2006 proved that luck wasn’t on our side at least for the first half of the year. We missed the first race completely waiting on parts. That hurt the team and myself. We ran the next few races but were fighting engine problems every week. Then we missed another week when the engine part decided to break completely. All the while I am not getting the valuable seat time I need. In June our car owner Donny Owens purchased a new Allpro engine through Charlie Garrett. Through partnership with Charlie, Brian Morrison who works for Charlie built us our first good engine (Morrison Racing Engines). We spent the next 3 months June, July, and August trying to get traction. Finally, around the end of August we turned our team around 100%. We led a bunch of laps and we were easily a top ten car. We met our goal of top ten finishes with one 2nd place finish and one 5th place finish. We didn’t attend every race for 2006 but that will be changing for 2007.

Where should I start about this coming year, I think I am dreaming. Let’s start where it is only right because without him none of this would have been possible, Donny Owens. Donny owns Catoctin Development, Advanced Development, and now Catoctin Motorsports. Since 2005 Donny has progressively taken us to the next level. In 2007 we will once again be stepping up our program. Donny has purchased a new rig for our team a Kenworth truck from Motor Truck in Carlisle and a trailer from Goldrush. Not to mention another engine to make a total of three, 3 new J & J chassis, and a new shop! Yes, there is still more exciting news Donny hired my crew members (Chet McCormick and Andrew McCormick) as full time mechanics. Chet McCormick Sr. will be staying on as our truck driver and my brother Mike Clabaugh will also still be helping in the pit area. By the way Andrew is single and looking. One more thing, Donny also hired Kirk Dewease as full time Crew Chief. Like I said someone needs to wake me up I think I am dreaming.

We will be kicking off our 2007 season in Florida. February 6-11, at Volusia Speedway. We will be running the full schedule at Williamsgrove Speedway and at Lincoln Speedway. Our schedule will include speedweek and some other special races this year.

I can’t say enough about Donny and what his support has done for my racing career. With his support and with the team he put around me I should have no problem reaching my goals for this year. My motto for this year “It’s time to go fast”. Come out to the track and say hi. See ya at the races!