The Factory Racing traveled to San Felipe March 7-10 to compete in the 27th Annual Mastercraft San Felipe 250. The beautiful little fishing village came alive with 255 teams there to compete on the 254 mile course. We had a new course this year with new challenges and scenery.
Eight time Class 7 champion Dan Chamlee drove the entire race with Co-drivers Dan of Martin Roofing and Amy Tate. Chamlee led the first 45 miles, running 3 ½ minutes ahead of 2nd. Dan clipped a huge rock up a tight twisty canyon puncturing a tire. Chamlee got stuck in the silt while passing a class 16 car by choosing a bad line. Because of the soft sand and deep silt the truck was getting worse gas mileage than expected running out of gas 10 miles short of the Pit at mile 148. A fan along the course syphoned fuel from their bronco and a splash of fuel from the team near a road crossing got them to the pit. The team had dropped to 3rd place but after the pit Dan began making up time on 2nd place. He was within a mile of getting back in 2nd near race mile 200 when the radiator fan broke. The chase team was an hour drive away with the spare part. While Dan and Amy were waiting they took some epoxy and sheet metal and repaired it. He continued on but got stuck on a sand hill that many competitors were stuck on so he radio’d the team to see how far away they were and found they were close so he decided to wait for them with the replacement fan and to get his upper light bar to finish the race now that is was dark. Dan ran the last 50 miles at a fast pace and it was a huge relief to get a finish under their belt, finishing in 3rd place in 9:11:12.
Without sponsors like The Factory Appliance, Inc, BF Goodrich, Pure Power, Rod End Supply’s, Rigid Lighting, King Shocks, Martin Roofing, Slime we couldn’t have the success we enjoy.