OPPORTUNITY (which makes sense given the Daytona 500's tomorrow): Drive w/ three of the Richard Childress Racing drivers at the Rockingham Speedway for 30 laps- Austin Dillon (2011 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series champion; #3), Kevin Harvick (#29; finished third in last year's Chase for the Sprint Cup behind Carl Edwards & Tony Stewart) & Ron Hornaday, Jr. ('09 Camping World Truck Series champ; #33)
COMPETITORS: Eric Purcell (Shreveport, LA; his father raced for 20 years & this distribution center owner couldn't touch a car until he turned 18), Mike Mulhall (Monrovia, CA; he hasn't driven in five yrs. when a car next to his was leaking oil at the time Mike wrecked) & Katie Hagar (Mooresville, NC; this welder started driving go-karts at 13)
MENTORS: Andy Hillenburg (Fast Track Racing chief instructor) & Royce McGee (NASCAR Sprint Cup shop foreman for RCR)
Opening Challenge ("Punch Out"): Near the NASCAR Hall of Fame in Charlotte, NC, each driver has to maneuver a specially-marked black Chevrolet Camaro SS Coupe w/ white stripes through a couple straightaways, several hairpin turns (after the first straightaway) & a four-gate slalom while keeping as many of the 15 blue balls in the punchbowl filled w/ a gallon of water that are on top of the engine door as possible during their drive. For each ball that drops off, one second of penalty time will be added to his/her final time in this challenge.
Eric- 1:08 (Dropped Balls: 6)
Katie- 1:42:04 (DB: 4)(also includes a 30-second penalty for missing more than half of the course)
Mike- 1:05 (DB: 1)
Elimination Challenge ("The Replacements"): Inside the FTR building, each of these contestants have to replace 10 parts of a race car just like the following- change the shifter lever, install four bullet caps, change the left front wheel space to a 1/4" spacer, change the steering wheel coupler, install a driver side A-post mirror, change & grease the rear axles, install a radio antenna, change four tires, lower the car to the ground & torque wheels to 75 pounds & change a rear right shock.
Since Katie blew the first challenge, she'll also have to install a shark fin.
FIRST IN- Mike (Chevy Monte Carlo SS)
ELIMINATED- Katie
FINAL CHALLENGE ("The Passing Lane"): Both guys are taken in a Chevy Traverse to the Rockingham Speedway's Little Rock, where they have to drive their colored car twice through the short & long courses. Only the best time for each course will count towards a driver's final time for the challenge that will decide the week's winner.
FC RESULTS:
Eric- 66.819 (DNF on final lap due to engine trouble)
Mike- 69.542
TBT: Eric drove the #76...& finished third. Winning was Hornaday; Dillon was second.