasure this one for a long time to come." Jimbo also sends his thanks out to our family and fans who root for the #16 each week. Without your support we couldn't have made it. THANKS AGAIN! By the way, there's a side note to this story, Jimbo and Jay have had a running bet this year. For those of you who don't know, Jay is a huge Auburn fan while Jimbo is an even bigger Alabama fan. When the season started, Jay bet Jimbo that if he won a feature race, Jay would have to wear an Alabama hat to work all day the following Monday. Jay said after the excitement of watching Jimbo win, he wasn't going to mind one bit! |
| Jimbo and Jay celebrate the feature win! |
| Jimbo after the heat win! |
Site designed by Michelle DeVitt, 2005. |
After an opening weekend on April 7th filled with highs and lows, then a rain out on the 14th, Saturday the 21st was a success for the #16 team. Because of the 100 lap SLM race, the team had only a feature race but it was enough to earn Jimbo a 2nd place finish. The #98 of Jeremy Dickens lead early but suffered engine problems giving the lead to the #1, followed by the #28 and our own #16. After several minutes under the red flag, the race was restarted with 17 to go. Without a doubt the best race on the track was between Jimbo and the #28. It took more laps than we would have liked but Jimbo passed the #28 and moved into 2nd. Unfortunately, by that time the #1 had checked out and there was no time left for the pursuit of 1st. However after the events of opening night (winning the heat race, finishing 2nd in the feature and then being disqualified for being 13 lbs lite-something that still remains a mystery to us) the team felt like they had scored a win. Look for us again on May 12th, the next night of superstock racing! |
That's right! It was another race and yet another second place for the #16 Super Stock. But, the 3rd race of the season also included a trip to victory lane. The first super stock event of the evening saw Jimbo drive to victory in the heat race. In his post-race interview, Jimbo said it was the worst car he ever won with, but it was a win none the less! In fact the car was so bad, that Jimbo told the team over the radio that he thought something was "broke". Fortunately, that was not the case. The car was tight going in (through the middle) and loose off. However, he still managed to lead flag to flag. And while the #28 was running a close second, Jimbo's veteran experience helped him insure he didn't hand over the win. Due to rain, the feature race lineup was set by points followed up by a dice roll. The point leader rolled a two which meant the #16 started 6th. When the green flag dropped, the race to get to the front was on. In a few laps, Jimbo was challenging for positions. Unfortunately, when the #1 super stock checked up, Jimbo was forced to dive to the bottom. In doing so, he came across the nose of the #94. A move that was unavoidable but clearly the #16's fault. Jimbo and the team offered apologies to the #94 team and all appeared to be okay. As with the previous race, it was the #1 and the #16 running one and two at the finish. But unlike last time, Jimbo was much closer to the #1 and much more of threat. If the team had been able to afford 4 new tires (vs. the two they put on the car) Jimbo might have had a better chance at winning. But there's always next time. Look for the #16 to return on Saturday, June 9th and look for the team to be racing for the checkered flag yet again. |
As the saying goes, all good things must come to an end. And thus, so did the run of good luck for the #16 Super Stock on Saturday night. Jimbo had handling issues during hot laps. Nothing major but the car was loose coming off four, which is typically not a trouble spot for the car. Regardless, Jimbo had a good qualifying run taking the second spot. He followed that up with a third place finish in the fast heat, again despite the handling issues. Adjustments were made but it just wasn't enough. He got a great start from the inside third row and everything seemed good until the 3rd lap. Jimbo nor the team can say for sure what happened next. Going down the back stretch the cars in front checked up and so did the #16. It was downhill from there. The car turned, jumping out from under our driver. The #45 caught the car in the left rear and in the left front cutting down a tire. While the tow truck brought Jimbo back to the pits, Jay "the Jack" got ready for his big moment. Under caution, Jay and the team changed the tire and got Jimbo back on track just in time. But the damage was done and the car just wasn't driveable. Jimbo brought it in and parked it. It was the worst finish of the season (coming home 10th). But look for the #16 to be back on track by the July 14th race. The little car that could will rise again! |
Sometimes you just feel like if it weren't for bad luck, you'd have none at all. Racing will make you feel that way alot! Saturday started out good. The car was decent and it had been a long time since the last race. (It's been a season plagued by rainouts and delays - racing every other every other week doesn't allow for much of a routine.) So everyone was set and ready to go. Jimbo started 6th and was part of some o f the best racing on the track. It was s decent field of ten cars (twelve showed up but only ten made the show). Jimbo was drving under the #30 car and clearly had the spot. His nose was passed the door of the opposing driver. Then for whatever reason, the other driver decided to turn down on Jimbo. There was no way he didn't see him or know that he was there - but for reasons we'll never understand, he didn't. He turned down on the car and JImbo drove right through him. It looked like all would be well until JImbo drove into turns 1 and 2 and realized the right rear was down. He was too upset at the situation to continue. We parked the car and listened to the final ovetime of the LSU-Kentucky game while we ate and drank. There really wasn't much else we could do at that point. We believe everything happens for a reason. It wasn't the night we hoped for but the driver was in one piece and so was the car. Jimbo finished 6th in points and everybody had fun. And of course, there's always next year! |
| Team News |
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- April 19, 2008 Opening Night For Super Stocks!
