9/16/2014
Fezard Battles Throttle Issues, Finishes Top Five
(Photo by Chase Gibson)
PLUMERVILLE, Ar. – After a last-minute decision to race when the team had planned to take the weekend off, a two-hour road trip put Bradley Fezard at Plumerville Speedway for some Saturday night dirt track action.
Seventeen micro sprints were set to hit the track in three heat races, with Fezard slated to start inside second row of the third race. Fezard’s Stallard/FTZ Honda was in the lead by the time he reached turn one on the first lap; he easily took the heat win by half a straightaway.
When feature time came, a straight-up lineup put the #58 of Fezard starting third in the field. He would complete lap one in the fourth spot, then fell another spot on lap two to fifth, where he would run for five laps. When the leader reached lapped traffic with seven laps in the books, he made contact with a lapped car, spinning and bringing out a caution. With the leader going to the tail, Fezard, of Hot Springs, AR, restarted in the fourth spot. A mechanical gremlin with the throttle pedal sticking began to affect his ability to slow the car entering the corner, but nevertheless, halfway through the 20-lap event, he positioned himself for a slidejob entering turn one, and was followed through by another car, who passed Fezard soon after, keeping him in the fourth spot. Cautions on lap 12 and 15 saw him restart fourth each time, where he would remain until the last lap, when he was passed on the last lap, and wound up finishing in the top five. After the race, the fourteen-year-old commented that when he would step on the throttle pedal and brake pedal simultaneously and then let off the throttle, the throttle would stick down, and that the throttle was extremely stiff regardless of whether the brake was engaged or not. He would hook his foot under the pedal to free it several times, but would stick again just as many times as he would unstick it. Not to be deterred, Fezard stuck it out to bring home the top five.
Fezard would like to thank Brandon’s Ranch and Aaron’s Powdercoating, as well as his mom and dad and Aaron Qualls for their continued support.
Fezard next plans to compete on September 27 at Riverside International Speedway in West Memphis, AR in the #58 600cc micro sprint entry.
Quick Results
September 13 – Plumerville, AR – 600cc Micro Sprint – Heat: 1 (3); Feature: 5 (3)
Season Stats
14 races, 1 win, 8 top fives, 12 top tens, 0 DNFs
Social Media
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/bradley.fezard
Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/bradley_fezard58
Article Credit: Redbeard Promotions
