Modular Depot's Men In Black continue to have a stellar season.

As i pulled into the pits at Columbus Friday afternoon, late as usual, i went looking for base camp. It was easy to find, a long string of black cars (and one Mystic) tattooed with Modular Depot stickers. Everyone was getting ready for the first round of qualifying. The biggest buzz was can Factory Stock driver Steve Gifford set a record, qualify number one and pull off a long overdue win?

Round one "The Farmer" lays down an 11.48 @ 115.16, good enough to put him on the poll. But with two more rounds of qualifying on Saturday and some tough competition, would he be able to stay there? Second round he answers the call with the fastest pass in the history of the K&N Factory Stock class ... an 11.32 @ 118.49! Tensions are now high, Gifford has to back up his record setting run. Third round yields an impressive 11.45 @ 115, and Gifford is top qualifier.

And then ... the tear down. We all knew it was coming so the boys got work while Brandi and I made a late night pizza run. Everything went smooth, and they buttoned up the car in the morning. Steve had a bye in the first round of eliminations, where he backed up his record with an 11.39 @ 118.21! Ok, so now two out of three goals are accomplished, but the biggest of all was still looming in everyone's mind. Will he win it all?

Round two it's Gifford over Godfrey and the stage is set: Gifford verses current points leader Jeff Schmell in the final. It seemed like forever getting to the final round, as there was an endless sea of bracket cars. Tired, hungry and ready to go home, we waited for the announcement "Factory Stock to the lanes". Both cars pull around the tower, and i'm so excited and nervous for Steve i'm wondering if i'll be able to keep my camera steady. Smoke fills the air as the burnouts are completed. Ken lines Steve up and all i keep thinking is please let this happen! Pre-stage lights come on, and they roll in. Schmell trees Gifford but spins around the 60' mark. The race is on and i can't tell who's in front. The win light comes on in the left lane and Steve Gifford takes the win with an 11.40 @ 118.16!

Congratulations to Steve Gifford on his first win of the year and to the entire Modular Depot crew!

-Kelly Pelrine