American Racing News Vol 1, Issue 2 Issue 8 | Page 41

the, fastest cars on the
racetrack.
"I feel like we've had a car to
win the last four or five races;
we just haven't been able to
do it," Bacon assured. "This is
a good race to get rid of some
of that bad luck. There was
nothing we could do to
prevent the things that were
happening. It was frustrating,
but I just didn't feel like it was
anythi ng to waste my time
over. I knew we were fast and
I knew it was going to happen.
Fortunately, this was the one
it happened at."
For east coast-based car
owner Frank Manafort, the
victory is a culmination of
what came together just one
year ago when Bacon was
hired to drive the FMR
Racing/Beast/Toyota even
though the two had, at that
point, never even met.

"To get this win means a lot,"
a prideful Manafort said. "It's
just so great for the whole
team and for Janice (East) and
(crew chief) Bob East. I'm so
happy for him with it being the
Jason Leffler race. And for me
too! I met Brady for the first
time at this race a year ago, so
it's wonderful."
East was the crew chief for
Leffler when he drove the
famed Steve Lewis-owned
"Nine Cars" - a period of time
when Leffler won his second
and third USAC National
Midget driving titles in 1998
and 1999. Friday night at
Wayne City, East was on the
wrenches again, making the
calls that worked in Brady's
favor to earn the victory in the
event honoring Leffler whom
East won 12 races with
between 1998 and 2000
"I was at Bob (East's) shop,"
Bacon recalled. "He told me