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2007 in Review

This page will contain all write-ups from 2007 and the final point standings.

Special Thanks to Michele Lane (crew member) for writting the weekly write ups. 

First Half of 2007

 June 9th, 2007 - Race #4
Another gorgeous Saturday, another 4 hour trip to AIS for the Coyle Racing Team.  With Bill's brother and crew chief, Scott making the trip this week, we were looking forward to getting the car on the track and seeing what she could do.

There was not much time to make adjustments to the car when we first arrived, as we had to get Bill in the car for the first round of hot laps.  Some adjustments were made to the car to help the "push".  Tires were changed, air pressures, staggers were checked, and adjustments to the ball joints were made.  The crew was hard at work.
            Bill started on the outside poll for the heats and apparently that is where they like to keep him.  He also started on the outside pole for the feature.   Bill took 9th out of 15. The night would belong to track champ John Papin as he took the checkered flag.
            Next race is this weekend June 16th, with twin 25's for the Late Models.  The team will be ready to go and will be looking for the first win this year.

June 16th, 2007 Race # 5

Thinking back to last year, I seem to recall at least 2 rainouts at this point in the racing season.  Fortunately, the weather

this year seems to be cooperating.  Coyle Racing headed north to AIS for twin 25 lap races on Father’s Day weekend.  Things would get interesting as a $100 bounty had been put on track champ John Papin. For the first time this year we had our Car Chief and Crew Chief, Jim McCallum and Scott Coyle at the track..  We would miss the first practice due to a clutch problem, but Scott, Woody and Adam went to work on every angle of the car to get Bill out for the second set of hot laps.  Jim worked on the tire and chassis issues. 

We would start the features on the outside in the 6th position and would finish both with a strong 7th.   The track would see #11 Jerry Dineen grab the first of the twin 25’s, also collecting the $100 bounty on Papin.  However, the #50 would not go quietly as Papin came back to win the second 25 lap features. 

 

July 14th, 2007 - Race #8

 After 2 weeks of rain and no racing, #94 headed back North to AIS and came home bruised and battered. No crew chief this week as Scott had a race of his own and crew was on the slim side…..or so we thought.  We would get much needed help from Garry Reynolds and his wife, who made the trip to help out the team.  A big thanks go out to them!!! Got to the track, the car was unloaded and we got ready for hot laps after a miscommunication with the tire purchase this week.  2 ½ days of work on the car and had to go back to the original set up, no tires this week for the 94.  Bill ran the first practice on old tires.  The car was not where he wanted it to be, so old tires came off and the new tires bought last week went on.  Second practice went a bit better.  Then Mother Nature would step in and the 1st of 3 rain delays began.  Cover went on the car and the crew had nothing to do but tinker & wait. After the rain let up, heat races started.  Billy would finish the heat race in 6th, with Chole Shay taking the poll.  The car had a little bit of a push and again the rain would come. The Late Models were running the third feature with the Trucks last.  The Late Mods went out to start their race and during practice laps ….RAIN.  They stayed on the track to see if it would let up, but not for long as the #37 of Jason Harrington would stop his car as a way to say no more.  After officials went out to dry the track and the rain stopped, trucks went out for the third feature.  We would start 5th on the inside in a pack of 20 cars that were ready to race……but again Mother Nature had a different plan.  Poll sitter Shay would lead until lap 12 and then get passed by the 3 car of Tommy Cloce.  Lap 20 the rain would start again and the pace car would head out.  The drivers got to make the call on whether to race and with thumbs up, they wanted to go.  Bill and his car would take a beating, getting hit all around.  Blocked low by the 61 of Cupernall, he was unable to get around the outside. Then a racing incident with the 26 of Joe Schneider, where Bill came down on him while Schneider was passing low would send both cars into the grass. “After I was out there for a bit, the car felt the best it has all year.  We had a 4th or 5th place car tonight” stated Coyle.  Unfortunately, it was not in the cards for the 94 as Close would take the checkered for the first time at AIS, with Papin and Gill taking 2nd and 3rd respectively. Coyle Racing will be off the weekend of the 21st due to the Lewis County Fair.  But all the Coyle’s will be coming together for the Busch East weekend at AIS July 27-29.  Not only will Bill be racing a 50 lapper, but his brother Scott will be there with his team, #30 Jeff Anton, and Cousin Josh will be there with his driver, #44 Sean Caisse. 

