2002 PA Legacy Champion Joey Dennewitz and his Owens Corning/Eagle Motorsports team headed to Martinsville, VA looking to gain experience and seat time while preparing for their chase to the 2003 Allison Legacy National Series title. What they got, however, was not what they were looking for.  

Thursday, after practice and qualifying, the Pink Panther ride sat 8^th in the starting line up. Due to a dramatic weather change from practice to qualifying, the team was forced to make some dramatic changes for qualifying and had Dennewitz searching for speed in his two lap run. Letting it all hang out and coming off of turn 4 sideways, Dennewitz slid the Owens Corning machine into 8^th place, just five hundredths of a second slower than two time P.A. Legacy Champion, Jayme Bolkovack, who was making her first appearance in an Allison Legacy car after a disappointing and dismal Late Model season. As the grid was locked down for Friday’s race, a content Dennewitz walked out of Martinsville Speedway on Thursday with mixed emotions.  

“I gave up some there in qualifying because I wasn’t sure how the car would react to all of those changes that we made late in practice with the sun. I sure didn’t want to see that sun pop out. I feel good about our chances for tearing off a top 5 up here tomorrow. If we get down in the grove and stay out of trouble, I am confident I can give my guys a top 5. We will see, its Martinsville, anything can happen.” 

Wise beyond his years, this 18 year old University of Akron student would be correct, after being involved in an early incident with Jennerstown Speedway track rival and 2001 P.A. Legacy Champion Jayme Bolkovack. While running door to door going into turn three on only the second lap of competition, the number 24 machine of Bolkovack slammed hard up against the Eagle Motorsports prepared ride of Dennewitz resulting in suspension damage to the left front of the Pink Panther car.  

With the left front tire pointing to the inside of the track, while the right front remained straight, the 2002 P.A. Legacy Champion limped his Owens Corning machine back to the pit area where he nearly made contact with the pit row wall and Eagle Motorsports crew member Ron Hickman. While his Eagle Motorsports crew jumped into action, there was nothing they could do. With the left front tie rod broken, the day was called. Dejected and obviously disappointed Dennewitz slowly walked back to the Dupont hauler of Jeff Gordon’s to change clothes early after such a heartbreaking incident.  

“We didn’t deserve that at all. My guys have worked so hard for this race, and to be starting where we did and have such a great car, it’s like going down on Christmas morning and there are no presents under the tree. That’s about how I feel right now. Owens Corning has supported us all year long so much; and all we wanted to do was run well for them down here. It’s a shame; I really don’t know what she was thinking. She hauled off into turn three there and just blasted me in the door. We will be back. I know that. This team bounces back quick, and we will be there for Hickory.” 

With a damaged racecar and broken feelings, the Owens Corning team will try to gather up the reigns and make another run on their Allison Legacy National Series experience. With only one race remaining in their schedule, Joey and his Eagle Motorsports team expect to run the full 300 laps in Hickory, NC on November 10^th. The team finished 2^nd in 2001 with teammate Mike Smith behind the wheel, and with this team’s drive and determination, look for them to be a force on November 10^th.