Sports

Romfo victorious again at TMS

By Matthew Semisch

06/03/2014

When asked Sunday afternoon if there’s such a thing as mid-season form for auto racers, Chris Romfo said he wasn’t sure one way or the other.

If that is indeed a thing, though, it’s almost scary to imagine how good Romfo will be when he gets there.

The Bottineau driver was victorious at Thunder Mountain Speedway on Sunday for the second time in two weeks. TMS’s second race day of the season saw Romfo win his sports stock preliminary heat and then both the classification’s trophy dash and feature race.

The event, sponsored by Hunter Trucking and Star Transportation, had been under threat all day by rain. The bad weather held off, weather, and only overcast skies bothered the drivers and fans in attendance.

“It was really good out there today,” Romfo said. “A lot of clean racing, and the track was smooth and fast tonight.

“It was just lots of fun, and it got a little bit slick there toward the end, but we had plenty of traction and were able to do what we wanted.”

Restrictor plates, which are installed at the intake of a car engine to limit its power, were put in place for Saturday’s race. However, Romfo felt the plates didn’t hinder the racers too much.

“I think just in general it felt a lot better out there,” Romfo said, “And the restrictor plates slowed everyone down a little bit, and that just made the car feel so much better.

“We’re almost just as fast, though, so you couldn’t tell a huge difference in the car.”

As for picking up his second win in a row to start the 20th season of racing at TMS, Romfo said he feels he’s starting to get into a rhythm on his home track.

“Usually after a couple of races, you just get used to it again.” he said. “It’s just like getting back on a bike, it’s that natural a thing, and it’s that bit more enjoyable when you’re winning.”

SCHROEDER WINS MIDWEST MOD FEATURE

Saturday’s Wissota Midwest modifier feature race was much less clean. The caution flag was waved seven times during the 25-lap final, all of them before the electronic remaining laps sign flashed the number 17.

The yellow flag was waved five times before the Wissota racers even got two official laps in.

Conditions improved from there on, though, and Devils Lake native Ryan Schroeder coasted to victory.

Saturday’s event at TMS marked Schroeder’s second appearance all-time at the Bottineau track. It was his first time racing at TMS this season, however.

After the Wissota feature race, Schroeder played down the issue with all of the caution flags early on.

“This was actually a pretty smooth track,” Schroeder said, “And I think everything seemed to go pretty well.

“You always get cautions in a race, and it even happens in NASCAR, so all the yellow flags today maybe weren’t completely unexpected. You as a driver just take what you’re given and work with what you have.”