Second Half of 2007

July 28th 2007 - Race #9

Big weekend for #94 as AIS would host the Busch East Weekend, with the late models having a 50 lapper.  Bill would be wearing two hats as he helped crew for #30 Jeff Anton as well as race his car.  The late models would see a half hour of hot laps before the heat races began.  The 94 car would only need ten minutes.  Car was good and we wanted to save the tires.  We would compete in the second of the three heat races and finish second behind #50 John Papin..  That would give us the outside starting forth in the feature. Roggie would take the poll seat and lead the 21 late model field till Tommy Cloce would jump from the 5th position to take the lead.  Bill was holding steady in the 7th position, then began switching between 7th & 8th with the 03 car.   Cloce would lead for about 10 laps until the #37 car of Jason Harrington would steal away the front spot.  Harrington would hold the spot most of the race until the #7 car of Lee Gill would spin Harrington out in lap 38.  Gill was sent to the back of the pack and Trimm would move to the front.  The cautions would help Coyle, but it was his driving that really impressed.  #94 would get up to the 4th spot and hold till Harrington would fight back and move into the position.  Trim would hold onto the lead and take the flag with Papin coming in second, Cloce taking third.  Coyle racing would have its first top 5 finish this season and was well deserved as Bill worked hard for this one. 

On a quick Busch East note, Scott’s driver, #30 Jeff Anton would get pushed around on the track and finish 16.  Josh Coyle’s driver, Sean Caisse would take 3rd. Thanks to all the Coyle Racing fans that made the trek up to AIS this weekend.  It was nice to see all the white #94 racing shirts in the stands.  This week will be a regular show for the team, 50 lapper for the Late Model Class.

 

Aug 4th 2007 - Race #10 

Looking out the window and noticing how the corn has changed, it’s sad to think summer is coming to an end.  And with only 6 races to go in this 2007 season, the 94 car is starting to run the way Bill has wanted. Hot laps and heats would not go well for Bill.  After not qualifying, Bill let his team know that the car had developed a bad push.  After a couple phone calls to the crew chiefs for help, we took 3 rounds out of the right rear and made adjustment to tire pressures. 94 would be starting the race in the 11th position.  Feature started with four hot laps, but we would only get through three when a racing incident involving the #21 & #8 causing the #21 to blow an oil pan in turns 2 & 3, sending the #8 car into the wall and leaving about a mile of oil on the track. Billy would make a nice save after hitting the spill and the cars would sit in the front stretch under red flag while the AIS crew cleaned the mess.   The green flag would drop and poll sitter John Ventura would have the lead, but not for long.  Andre Roggie would take the lead over about lap 2.  But by lap 5 #50 John Papin would pull up into 2nd and take the lead in lap 7 with Tommy Cloce right behind.  The #7 of Lee Gill worked from 6th to third.  Billy would spin out on the first lap to miss a racing incident involving #37 Jason Herrington and would be sent to the back of the pack. With a great day of spotting by Coyle Crew member, Woody, and the superb driving efforts of Bill, the 94 moved from 13th to 4th.  Some help from the 50 crew would help Herrington make it back out on the track.  #94 and #37 would have a battle for forth place, changing about a half dozen times.  Gill would take the lead by lap 37 from Papin and that is where the #7 would stay.  Gill would take first, Papin second and Cloce third.  Herrington would end up winning the battle, taking 4th away from Billy, the #94 taking fifth.  On the radio, Bill would congratulate and thank Woody and his whole crew for a job well done. 

Next week is another 50 lapper for Coyle racing.

 

 

August 11th, 2007 - Race #11 

With 5 races left in the season and #94 holding steady 6th in points, the team made another trip to AIS this week.  With only three pit members along for the ride, the crew was ready to get to the track and work hard. 

