From Stephens view for ITB...

I had a great start and squeezed Tim Mullen out so he couldn't get up beside me (Sorry Tim, I had to or else you would have had me into 3!) My biggest goal of the race was to get ahead of my Dad in the white ITS porche on the start but all I was able to do was get up to his back bumper But I was still in the lead for the ITB crowd On the start I passed several faster cars but they all picked me back each lap. As each lap passed I also watched my water temps increase lap after lap. It was as high as 270 by the 4th lap so I started to take it a bit easy coasting and lifting and trying not to stay directly or close behind the cars in front of me. At the time I was still in first and had hopes to maintain 1st however, this wasn't for long. The other ITB cars did catch me and eventually pass me. I kept the tempature around 250 or so which is still very high but I still had hopes of finishing in 4th. The temps actually got spiratic changeing by 20+ degrees. Then shortly after I ended up blowing a radiator hose and coming in. Tim and Raymond (my awesome crew guys!) made some modifications to get me back on track. At that point our goal was to make 50% race completion to gain the valuable points needed for the Championship. Tim and Raymond did awesome making some repairs and I did get back on track to complete more than 50% of the race distance! While that was happening Julie Melbin had a bad wheel bearing ruin her debut in her new car and she had to pull off. (She did get fast time for all ITB cars!) My repairs were fast enough for me to get back out and finish enough laps to beat out Julies total laps by 1 and get me 3rd place! Tim Mullen and Matt Baldoni duked it out and Matt finished on top with Tim on his tails. I heard it was very exciting and they swaped positions lap after lap! I only wish I was a part of it!

Here is a video of the race from my point of view!
The start was pretty wild through turn 3 :eek:
http://www.vholdr.com/node/24317

Congrats on a great 1st weekend for Pro-IT and to all that did well,
Stephen Blethen
2008 TeamDI.com Pro-ITB Champion!