The Cuda Beast's 2017 racing season is one that stopped before it could get started, as Paul Gibbs was involved in a serious traffic accident in the spring that hospitalized him with broken bones and a punctured lung. Doctors said a full recovery would take four months; it has been three, and Paul said this week he's feeling pretty good and is back working full time.
This Saturday, there is racing 90 minutes away, up the road at Brainerd Motorsports Park, and Paul is ready to get back on the track for the first time in about nine months. Formerly known as Brainerd Optimist Drag Strip, BMP is sort of the home track for Paul, and the track where Paul tried to establish a promod series in 2014. The effort got off to a late start, which led to problems getting enough sponsors to ensure good payouts, and the track management situation was less than ideal. The circumstances were tough, and series ran one time while Paul was healing from a broken back after a fall from a ladder. The racers put on a good show despite horrible track conditions, and the winner went about 4.20 to take the race.
Paul said BMP is looking at having several promod races, and this one should be good as the track has seen multiple improvements since 2014 under new management, and the payout is the customary purse for a quick 8. The only bad part will be the scorching mid-July heat, tough on the racing crews and spectators, and tough to race in. Paul said he's planning on getting to the track Friday night to make a couple of test runs -- good strategy since car and driver have been idle since October. Paul has had a new engine in the Beast that has run in the 3s, but the new drivetrain has just one pass on it.
I have to admit that I don't know anything about this season's racing -- who's been doing what -- since the promodifieds.us website ceased operation at the end of last year. I don't know who might show up; the race flier features Bil Clanton, and Paul said Tim Segars is another big name that is looking to be there. I'm hoping that the BMP Facebook page will have some results. The Beast team mainstays will be on hand, including Keith Dockery, who has been fighting serious medical problems for a couple of years.