Crew chief Scott Coyle got the car ready to go out for the first set of hot laps.  The crew would get tires ready to go for the heat race.  Bill would come on the radio in the 3rd lap of the heat and tell his crew he was bringing it in.  The motor was not sounding right.  After some work on the engine and a check of the exhaust, Coyle would start 18th out of 21 cars.  AIS saw a lot more late models this past Saturday.  Roggie would have the poll again this week.  However, in lap 4 Harrington would take the lead away.  Under the second caution of the night, Coyle would pull the 94 in to have Scott make adjustments to loosen the car up.  Harrington would lead the pack with Papin hot on his heels.  The car started to feel good and Billy would work up to 7th position by lap 38.  At least that is where we thought we were.  The 94 was scored in 12th position as we were a lap down after the pit stop during the caution.  Harrington would start to smoke with 5 laps to go, but would be able to hold off Papin and take his first feature win this year.  Papin would take 2nd, Cloce in 3rd, Trim 4th and Chris Ross would round out the top 5. 

This week late models will see a 101 lapper.  With Hornaday not able to make it to the track, the drivers will have another autograph session.

Aug 18th 2007, Race 12

 

The air was a bit crisper Saturday as the 94 left the driveway and headed to AIS.  And a change in the weather is not always a bad thing.  It was a 101 lapper for the Late Models this week at the track and with neighbor Nate making the trip this week and another autograph session, the 94 was ready to go.

 

Blue skies and 2 sets of hot laps were on hand when we pulled into the pits.  As usual, Woody and Shiloh were hard at work getting the tires ready, and with it being a 4 tire week, they had their hands full.  Car would go to the scales and some weight was added to the left side to make up for the 100 laps. 

 

Due to the 101 lapper, time trails were held for the Late Mods, Bill would run his 10th & finish 12th.  Car was super loose during the trials and Coyle could not get up to speed.  The top 12 would redraw for racing order and Coyle would be right up there to make his draw.  The #37, Jason Herrington would get the poll and Coyle would take the third spot.  Track champ John Papin would sit in the forth spot next to the 94.  20 Late Mods made for an exciting race.

 

With only 3 cautions, this race would prove to be one of the bests this year.  As you can imagine, with this many Late Mods, the leaders would start to lap many in the field.  The 94 however would not be one of those cars.  Coyle would race strong never going below the 6th position throughout much of the race.  Staying in the top 5 till about lap 42, Bill would then fight with the 61 car for the fifth/sixth position.  Herrington would lead the pack for all 101, despite the efforts of Papin who was never far behind.  Lap 96 we would see the 50 car make a move to the outside to try and take the lead from the 37.  This would open up the inside for the 59 of Bryant Trimm to try and sneak into second position.  It would come down to the final lap, but Papin would take second by a nose, with Herrington seeing the checkered, Trimm in third, with Gill and Cloce rounding out the top 5.  Coyle would take the 7th position.  Bill had a top 5 car, unfortunately the battery in his Late Mod would start to lose power late in the race.  Coyle continues to be a car to be reckoned with at AIS.

 

Aug 25 will be a regular race for all divisions at AIS.  This means a 50 lapper for the 94 car and it’s crew.  Only 4 races left this season! 

 August 25, 2007 - Race #13 

The Coyle Race Team did not have the best Saturday morning of the season.  As the crew, who were not feeling so well, piled into the truck to head to the track at about 11:30, we would find that we were not going very far.  As Bill turned the key, all we heard was click..click..click.  After some assessment by Nate and Woody, Bill would head to Trumansburg to buy a new starter.  The girls would head inside to the comfort of the air conditioning.  The starter Bill got in Trumansburg would turn out to be bad, so off to Ithaca he would go.  We finally left the drive way at 1:30.  And with out going into detail, the ride was a rough one for some.Pulled into the pits just in time to hear the motors of the other Late Mods running and getting ready for the first set of hot laps.  I think it was record time for the team as we got the car out and Bill had to pull a superman and get into his fire suit faster then a speeding bullet.  Dukes of Hazard type jump into the car and he was off with the pack. 

