Finding a Silver Lining with Smoke: A Record Setting Night I Will Remember Forever

South Boston Speedway
August 13-14th

Fans and Speed Sather Nation, I’m going to back track to Friday, August 13th, as it was a test day for me and the Sellers Team. We decided that we were going to work on one thing - qualifying, which was something I have been struggling with all season.
Now, this wasn’t just any other test session. Rather, it was one that has probably geared us up for the rest of the season in the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series.
Lee Puliam, a very successful driver at South Boston and a perennial pole contender at South Boston Speedway, (who is also affiliated with the Sellers team) came by to help us out. The Sellers Brothers Team had made some changes to the front end geometry on the No. 94 K&N Chevrolet Impala, trying to find that extra bit of speed and handling.
We were eager to see how it reacted on the track with all the changes made to the car. Being this is my first year in these types of cars, Lee got in first and ran some laps to give his valuable feedback to us as I watched and listened closely to him.
After a few laps and a qualifying run, it was my turn.
Not only were changes made to the car, but after talking with Lee and H.C., I changed the way I was tackling the corner as well. I ran 30 laps on the track and before you knew it, it was time for a few qualifying runs.
My time was extremely close to Lee’s and the team was very satisfied and we were all confident going into Saturday’s race. As we wrapped up our test for the evening, I felt like it was looking like the kind of racing weekend we’ve needed all season long.
Saturday morning began like most, as I had Lucky Charms for breakfast and watched Turbo Dogs, a cartoon about dogs that race. Before the day picked up, I was feeling pretty good as we had such a great test the night before.
With bad weather around the area, a few other race tracks’ events were rained out, including Motor Mile in Radford. A handful of those drivers from those venues came over to South Boston, making it a record field of cars for the year thus far.
Our qualifying regimen was changed for the night and the remainder of the year. Normally qualifying by points order, we now draw for the qualifying order, much like what the top three touring series have practiced for a long time.
We pulled a 12, which was right in the middle, meaning things could go either way for us.
Tonight, I opted to have H.C. Sellers, a crew chief, and Marcus, (my crew chief) on the radio with me for let’s say, “some moral support.” (laughter)
Taking the green, I missed turn one, which made for a “ok” first lap. Coming for the white flag, I took a deep breath and told myself, “You can do this! It’s just like riding a bike! Don’t try so hard - just do what you know how to do,” and that I did.
To be honest, I wasn’t feeling confident in my laps as I thought I could have been better. Pulling in after qualifying, Marcus came over the radio in a high pitched voice saying “66!”
I replied back frantically in a panic, asking “What does that mean?!?!”
He shouts back, “POLE!”
It was incredible, as I was in such disbelief that I couldn’t get out of my car fast enough. I clambered out of my car and what do I see on the scoreboard?
You guessed it! The No. 94 was in first place!
To be honest, I couldn’t even describe the emotions that I felt at that point, as everything I have been working so hard for finally all came together. For the remainder of the qualifying session, I sat around and watched each car.
As cars pulled out and with every top runner I would see pull onto the track, I would cross my fingers that the Lady Eagle Safety Wear No. 94 would stay on the pole. The final car out was none other than Lee Puliam, my teammate who helped me with qualifying.
Watching him go out on the track was so nerve racking. Of course I wanted him to do well, but just not quite as well as me! On his second lap, I saw the No. 3 in the first spot. Even so, qualifying on the outside pole was still a huge accomplishment for the entire team, and also a track record. In the 53 year history of South Boston Speedway there has never been a female to qualify on the front row. The team and I were very ecstatic to find this out!
H.C. came up to me while we were waiting in the tech line and he said to me, “OK, so it’s one thing to go from an average 18th place qualifier to like maybe 10th. But to go from 18th to first, I can’t believe it. Great job!”
It was pretty funny how excited he was, as well as the entire team. I was so glad that after all their hard work, I could finally get a good position that they so deserved.
Pushing the car up to the starting grid was such a great feeling. The guys were so proud and very excited for the race to begin. The view, the feeling, and being the first to see the green flag drop was unbelievable.
I got a great start only to have a yellow on the first lap. After a brief caution period, it was a complete restart and again, I got a great start, dropping into third behind my two teammates in Lee Puliam and Peyton Sellers.
This was the way we ran till the next caution period. It was then when I had started to notice that my car smoking.
After talking to the crew, we were hoping it was nothing. As the race progressed, so did the smoke. Another yellow came out and NASCAR directed me to stop on the front straightaway so they could check it out. They were still allowing me to keep my position despite this check.
Unfortunately, it was all for naught - NASCAR talked to my crew and told them that they thought they should check it out further. HC radioed for me to come to the pits.
“Do I have to?” I asked in a somewhat somber tone. By pulling into the pits, I had to give up my spot. With a motor on the line, I knew that I had to, even if it meant the worst case scenario – a DNF.
Opening the hood, they took a look at the motor and said the night was over, with interminable engine problem. Dejected, hurt, angered, you name it - I was so bummed, all that work with the outside pole and now nothing to show for in the race.
Overall, the night was bittersweet. I mean, we had accomplished a great feat with qualifying, which was the emotional high for us. However, the team was obviously bummed about the motor and the finish.
Still, we were happy with the qualifying efforts from that night. I can’t even thank all the guys that help out with the No. 94 Bell Helmets Chevy, as they do an incredible job with every race and you know something? I can’t wait for the next race!
Words of Natalie, edited by Rob Tiongson

