Bobby Grigas, III Has Breakthrough Performance at Speedweeks
Concord, NC If a driver is successful in racing, then there will come a point in their career when they shed the tag of having potential and pick up the label of being a contender. For Bobby Grigas, III that moment might have come during the 2008 version of Florida Speedweeks.
Sure, the Massachusetts native had already done some impressive things in his career by winning multiple times in the True Value Modified Racing Series and coming within a hair of winning the 2007 NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour Rookie of the Year title. But at New Smyrna Speedway (FL) this past week, Grigas really graduated into the big leagues.
With some of the best names in Modified racing present, Grigas finished fourth in the standings at New Smyrna. He never finished outside the top-10 all series long and only twice in seven races did he place lower than fourth. Grigas had one of the fastest on the track and his performance with it was very consistent.
“I couldn’t ask for a better finish or a better week,” said Grigas. “I’m getting a lot more seat time and that is what is helping me out. I am also getting more experience. I think that seat time is helping me out. Everyone sees that I have come a long way over the last few years.”
Grigas had to work pretty hard for those finishes too. With races as short as 30 laps on tap, Grigas did not always time trial strongly. That meant that he had to earn his finishes the hard way – by passing cars.
“The car feels good, but I didn’t time trial well every night. I have a fast enough car to win and I don’t know why I have time trialed here so poorly. The first race I started sixth and the second I started on the outside pole and each night it has gotten worse.
“The car got tight, so I backed off the gas pedal and then hammered the throttle backed down to try turn my car with the rear wheels and it got way down on me. It is tough starting 11th or 12th. I have a fast car, but you have to burn your car up twice as much trying to get through the field.”
As Speedweeks progressed on, lap speeds picked up and the gap from the front to the back of the pack got even closer.
“From third position to where I have time trialed there is not a big difference in time.”
One of Grigas’ highlights of the week was his performance in the 100-lap Richie Evans Memorial race. Grigas fought hard for the lead all race long and finished third in the prestigious event. He also finished a close third behind Jimmy Blewett and Ted Christopher in the 50-lap John Blewett, III Memorial event.
For more information on Bobby Grigas, contact Mike Twist at (207) 590-1786 and be sure to check BobbyGrigasRacing.com.
Sources: Mike Twist/Bobby Grigas, III PR