After 2 sets of hot laps, the crew went to work on the tires and with a little help from Papin’s crew member Big Block (thanks again!) we got the carburetor adjusted.  The heats started, and the 94 car would not do as well as we would have liked.  This would put us on the outside in 14th position for the feature.  19 Late Models this week, Bill would have some work ahead of him.

 Green flag drops and Coyle would start chopping away at the pack ahead. Josh Pieniazek would lead till lap 2 when Roggie would make his move.  However, Roggie would only hold onto it until lap six when Lee Gill would take the lead over.   Billy had worked his way up to 9th by lap 5 and headed into a top 5 position by 18, when caution came out.  On the restart 94 would get t-boned in turn 1 by the #8 car.  This would send us to the back of the field.  Lap 28, Coyle would head into the pits under a caution, to have a rear tire changed, damage that was caused by the restart t-bone.  That racing altercation had bent the rim.  Coyle would make it back out for the restart and fight his way to finish in the 11th position.  Gill would hold on for the win, with Trimm, Papin, Herrington and Cloce rounding out the top 5.   

This weekend, the 94 team will head to AIS for double points night.  3 races remain in the 2007 season.

Sept 1st 2007 - Race #14

 

Sorry this is late…holidays……wine tours……back to work…….it all starts to catch up to you.  And then to think that the end of the summer is here and fall is soon to start….wow.  There are 2 more races left this season, and Bill remains #6 in the point standings.

 

This week, we had crew chief Scott Coyle back for the ride.  This time no problems leaving and no issues with the crew.  A sunny Saturday and a great start for the #94 team.

 

Coyle racing would donate a new BMX bike for kids night at the track…..little did Bill know that his first race would be on a huffy.  The top ten point leaders lined up at the start finish line and would race down to the pace car that was sitting in turn 1.  Bill was off to a great start until his handle bars came loose and he began to loose control around the turn.  But in typical Coyle fashion, Bill would save it and finish the race second to last.  We won’t discuss what happened……the guilty party all ready knows and fixed the bike before it was given away to a lucky youngster.

 

Hard racing, lots of cautions, bump and pushing…..this race was a 50 lapper but took some time to get through.  Bill would finish 10th in a pack of 21.  Lee Gill took the checkered for the second time this year with all the regulars in tow…Papin in second, Trimm in third and Cloce and Herrington rounding out the top 5.

 

This week Late Mods see a 101 lapper.  I promise next weeks write up will be better and on time.

May 19th - 6th Annual Season Opener - Renegade Spring Nationals - ASA LM 101 Laps. (Finished 13)

May 26th - Regular Show - All spectators with Military ID admitted FREE (Finished 6)

June 2nd - Regular Show - All Licensed Commercial Drivers - $5 Admission (Finished 9th)

June 9th - Regular Show - All Seniors (60+) $5 Admission (Finished 9th)

June 16th - Twin 25's for the ASA Challenger Late Models (Finished 7th in both races)

June 23rd - Regular Show - School's Out! Kids 17 & Under FREE! (Finished 6th)

June 30th - 76-Lap Special for the ASA Challenger Late Models - Bike Night (RAINED OUT Frown)

July 7th - Spirit of 76 Raindate (RAINED OUT again)

July 14th - Regular Show (Finished 9th)

July 21st - CLOSED for the Lewis County Fair

July 28th - NASCAR Busch East Series & ASA Challenger Late Models 50 Lap All-Star Invitational (Finished 5th)

August 4th - Regular Show - Fan Appreciation Night - All Spectators $5 (Finished 5th)

August 11th - Regular Show (Finsihed 10th)Foot in mouth

August 18th - ASA Challenger Late Models Champ 101 (Finished 7th)

August 25th - Regular Show  (Finished 11th)

Sept. 1st - Double Points Night - Regular Show  (Finished 10th)

Sept. 8th - ASA Challenger Late Models Champ 101 (cut short to 51 laps) (Finished 12th)

Sept 14th - Raindate for Spirit of '76 - SEASON FINALE - We will not be attending