Andy Bell - New Jersey Race Report
Wow what a weekend! I just returned home from the New Jersey Motorsports park round of the Dodge Viper Cup and I feel like I've been in a tornado for the last 3 days.
I can't deny the fact that I was in WAY over my head signing up to be the token "Celebrity" in this weekend's race. Thankfully I had the mega-experienced team of Cindi Lux and Lux Performance Group there to babysit me through the weekend. Starting off Friday morning I had never been behind the wheel of a Dodge Viper, not even on the street, so I was in awe within 10 seconds on the track, riding shotgun with Cindi. How deep she could dive into corners before braking, how fast the car got stopped from incredible speeds, then the almost face melting acceleration as the car damn near jumped down the next straightaway was mind blowing. Cindi was able to coax faster and faster lap times out of me over the weekend as she watched me both in person and then reviewed the data on the in car cameras. By race time I was as ready as I could be with less than a couple hours seat time, having qualified 6th of 12. I was pretty happy to be mid pack considering how good all the other drivers were.
I learned some great lessons in the race, such as you actually don't have a pass made just because your front wheel is next too the other guys back wheel! (Reminder, he won't back off!) J and took a little off track excursion that was totally a result of my (as Cindi called it) "very optimistic pass attempt". Somehow I made the save of the century and got back on track and salvaged a 4th place finish (with some help from a leader crash) My good buddy Travis Pastrana had flown down to watch the race, and he was impressed enough to give me a compliment (which is hard to come by in our friend group!) so I know he was impressed with that finish. 
Sunday came and I felt I had found a little more speed on the track even though my qualifying times didn't show it (due to a couple little mistakes) and I was excited for the race. Unfortunately another driver behind me was a even more excited it seemed and thought he should use his front splitter as a push bar and take me out in corner 8, lap 1. My advice to him, the old saying of "you can't win the race in the first lap, but you can for sure lose it there" is something he may want to remind himself of next race. Oh well, we all make mistakes! I was amazed with that hard of a hit on my car that only a small piece on the right rear A arm broke and put me out of the race. Guess besides Vipers being insanely fast, they are tough as nails too.
Now it's back to real life and no more doing 150 mph down the front straight day after day...
All in all an amazing experience both on and off the track between the driving and racing, and getting to meet new friends around the pits. What a great opportunity to make $3000 for the Athlete Recovery Fund as well!
To everybody at Dodge Motorsports, Dodge Viper Cup Series, NARRA and Lux Performance Group…….. THANK YOU for the memories! I am now huge fan of the Viper and want to help spread the word to the world. I want one now in my personal garage.
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