The 2008 was off to a big start for the #16 team with a flag to flag victory in the first fast heat race of the season.
When the green flag dropped, Jimbo took off and never looked back. The feature, however, only resulted in a 5th
place finish, but overall it was a good night for the team. Qualifying didn't go as well as expected. Energy and
anticipation were high as the #16 rolled off. The track temps had cooled off and the car was getting better and
better. Hot lap times had been good and with the cooling temperatures everyone in the field was getting faster.
Jimbo's qualifying laps were sure to be good. That is if the car would stay in gear. Going into one on the first lap,
Jimbo came on the radio and said the car had "jumped out of gear." The lap was still decent and Jimbo looked to
make it up with the second lap. No such luck. On the back stretch, the words came over the radio again! The car
was out of gear for a second time. As a result, Jimbo started 6th in the feature. The dice roll was a four so Jimbo
had what he had. "Squirrely" cars, slow cars and a bad starting spot but Jimbo on the outside of a freight train
looking in. Finally after settling into 8th spot, he raced his way up to 5th in a caution free event. The evening didn't
end as exciting as it began, but all in all not a bad start. All the fenders were on, not dents in the doors and no
incidents on track or off. Jimbo begins the season 5th in points and the team is ready to try it again next month.
- June 6, 2008 Oh What A Night!
Ever heard the song "Oh What A Night?" Well that's about all you could say after the Super Stock race this past
Saturday night. In fact, when Jimbo climbed out of the car, the first thing he said was "that was a war not a race!"
There were some pretty tense moments that included 2 cautions before the first lap was ever in the books. Cars
were all over of the track. It was insane to say the least. The #16 faired well considering much of the night was
plagued by minor problems. Things started badly when the plugs loaded up while Jimbo was waiting to qualify. The
sputter plugs gave us just enough for a 6th place position. That position led to a last place start in the first heat
race of the night. Fortunately, the driver was up on the wheel and brought home a second place finish. From there,
Jimbo started 6th in the feature. Early on things were going okay - that is if you forget about all of the beating and
banging and three wide caution filled racing! But as the race progressed, the motor seemed to sputter again.
We're still not sure if it was battery related or engine problems but the old car and the not so old driver held on long
enough to finish with fourth for the night. Good news is while we didn't gain many points we didn't lose any ground
either. Jimbo now holds on to fourth place on his own and is busy getting the car ready for this weekend. Hope to
see everyone Saturday, June 14th!
- August 9, 2008 The Good, The Bad & The Ugly!
