On OnThe TheTrack Track
by Christopher Kidder-Mostrom
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ovember is the end of the year for Friday Night Cheese at the ILC. The 2020 season’s final two races happened this past fortnight. The reigning Big Cheese at the beginning of Race 53 was Nick Deavers in a lovely rat rodstyle pickup truck. Despite the fact that James Kleman could not mathematically be removed from his spot atop the overall rankings and would be crowned the 2020 Friday Night Cheese Champion after the conclusion of Race 54, Deavers drove like a man unwilling to release his hold on the Big Cheese title. In his first lap against Warpig76’s Rapid Responder, Deavers left the significantly lighter truck in his dust. But, a much closer heat was just ahead, as the second lap in the best of three race was full of rubbin’ all the way to the very end. Warpig76 stuck to Deavers like chewing gum
on a 7-year-old’s tennis shoe. But, with a slick spin move just before the finish line, Deavers broke away and retained his title for another week. The last few races have featured vehicles and SURPRISINGLY CLOSE – Warpig76’s Rapid Responder drivers that are getting a gives Nick Deavers a run for his money. second go at the Man-Pam Motor Speedway. In fact, Deavers The two were close down the first himself was a Second Cheese driver straightaway, but Kleman pulled in this truck not too many weeks ahead coming out of the first turn. ago. As the season wound down, it He gathered speed on the middle was only fitting that the overall straightaway, and hit turn two so champion of the season got to take fast that he launched right off the his turn at Second Cheese in Race back of the embankment, completely 54. out of the Speedway. Kleman’s signature General Lee lined up for a chance to take the title of Big Cheese back and to be the reigning title holder as well as the season champion. Deavers knew there was a lot on the line, since if he could hold on to the title, he would start the 2021 season (launching in December) as the first Big Cheese of the new go’round.
ETERNAL FLAME – James Kleman’s General Lee lights up the night, but not in the way he’d hoped.
26 | Diecast Racing Report
The cars were all business. Kleman’s car weighed in slightly heavier at 119 grams. Deavers truck is 114 grams.
Deavers kept a level head and kept on truckin’ to a lap one victory. And, because leaving the track is an automatic forfeiture, that single lap win means that Deavers will start 2021 as the Big Cheese yet again. Elsewhere, just outside the stadium, the General Lee of James Kleman met an ignoble end, becoming a fireball (or at least a fire ring) and ending its time at the ILC. James Kleman torched all comers all year long, but when the finale of the season came, it was his car that got burned. As the 2020 Champion of Friday Night Cheese, James Kleman will receive the much lauded $1.19 Walmart gift card that is the ILC prize.
