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| FAULK SHOWS PATIENCE DOES WORK | by Jane Smith
Michael Faulk, 2000 SARA Rookie of the year and fifth in the 2001 points, won his first race last night at Orlando SpeedWorld by showing patience is a virtue.
Forty of the best Late Model drivers in Florida came to the fast track of Orlando SpeedWorld hoping to win their first SARA race. Wayne Morris has won the last two races but all had high hopes. But it was Jason Boyd in the #15 that went out and set a new record for fast time for a Late Model at Orlando. Jason set a l3.898 lap with Michael Faulk right behind him with a l3.984.
Right behind him, that seemed to be how Michael was for the first few races of the year. And tonight was no exception. Faulk started third, right behind Jason Boyd. To alot of fans and crews in the pits, it looked like Boyd would just run away with the win. He put his Late Model a good l0 car lengths ahead of the #27 of Richard Baer. But in lap 40, Baer went around on the front stretch leaving the #36 Pierce Motorsports car of Michael Faulk in second.
Michael Faulk, like some of our younger drivers, has some pretty big shoes to follow. His dad, Lee Faulk, is well known and loved throughout the racing community. Lee beams as he supports his son totally and he is the man at the other end of those racing radios.
Just as it looked like the #15 was going to walk away with the race, something unexpected happened. This, as we all know, is the name of the game. Boyd was sent to the rear of the field and Michael Faulk now had the lead at Orlando.
Boyd did a great job of manhandling that car and putting it back up towards the lead from the rear but it was not his night to shine in Victory Circle although he tried very gallantly. It was Michael's night. Brad Barkis tried his best to take that shine from Faulk but he just could not get it.
Winner's circle had one of those Kodak moments with Michael and Lee Faulk together for Michael's first win at Orlando SpeedWorld and SARA this year. As they walked off the track together, the only thing all could see where the smiles of a father and son who love the same thing - racing.
Jane Smith
See related link: FAULK TOPS SARA LM, THOMPSON RETIRES IN STYLE AT ORLANDO SPEEDWORLD
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