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A broken wheel robs Sean Murphy of a Feature win at the Bristol (TN) Motor
Speedway. Orange County is next for the S.S. Racing Team.Posted August 8th,
2007
Sean Murphy looks to regroup from a heartbreaking finish at the Bristol (TN) Motor
Speedway last weekend with a good run in ASALMS Southern Division competition
this Saturday August 11, 2007 at the Orange County (NC) Speedway in
Rougemont, North Carolina in the running of the Orange County 125. (ASALMS
File Photo)
By S.S. Racing/Shawn Stewart
Indianapolis, Indiana (08/08/2007): Sean Murphy took the white-flag with a 5-car
length lead at Bristol Motor Speedway on Saturday evening August 4, 2007. He
was on his way to piloting the no.32 ASILIMITED; Akzo Nobel; Aluminum Shapes;
Spectrum Metal Finishing Late Model Chevrolet to victory lane for the first time in
his career.
The team began high-five-ing and making their way to victory lane to accept their
trophy and celebrate the long overdue win. But racing’s often unforgiving nature
kept Murphy from the win. As he entered the final two turns of the final lap his right
front wheel broke apart sending him straight into the outside wall. Amazingly
Murphy still crossed the finish line in 4th place.
It was the biggest race of the year on the ASA Late Model Series Challenge
Division tour. For all the drivers, conquering Bristol would prove their ability to
compete on the track that stock cars best have won at. Each driver was looking to
join names like Jeff Gordon and Darrell Waltrip as winners at the tough Bristol
Track.
Murphy qualified 2nd proving early on in the event that he could be a contender for
the race win. He was inverted to a 5th place starting position. The race was broken
up into two 100-lap segments with a 10-minute halfway break.
In the first 100 laps Murphy maintained a top five position. With a few laps
remaining to the halfway mark he moved into 3rd. The SS Racing team changed 4-
tires, added fuel and made some adjustments to the car. On the start of the
second half of the race Murphy shot up to second and was now in a position to
take the lead spot.
A lapped traffic incident involving contact by Murphy and the leader no.35 Keaton
Hanks brought out the caution flag. The restart resulted in Murphy inheriting the
lead. For the remainder of the race Murphy would hold the lead position. He
contended with several restarts, but each time would pull away from the rest of the
field.
With less than 10 laps remaining the team and Murphy began to feel the win
coming their way. They counted down to five laps to go, then 3-laps and eventually
the white-flag. With a very comfortable 5-car length lead heading down the back-
stretch it appeared Murphy was secure in obtaining his first-ever ASALMS win.
He felt a small wiggle as he entered turn 3. Then a burst of sparks exploded from
the right front wheel and the car shot up the track straight into the outside wall.
Murphy actually stepped on the gas heading into the wall to build momentum in
hopes of still crossing the finish line.
“I cringed because I knew it was going to be a hard hit,” stated Murphy. “But I also
knew if I could keep the speed and momentum up I would still finish the race.”
Murphy crossed the line in 4th place.
“That was the hardest hit I’ve ever experienced,” added Murphy, who maintained
positive composure despite the huge disappointment. “I guess this is what they call
Murphy’s Law. We’ve been so close two times now and both were major races.
Indianapolis and now here at Bristol we’ve been dominating and lost at the end of
the race. I don’t really know what to say or do except to rally the team and move
on. These guys gave me a great car and I just wish we had the trophy to reward
them for their hard work.”
Even fellow competitors shared their sympathy for Murphy. “I feel bad for Sean
(Murphy),” said long time racer Peter Cozzolino. “He had a heck-u-va race car.
That’s the second time he has had a heck-u-va race car and was leading and fell
out with a couple of laps to go. That first win is hard to get.”
SS Racing Team Owner Ken Smith was making his way to victory lane when the
wreck occurred and was obviously upset by the loss. But he expressed the longer
term positives that develop from hard times.
“Although this is very disappointing, it’s times like this that build character in the
driver and the team. We really can’t beat ourselves up. It was just a circumstance.
We just have to continue to do more of the same and wins will come.”
Moving Forward…: Sean Murphy and SS Racing hope to end their heartache with
a racer’s favorite medicine…more racing. They head to Orange County Speedway
in Rougemont, North Carolina for the Orange County 125 event. The race is with
the Southern Division of the ASALMS, where Murphy is not in the point’s
championship race, so he’ll be shooting for a win.
For further information on Sean Murphy and the S.S. Racing Team, visit: S.S.
Racing On-Line
ASILIMITED is a leader in the Building Enclosure and Ornamental Metals industry.
Indianapolis based ASILIMITED’s ability to take a project from it’s inception to its
completion separates them from their competition.
In 2003, the Ornamental Division was established as a national supplier of ornate
products. Currently the Ornamental Division is supplying materials .or the Orlando
Courthouse as well as the MUSC project in South Carolina. ASI will be partnering
with their customers in the CTS to continue to build relationship and teamwork.
Spectrum Metal Finishing is a major force in the metal coating industry since 1994.
Their customers are companies throughout the United States and even the Pacific
Rim. They are an environmentally friendly organization that complies with all EPA
standards. Conveniently located Youngstown, Ohio.
Akzo Nobel, based in the Netherlands, is a multicultural organization serving
customers throughout the world with human and animal healthcare products,
coatings, and chemicals. They employ around 61,500 people and conduct their
activities in four segments −- human and animal health, coatings and chemicals −-
subdivided into 13 business units, with operating subsidiaries in more than 80
countries.
Aluminum Shapes, LLC is an aluminum extruder with a complete range of
capabilities at a single plant location, principally serving the transportation,
distribution, construction and architectural industries.
It is our mission to provide all of our customers with on-time delivery of products
that meet or exceed their expectations, at market prices. This will be achieved and
sustained through the use of an aggressive continuous improvement program
focused upon lean manufacturing techniques, total quality management and the
empowerment and accountability of all our employees.
PR/Media Contact: Shawn Stewart: shawn@racingsolution.net
1 (704) 664-1505
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