[JessicaJ]

Patrick Bruns Nearly Claims Top Finish in Hometown Race
By Jessica Jenkins

On a stifling hot Friday afternoon, Patrick Bruns drove into Urbana, IL with his son in tow for some POWRi action. Running another new-to-him D2 midget, the 5 time reigning D2 champion was ready to face whatever challenges came his way. Just like his previous midget race seven weeks earlier in Lincoln, the 1/4-mile track rests inside a 1/2-mile horse track. Nestled within the Champaign County Fairgrounds, the arrival of POWRi provided a huge kick off to the annual fair.

When Bruns pulled his white #38 on track for the heat race, he did so from the pole position. Firing off quickly he snapped up the lead before a challenge from the points leader pushed him to second ahead of an early yellow. Restarting second the racer took back the lead and started to pull away on his home track. Another caution with three to go put POWRi's newest D2 feature winner Jack Routson right on his heels. A strong, several-lap battle between the two of them was ceded to Bruns' former teammate with a couple laps left, handing him a second place result.

Resetting the field for the Feature put Bruns inside row two with his Craig and Tia Dori-owned ride. He did not stay there long and was into the top two by lap five. Even with Routson setting a lightning-fast pace ahead of him, the father of three began slowly reeling in the fifteen year old. As circuits in the 15 lap feature clicked off quickly, Bruns caught the leader and began looking for a way to get by. Losing a tiny bit of momentum on the backstretch brought third place right up to the bumper of the #38 and by the time they returned to turn one, contact was made while racing into the first corner. Bruns was forced up high and spun halfway around before saving the car and keeping it going until he slowed to a stop on the backstretch. He was sent to fourth place for the restart with two laps remaining, but the car was damaged enough that he pulled off on the backstretch of the final lap.

In a race that proved difficult for several competitors, Bruns was credited with a fourth place finish before the bigger sprint cars took to the track. While reflecting on the night, Bruns expressed his gratitude to Craig and Tia Dori for letting him run their car. They "ironed out" the car all night and, along with his hard working Full Throttle guys, got the car tuned up and running competitively.

Bruns' Full Throttle Racing team is hard at work preparing the Silver Crown car for the upcoming event at the Springfield Mile in Central Illinois. Stay tuned to the Patrick Bruns fan page on Facebook (@FullThrottleRacing) as the August 19th race approaches. Also check the fan page for pictures from the night at the Champaign County Fairgrounds and other fun stuff. To learn more about the longtime racer, visit BrunsRacing.com.