There are so many people to thank for helping us get on the track, I know I will miss
someone if I try to list them.  I have tried to capture photographs of everyone in the
set.  I know at a minimum, I missed Bob, Jeff, and Rick, so a special thanks goes out to
them.  We also need to thank Cappy and everyone at Knoxville Raceway for being so
understanding of our on-going problems and working with us to get us into Natinoals.  
We would also like to thank the Robert Bell Fan Club for their generosity on Friday
night and all of the fans who donated to Robert's racing this week at Nationals and
throughout the season.  You are all very special people and are greatly appreciated.
Saturday, 28 July 2007
While running extremely well in the B Feature, Robert senses a vibration in the engine going into turn
one for the final time.  He immediately shuts it down and rolls to a stop on the top side of the track.

Monday, 30 July 2007
Robert gets the engine torn apart only to discover a broken crank.  A few phone calls and a new one is
ordered from Lynton Jeffrey to arrive on Thursday.

Saturday, 4 August 2007
The block is in the machine shop and is not ready for the Saturday night show.  Robert and his crew watch
sadly as the 410 class runs as support to the 360 Nationals without them.

Tuesday, 7 August 2007
The block is not yet back from the machine shop.  Numerous cracks required additional work to get it
ready for welding.  Robert and his crew miss the Ultimate Challenge at the Southern Iowa Speedway in
Oskaloosa, Iowa, which winds up getting rained out anyway.  Oskaloosa received 9 inches of rain in 3 days!

Wednesday, 8 August 2007
The block comes back from the machine shop in the afternoon.  Bob Weuve is putting together the
engine tomorrow morning.  Robert had been scheduled to qualify for the Nationals tonight, but due to the
on-going problems, Bob has traded with Robert and is qualifying tonight.  Wednesday ends up getting
rained out giving Bob a Friday night qualifying slot.

Thursday, 9 August 2007
Bob works on the engine all day.  Robert and Frosty join him in the afternoon to assist with the top end.  
Unfortunately, it does not get done in time to arrive at the track for qualifying.  Having a heart, Cappy
agrees to let Robert qualify on Friday, relieving some of the team's tears.

Friday, 10 August 2007
Hewitt's Wrecking Service shows up early in the morning to assist in getting the engine into the car.  
Problems persist as the brakes won't bleed properly.  The engine gets loaded, the car gets put back
together, and Robert and the crew roll into the track, displaying the new car for the first time!  The brakes
get fixed, the engine gets fired, but no oil pressure builds.  Jeff assists for hours, testing the oil pump,
checking lines, but Robert does not make time trials, the heat race, or the C Main.  After hours of
thrashing, it is discovered that a single plug is missing from the front of the block.  $1.50 spent at Jocko's
later, the engine is building oil pressure and the car is fired.  The team is ecstatic!  Robert receives an
award from his fan club in front of the entire crowd!  Cappy once again shows his understanding and
allows Robert to come back on Saturday for the non-qualifiers race.

Saturday, 11 August 2007
Robert fires his engine to a standing ovation for the afternoon non-qualifiers show.  After hot laps, Robert
runs his heat race in the non-qualifiers show and secures himself a spot in the E Main.  Saturday night,
Robert shakes things out during hot laps and shows off a little of what his new car and engine can do as
he runs extremely well in the E Main.  He did not transfer, but the crew considers it a success to see him
running and running extremely well.  A few tweaks to the engine, and Robert will be in great shape for the
rest of the season.  Robert and his crew end an extremely arduous week on a good note and Robert
prepares for his trip to Huset's to show off his new car and see what he can do.

For even more Robert Bell Nationals stories and photos, visit Thunder Warriors.