It was make it or break it time as the Summer Shootout drivers entered their last Tuesday night of racing for the 2009 season; the last chance to prove their skills at the Lowe’s Motor Speedway quarter-mile track. Some washed out from the pressure, or maybe the rain, but Legends Pro division racer John Freeman closed round 10 with a strong second-place finish in both the race and the points chase, all the while making it look effortless.
This isn’t to say that Freeman didn’t have a case of nerves as his time to drive out onto the track approached. The storm clouds that gathered overhead were enough to make any driver or crew member slightly tense.
“We were a little afraid with the rain coming out, but we survived the heat race, swimming through the pond there,” laughed Freeman. “Fortunately, we got a decent starting spot for the feature.”
Come time for the A-Main, the track had been dried and the Pro Division drivers were set loose to race their hearts out at the drop of the green flag. Although Daniel Hemric, who took home a win and a championship the same night, already had the first-place position in points locked up, Freeman and his team knew that all they needed was one point to secure their runner-up spot.
“We had a really, really good car. I wish we would have gotten a shot at the leader, but we were points racing too,” said Freeman.
Freeman had been on the top of his game when he retired from Legends Car racing about six years back, but he knew that anything could happen upon his return to the Legends world. Finishing second in points to a driver like Hemric, who runs and wins Legends races all over the country on most weekends, was both unexpected and more than he could have ever asked for.
“When we came back, I was obviously a little bit worried of how well we would readapt to what was going on and not look bad,” explained Freeman. “After being that far out, competition has gotten really stiff and guys like Daniel Hemric, who have been there since I left, they’ve gotten pretty hard to beat.”
This season has shown Freeman that with experience, hard work, and a smooth functioning team, anything is possible.
“My crew guys here and Dennis Lambert did great and got a good car under me and we fortunately got consistent,” said a truly appreciative Freeman. “We came off really strong toward the end of the year. I wish I would have figured it out a little earlier in the season. All in all, we’re so happy to come out of this thing with a second.”
Freeman isn’t done racing his Legends Car as he will race at Rockingham Speedway (NC) in the Battle in the Carolinas four-race series, from Wednesday, August 12th through to Saturday, August 15th.