It was another one of those up and down nights for the 16 team. Carburetor issues relegated Jimbo to a 5th place
qualifying spot. For once however, the dice roll went in our favor. After a blistering win (that's the good) in the slow
heat race, Jimbo would start on the pole for the feature. While the #1 car made a good challenge early on, by lap 7
or so, Jimbo had at least an 8 to 10 car length lead on the field and appeared to be headed for victory lane. That
was until the another car dropped a motor on lap 11....that was the bad. It took what seemed like a life time for the
safety crew to get the track cleaned up. Several drives were complaining of dusty windshields and eyes full of oil
dry by the time we were ready to go green again. There was just one problem (here comes the ugly), for all the
time spent on track clean up, the crew failed to clean up the entire track. Jimbo got a good restart and went back to
a car length lead on the #1. But as he dropped to the bottom of 3 and 4 there was fluid on the track from the
previously blown motor. Jimbo hit the fluid and the car wiggled out from under him sending him up the track. The
2nd through 4th place cars got by him. Jimbo fought back to a third place finish but it was just one of those races
that got away from us. Even the winning driver admitted in victory lane he had nothing for the #16 and if it weren't
for what happened on the restart he would have never beat Jimbo. it was a disappointing finish to say the least. But
the cars in one piece, the driver's in one piece and will load up and try it again on August 30th!
The start to the 2009 season has been one of ups and downs - until last night that is! The sagging economy has left the 16 team without sponsorship and very little money to race with. Opening night in April started with great promise until a cracked head dropped the team to a 9th place finish. The second race in May wasn't much better. Although Jimbo and company squeaked out a 5th place finish, it wasn't without pain in getting there. With no money for tires and running on old out dated heads, it's a wonder Jimbo made the show at all. And then there was Saturday night June 6th. With two new tires and just enough gas, the night turned into what in the old days was called a CLEAN SWEEP! With no regular qualifying, Michelle drew Jimbo a nice #3 starting position which after the invert put Jimbo on the pole for the 2nd Super Stock heat of the night. Jimbo walked away with a relatively easy victory. The feature race began with a bit more of challenge. Again thanks to the dice roll and field invert, Jimbo began second to last in the field. Cautions during this race were limited, which meant lots of good green flag racing. Jimbo soon found himself in third place and part of a three car breakaway. The #30L was leading, followed by the #94 and then the #16. Always the competitor, Shannon Jackson and the #94 gave a good race, but Jimbo soon moved to second. A couple of laps later, he was leading the feature and maintained a strong lead until the end. So while the first two races were a little rocky, all was forgotten after last night. It must really be true that the third time really is the charm. No telling what may happen during the upcoming June 27th Super Stock event - for now the team will savor the moment! |
The 2009 season continues to be one of ups and downs for Jimbo DeVitt and the #16 Super Stock. The last race brought us the highest of highs. But since then, the team has seen the lowest of lows. While the race on June 27th was another night of mechanical failures, it was the loss of a racing friend that made the night more difficult. Since our victory, we lost a friend and fellow Super Stock driver in Freddie Tanner. Those familiar to local racing know that Freddie was driver of the #45 Super Stock. Freddie and Jimbo were the last of the ol' Camaro drivers at MIS and were certainly the last to run leaf spring style setups. But that's the way they liked it. It's funny how something as simple as that can create a kindred spirit, but it did. There were many personal connections throughout the #16 team with Freddie and that made the loss more difficult. When we went to pay our final respects at the wake, it was a great feeling knowing he had been told of our victory earlier in the month. It just made us feel good knowing that he knew the old schoolers could still get the job done. The race on the 27th, was the first return to the track for Super Stocks since Freddie left us. The team wanted to do something as a final tribute and chose to wear special shirts in his honor. At the drivers meeting that night we learned that the field of 11 cars would pay additional tribute to Freddie with racing's version of the missing man formation known as the "open pole." The field lines up in racing order and begins making laps. When the flagman shows the drivers one to go, the driver leading the field drops back one spot and leaves the pole position vacant for "missing man." The field then makes one final lap and the missing man takes the checkered flag one last time. Since Jimbo had the pole for the feature race, the honor of dropping back for Freddie was his. As the crowd stood in silence and the cars drove at pace speed, emotions were high for Jimbo and crew. It was hard to hold back the tears as Jimbo came out of turn 4 and dropped back to make room for "Fast Freddie." For one full lap, we all watched in silence and felt the pain of our missing comrade one more time. But as field of cars came to the flag stand and the checkered flag waved for Freddie, our hearts swelled with pride. While we wish we could have followed up our victory with a win and dedication for our friend, we perhaps had the greatest moment of all. We had the pleasure of knowing we had followed Freddie to the checker flag one last time. And trust us, that was one of the greatest victories of all! -Freddie Tanner, 1964-2009 |