Ill-Timed Breakdown: Richard Rawlings Beats Death!

Just after I completed this post, I got word that earlier today, Richard Rawlings’ Escalade-powered Chevy Caprice broke down while coming through Death Valley. Apparently, the almost-donk had been running a little hot—but achieved an indicated 134MPH!—before the brand-new fuel pump took a dump. The Chevy coasted to a stop 50 miles from civilization in an area with no cell service, but as luck would have it, there was a phone and emergency shelter within sight. While the occupants waited for a tow truck, an inspection revealed that the custom pump assembly was running off a unit designed to be mounted inside the gas tank, where it could be cooled by the fuel, and not inside a toasty engine compartment. Unfortunately, the tow driver who responded to distress call was reportedly a gigantic prick, and would only agree to take the crippled car 50 miles. To top it off, instead of letting Richard and co-driver Aaron ride inside the cab—like, um, every other tow driver in history would have—he made them sit inside the Caprice as it sat on the flatbed. How lame is that? Currently, the puke green machine is at West Coast Customs—which is just a few blocks from the hotel where the Bullrun drivers are staying—and Aaron is going to head over at seven AM to see if he can get this puppy back on the road. Keep you fingers crossed for them, and stay tuned!