Tyler Case had a little help from the heavens Saturday when he broke a long-standing course record at the PGARA Speedway Park.
"I just felt that my grandpa was up there, watching from above, making sure I was safe," said the 19-year-old mini-stock driver. "He'd be proud if he was here to watch me do it."
Case's grandfather, Wayne Dinney, passed away Friday after failing to conquer the pneumonia that felled him last spring. The graduate of Kelly Road high school had already decided to dedicate his night to his grandfather before putting his car into gear for Ron's Towing Memorial race.
In his first spin around the course - his qualifying drive to set positions for the night - Case completed it in a time of 19.613, topping the 2004 time set by Darryl Rudolph of 19.683. He then went out and won his dash race and emerged at the front of a very tight, competitive pack in the A-heat race.
"He be proud of me and clapping and [saying] I could do anything I put my mind to," said Case, adding his grandfather wasn't too keen on watching him zip around the track at high speeds. "If he was still mobile, he was going to take me hunting to keep me away from the racing."
Prior to Saturday's race, Case sat fourth in points in his fourth season behind the wheel with 175 points in four of six mini-stock races.
Next weekend, is a double dose of hit-to-pass racing, on Saturday and Sunday.
Championship finale weekend to determine the points champions is Sept. 10.