If At First You Don't Succeed...

Motor Mile Speedway
Sunday, August 1st

Sunday was an early morning wake-up call for the Seller Brothers Racing Team and me. After waking up late, washing my racing suit and preparing for Motor Mile following our race at South Boston the night before, I was very tired.


Sleeping in the car on the way to Radford, VA, I was able to get some rest in to prepare for my first time racing at Motor Mile Speedway. I was truly excited, having turned a few laps there testing a truck last fall. I knew this place was going to be a challenge but I was definitely up for it!

We unloaded the car and had to make many adjustments to make as we still had our South Boston setup in it from the night before. The guys worked very hard and quickly to get "The Miss II" prepared to tackle the track. After two practice sessions, we were very confident going into qualifying.

It was a cold day at the track (and it’s never cold in Virginia, trust me) so H.C. told me to really get some heat in my tires in order to get the maximum grip needed for the car to stick to the track before I took the green. My first lap didn't fare so well, but I did manage to improve on my second – still, it was not the time I wanted.


This was a learning experience for the team and me, as they were trying to figure out what setup I needed. I was giving them the feedback they needed so we could make the changes to the car we felt necessary. The first of two 100-lap races was, for us, a "test" race to do just that – experiment with racing grooves, setup input, and track time.


After the race, Peyton Sellers (my spotter for the day and an accomplished driver himself) and HC, my crew chief, sat down and put our heads together. Peyton drew the line that I should be running. Then, I drew the line that I had to run due to the car’s handling and characteristics. I told him what happened to the car when I tried to run that line. After lots of discussions, we finally had a game plan and went to work!

[Soft Break]We would have to start in the back again for the next race. However, I was feeling a lot more confident going into the second race, now having 100 laps experience as well with the changes the team made to the car. During the race, I found that the car was so much better to drive, as we were making passes and improving on track time and position.


The car felt great! I was on the move until an unfortunate mistake would cause me to fall back! With a bad fast racecar under me and the laps winding down, I knew I needed to continue my charge to the front. Exiting off turn four, I was hauling and my right rear tagged the wall pretty hard.


The contact was so hard in fact that my helmet got out of whack, so I had to try and adjust it! (Laughs) I still drove my hardest after that, but after my incident with the wall, the car was pretty loose after that. We had been up to about 11th place, but we fell back to 15th after that. That's where we stayed for the remainder of the race.

Overall, the day was a great learning experience not only for me but also for the team. Motor Mile is a momentum racetrack and you have to keep your speed up. That's something I learned in the first 100 laps and I was able to do that in the second race. It’s a fast, fun, tricky track. For sure, I can't wait to go back and try out my luck again at the Motor Mile!
Words of Natalie, edited by Rob Tiongson

Rain, Rain Go Away!

South Boston Speedway, July 31st

It was a long afternoon of on and off showers at the track! Somehow, in spite of the threatening weather conditions, we managed to get all the three practice sessions completed.

