SRL – Top 10 Countdown, Raudman
Craig Raudman may have finished seventh, in the final Spears Srl Southwest Tour Series standings, but entering the final event of the season, at the Bullring @ Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Raudman had a great shot at the championship runner-up position. Unfortunately, a medical issue prevented the team from taking the green flag, and Raudman and the Dave Reed Racing Team, had to settle for the seventh position.
Raudman scored three top five finishes, in 2017, to go along with six top ten finishes, in his eight starts. His best finish was a second at Madera Speedway, while scoring additional top five’s at the Irwindale Event Center and Rocky Mountain Raceway. Raudman was the only driver in the top 18 to conclude his season with zero DNF’s. Raudman qualified into the top eight four times, but failed to redraw for positions up front, and failed to lead a lap during the season. His total of 284 laps led sit 19th all-time. His five career “Rockwell Time” Fast Time Awards sits tied for fifth, and his three career wins are tied for 12th.
For Raudman and Dave Reed, it was their first attempt at a full racing season together since 2008, when they finished second in the SRL Championship chase to Jim Pettit II.
“2017 was the year that Dave, the guys, and myself decided that we were going to get serious, and get back to what we once were, a top contender”, Raudman told the SPEARS Southwest Tour Series. “Dave went out and got us some new equipment, and we had a few crew member changes, and we all had a whole different attitude. I think we had a lot of shinning moments, and people took notice. After the health scare I had in Vegas, I promised myself I was going to change my ways, to change my health. I have worked hard at it, and I really can’t imagine not working out in my life now.”
Raudman opened the 2018 season with his first appearance at the Winter Showdown, a $30,000 to win event at Kern County Raceway. He finished the long distance 300 lap event in the top ten, proving his endurance and the teams capabilities with their brand new car.
Raudman continued, “We ran the Winter Showdown this year, and I was amazed at how good I felt afterwards. So for 2018 we are more focused, more driven, and in better shape than I have been in twenty plus years. We have the team, we have the equipment, and we have that burning uncompromising drive to get back to winning again. And we will.”
The 2018 season marks the 25th season that Raudman and Reed have been together. And Reed is excited about the season’s prospects.
“We have a super strong program this year”, Reed commented. “Raudman has lost a lot of weight, and is working out very hard. We have new bad a** cars, and Brad Peters Motors, along with Bond Suss full-time at the races this year. Our focus is on Raudman for the Championship!!! Craig and I need to finish what we started 25 years ago!”
The Dave Reed Racing Team is supported by Approved Memory, Lucas Oil, K&N Filters, Eibach, FLUIDYNE High Performance, JDA Fittings and Ringer Gloves. In 2018, the 2001 NASCAR Featherlite Southwest Tour Series (NFSWTS) Champion hopes to join Jim Pettit II and M.K. Kanke as the only drivers to have scored championships in both the SRL and the former NASCAR Series. That quest begins at Madera Speedway on March 24th.
