We were thrilled when Quality Roof Seamers came on board as our very first Season Partner, but we...
I know, I know... I had such high hopes on keeping this blog up to date after each event, but it seems like life always happens and this job gets neglected. My hope is that during the "off season" I can juggle my jobs for The Gambler and Geeslin Family Racing a little better. Here's my first attempt....
Cordova Dragway, Cordova, Illinois, June 14-15, 2024
Qualifying Run 1 (Q1) was pretty picture perfect. The Gambler made a straight and solid pass resulting in a 4.04. We were thrilled with those numbers right off trailer. Qualifying Run 2 (Q2) resulted in yet another all night thrash event at the Geeslin Family Racing pit. The burnout was smokey and as glorious as usual, but when Casey tried to get her back in gear to take the tree she wouldn't budge. Back to the pits we went to pull the transmission, yet again! Thankfully, Steve Graves (Quick Drive Racing) was just a phone call away and Bill Bernard had the parts that were needed to get the issue fixed.
Q3 was just what we wanted to see! The burnout was pretty, the launch was pretty and SHE WENT! The Gambler going in gear to take the tree and launching from the tree would have been enough for us at that point.
The boys were pretty excited that they didn't have any extra duties on top of the their usual servicing and tuning between Q3 and E1!
Backup Girls Official's theme for Cordova was Rock N' Roll! I can't lie, it may have been my favorite theme purely because it was so much more "Amy" than I typically do for their Q3 themes! Peep this amazing crimped hair! Our girls actually requested to participate too!!!
I know it may be a little hard to see but zoom into those stands in the background!! I love this picture because Mama Bear, Big Sue, is pictured and you can tell she is ever so anxiously awaiting seeing her Precious Baby Boy do what he does best!
We are so lucky to have people that mean the world to us travel across the country to support us every chance they get! Rickey and Brenda Ransome (life long family friends and the man behind the paint job always looking top knotch) and Mike and Linda Smith (Scott's parents) made the journey to Cordova to cheer us on!
We qualified number fifteen using the data from Q1 attempt: 4.04 @ 181.40 mph. That put us in the 3rd spot of the C Field.
The race that was scheduled for Eddyville was rained out, so Backup Girls Official's themes carried over to E1. The theme was Patriotic and I think these boys stole the show!.... look at our precious Uncle Johnny and our ever so Bashful Biggie!
I really wish that I could remember all the details from Elimination Round 1 (E1), but of course I don't. That's why I should do this after each event, obviously! All that my brain remembers is that we took the WIN light with a 4.01. When we got our pairing for E2 we knew it would be a tough one and that we had to throw everything we had at it for the semi-finals. We were paired with Thundering Okie and they are stiff competition for sure. Unfortunately, our luck ended in the semis. She looked pretty doing her burnout but she didn't look too glamorous when she wouldn't go in gear to stage, yet again! We were so disheartened to put her back in the box damaged and no real answers to what was causing her so much grief.
Thankfully, Big R and his amazing mentors don't stop analyzing any situation and replay all the scenerios 24/7! Steve, Blayne and Brock Graves (Quick Drive Racing), Steve Macklyn (B&J Transmission) and Kendall Singleton (High Risk Performance) have made this journey with The Gambler so much easier for our team. Dad's quick calls for parts/chats in the pits have turned into friendships that truly are irreplaceable! 
Isn't she a beauty when she decides to play nice?!?!
Stay tuned for a full recap of the Chaos in the Cactus (ABQ) and Casey's medical updates! I am chomping at the bit to get those posted STAT!
We are so grateful for our 2024 Partners that kept us going all season long! We are heartbroken that we didn't pull of a win for y'all in Cordova but it isn't because we didn't try with all our might!