The first two we were on extremely old tires, but we still managed to get some decent times. After making a few changes for our tight handling car, we were on the right track for the night. In the final practice session, we put on new tires to see what the car really had and wow, we were fast! With bad weather in the area, the track operators were in a hurry to get as much racing in as possible.

Pulling out to qualify, I knew we had to lay down a fast time. Out on the track, I just could not get much of a grip, unable to get the run we wanted during the session. Track rules state that after qualifying, only one man’s allowed over the pit wall and no changes are to be made to the car.

While waiting out the rain delay, my crew chief H.C. Sellers, and I had a long discussion on how the car had been handling throughout the day. After some conferring with H.C., we opted to do a complete overhaul on the car, putting us in the rear of the field.

In spite of that, I was feeling extremely confident with the changes that the crew had made and I was hoping for a great run in the night’s main event!

Warming up the tires before we took the green, my spotter Tom Worley told me to get all we could right away because there was weather on the way!

Suddenly, the green flag drops, and I shift into fourth - the fun begins! We passed about four cars right from the start! As the tires wore away, my car got progressively tighter coming off the corner. I continued to battle a few other cars for position during a long green flag run.

With a lead lap car approaching from behind, I was in a heated battle with another car, giving the leader the courtesy he deserves as I held my line. Heading towards turn three, the next thing I knew, I felt a hit on my left rear quarter panel and I was sent spinning down the back straightaway!

I held on as well as I could and kept my car (nicknamed "Miss II") out of the wall! As you could imagine, I was very upset with what had happened! I had held my line, and the next thing you know, I'm spinning, holding on for the life of my car, praying to keep it out of the wall so I can race Sunday!

With encouragement from my team, I kept my head up and continued to charge on – there was still time left, so I thought! Racing for about 10 more laps, the rain started coming down. A racer’s worst nightmare then unraveled, as the red flag came out, which eventually and prematurely ended the race from its scheduled distance.

Overall it was a night of trial and errors, as a team we continue to learn more every week. I wish we could have had a better finish to the night, but I feel that as a team we successfully made changes and are improving each time we hit the track. I can’t even begin to express my thanks to the hard work and dedication all the guys put in at the track and at the shop! They are some of the hardest working group of guys I have ever had the privilege to work with.

Words of Natalie, edited by Rob Tiongson

"Never, Ever, Give Up"

This season has been unlike anything I ever expected. Moving to Virginia, and racing with the Sellers at the premier short track of South Boston Speedway, I knew was going to be easier said than done but it was everything I expected and nothing I hoped for.

After only 3 races I was involved in an accident that broke my wrist requiring surgery to put a very large screw in my wrist. The surgery went well and everyone at the surgery center in Fargo, ND was very cooperative and supportive of helping me get back into the seat. They had followed my career ever since I was racing at the local track, and knew how much it meant to me to get back in the seat as soon as possible. I had to have a custom brace made and when making my brace they allowed me to bring in a steering wheel so we could custom mold it so I could still get an “ok” grip on the wheel.

I didn’t miss a beat on the racing side of things, 10 days after my surgery I was back on the track. My first weekend back after the surgery wasn’t easy. I had to relearn everything I knew: how to grip the wheel, drive, react, etc. I tried to keep my head up, and stay confident. My team and my family were right by my side cheering me on and keeping me motivated. After 3 weeks of working through the soreness, stiffness, and the brace I again raced my way to a top 10(9th place) finish at South Boston. I can’t even tell you how excited I was! I told the guys “we’re back”! Being involved in racing is a challenge in itself but adding in a broken wrist and still racing with a big ole brace on makes for quite the test. Always repeating my motto “Never, ever, give up” and the encouragement from friends and family got me through the beginning of this ongoing injury.

Each weekend I continue to learn more, and improve every time I hit the track. We have had some great nights that unfortunately have ended early due to circumstances out of our hands. We haven’t gotten the finishes that we were on track to get but we are staying positive and learning from every situation. With the season half over and only 7 races left I cannot believe how fast it has flown by. I am focused on finishing this season and still achieving the goals that I had set at the beginning of the year, being Rookie of the Year, and a Top 10 finish in points. I know that with our continued hard work the #94 K&N, Lady Eagle, Bell Helmet, Sellers Racing, Late Model will have a great finish to the 2010 season.

Photo Provided by Shannon Myers Tipton, Creative Designs