Mandy’s Monthly!- July

Well, I was once told by Amy Swindell after Daryn won the HBO that you should enjoy the moments of victory because those times of excitement  are fewer than the days that will be hard.   The phrase has new meaning as this season has been  a struggle for everyone involved with Titan not only with bad results but mentally draining, but after the elation of the King’s Royal win it will hopefully  wipe the slate clean and we can continue the season with success!

Again this month we have been racking up the miles from Dodge City, KS to SD to WI to SD to AR to IN to OH and now to PA!   Dodge City was a good weekend for us and we were leading Satuday night but got passed by the 15 with a few laps to go on a rubber down track!  I was stunned that he made the top work with their being solid rubber on the bottom, but if anyone can make amazing things happen it is that team.  Another big highlight for me this month was going to Riverside Speedway aka “The Ditch.”  I grew up at that racetrack with dad racing every weekend, and it was nice to see my family since I have not seen them in months!  We parked at the track the night before the race and woke up at 10 to see the parking lot getting full with people grilling out and ready to race….at 10:00am!  I am not sure that we go to any other place that has such die hard fans as the Memphis area.   I saw friends that I have not seen in ages and that was nice.  Titan also loaned my dad’s car #88 with driver Tim Crawley a 410 engine for the night so I had eagle eyes on two cars all night.  Daryn ended up spinning out with only a few laps into the race and that pretty much ended our long night filled with rain showers, even though I wanted to win it was still nice to be home!  Daryn & I actually started dating at that track too…he rode on the four wheeler with dad to the driver’s meeting 11 years ago and asked him how old his daughter was…and the rest is history! 

Anyway, after Riverside Daryn was at an all time low mentally.  He did not have any confidence in his ability to drive, no confidence in the car that it was going to do what he thought, and was as down as I have ever seen.  Needless to say it was a long drive to Indiana!  With a quick 2 days at home we headed to Lima and the King’s Royal weekend!

It is “Good to be King!”  I am still smiling from Saturday night’s win and the boys are still happy to!  Daryn needed that win for himself and the team.  Bingo was back with his dad (Gene) for the weekend to help out which as Daryn says is invaluable to our team.  They complete Titan Racing USA!  I stood on the hauler for the race with Bingo as we watched and held our breath the whole race.  I was so nervous pacing back and forth, but as he was coming off of turn four on the last lap I began to celebrate.  Bingo picked me up and threw me around on the trailer as if I was a rag doll!! J  It was a very emotional win for everyone involved and I still am getting misty eyed writing about it, but for Team Titan and Daryn to be able to say that we won the King’s Royal is something that no one can ever take away.  I hope more photographers can send me photos of this memorable occasion that will be forever etched in my mind.    Daryn with the King’s crown, Reeve with the Ms. Eldora sash and tiara, the new four wheeler, the smiles on everyone’s faces, seeing Daryn  excited and speechless, having everyone come and congratulate you, and especially sitting in that big chair with my husband completing  a huge accomplishment in sprint car racing history.  Thanks to everyone and anyone was has given us a positive piece of advice, our sponsors who we could not do this without, and especially Reeve Kruck for the opportunity of a lifetime.  I told someone earlier in the day that if Daryn won I would forget about the past few months and the results, and that is exactly what we have done.  It makes you “turn a page” and have a new pep in your step ,  which is exactly what we all needed at just the perfect time!