(Talladega, AL – May 1st, 2015) Cole and the Powell Race Team would like to thank Carlos Lira of Lira Motorsports and Joe Carapella of Tricar for the unbelievable opportunity to race in the International Motorsports Hall of Fame 200 at Talladega Superspeedway on May 1,2015.
Cole arrived in Mooresville , North Carolina a few days early so he could work on the race car at LiraMotorsports Race shop with Kyle Moon and Seth Smith. He also got to know the Lira race manager Teddy Brown and all the Lira crew.
The car was in great shape in practice finishing up P9, however Cole just couldn’t get synchronized with the six other drivers to draft and get a fast time . He had to start 21st but Cole is more than fAmiliar with starting mid to back in the pack. He started dead last at the famous Bowman grey stadium and finished third!!!
Every lap in this 77 lap race was action packed for Cole. He fought for every spot from 21 to 11 th and around the half way mark he was door slamming with the Kenny Schrader’s #52 car. Cole knew that if he didn’t make it by the 52 , he would be starting on the outside on the next restart .
While at p9 and At Lap 53 Cole watched in his rear view mirror as Brad Smith hit Austin Wayne Self on the front stretch and careened into the safer barrier. It was a horrendous crash and everyone at Powell Racing wishes Brad a quick recovery.
Then as Cole battled for another 3 spots he watched Mason Mitchell and Grant Enfinger get caught up and the track threw the red flag.
When the race continued it was a green white checkered and Cole was P6 . Starting on the outside was not where Cole wanted to be with only two laps to get to the front. He would like to thank David Gilliland who Gave Cole the name of his awesome spotter David Keith. It was with David’s help that he quickly cleared Cole low and then as Cole was down the final front stretch he went three wide, Cody Coughlin threw the block but Cole went higher and didn’t lift !! It was a photo finish and Cole finished third !!!
What an incredible experience to race at the longest, fastest and meanest track in history to finish third!!! Cole can’t wait to return.
Track officials were looking for Cole after the rAce for interviews in the media centre, and when they finally found him he was by his race car about to help his crew tear the car down in tech!!!
Once again for everyone who was involved in this race, thank you very much!
Cole