but the times and the car's handling didn't improve. As qualifying approached the team made a decision and returned the car to its original set up.

In qualifying, Sam was surprised when the car became extremely loose. The track conditions hadn't changed from earlier practices but the new tires weren't reacting to the track as expected. Sam made a controlled slide exiting turn 4 on his last qualifying lap and almost spun the car. He would finish a disappointing 13th.

As the field took the green flag in the first of two 75 lap races, Sam made his way past the #3 car in the first turn moving into 12th place. He soon found the rear bumper of the #11 car and began an all out assault. For the next 5 laps, Sam worked on the rear bumper of the 11 car, trying to find a way around. Entering turn three the #11 over drove the corner and crashed hard into the outside wall. After the caution period Sam restarted in the 10th position. Trying to hold the position Sam was immediately under pressure from the #2 car which had the inside line. For 2 laps the cars ran side by side battling for the position. Eventually the #2 gained the advantage and Sam dropped into 11th. Time was running out as Sam got to the rear bumper of the #2. He looked inside and out but was not able to move the #2 and finished 11th on the lead lap.

In the second 75 lap feature of the night, the car developed a very tight condition. Within 5 laps the car had dropped several positions and an early caution for debris gave the team a chance to investigate what may have swung the cars handling so quickly. Was it a flat tire, broken hub, shock?? The team couldn't find anything visually and the tire pressures where still good. Sam returned to the track but battled an extremely tight condition as the car slid up the track and was barley in control. The tight condition was getting worse, and the right front tire was chattering off the corners. A broken right front shock was suspected and the team questioned Sam about pulling off the track. Sam made the decision to continue the race and gain the experience but was careful not to push the car into the wall. After several cautions and some other retirements, Sam wheeled the car home in one piece, in 13th place finish.

Sam's race comments:

"It was great to finally get a good test session in and race in dry conditions!! I was really looking forward to qualifying and improving my starting position. It was a real disappointment when the handling changed on the new tires. The first race was a lot of fun. It was busy and I felt like we raced more in those 75 laps than we had all year. It was over to quickly though. Before I realized it there were only 5 laps to go, time fly's when you're having fun!! We felt like we were going to have a great run in the second feature. Something broke or, we had a bad right front tire. Mike Lee will take it apart this week and determine exactly what the issue was. I just couldn't get the car to turn in the corner. It felt like I had to almost stop the car to turn left. All in, this was a good week. The car is getting better and I'm getting more comfortable with its handling. We're not satisfied with the race results but the team definitely made progress this week and we'll continue to build on these results."

Sam Hunt is now 13th in the "Points Championship" at South Boston Speedway with 13 races remaining on the 2011 race schedule.