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I knew it! I just knew it! I can win these races! Oh! Was this the best! I want to tell you the last part first but I guess I better start out with practice like I always do.
Well, for one thing, we didn't go up for practice on Friday night like we usually do. My Data Acquisition Specialist and Sandwich Maker (Mom) has been real busy at the job she does when we aren't racing. She just couldn't get off early on Friday so my Crew Chief made the call to head for the track early Saturday morning instead. We got up at 4:00 am and got to the track just as they were opening the gates at 7:00.
We set the kart up on Friday night but in the first practice, even thought the track was slick, the kart was tight. Now, my Twister SS is NEVER tight! We put it back on the scales and seems that something happened and all the cross was gone! We dialed in the cross and headed out for the second practice.
In the second practice the kart was a lot better but it was loose in the center of the turn. I told my crew chief about it and he said he knew just what to do. Back on the scales for a little adjustment to the caster and we went back out for the 3rd and final practice. The kart was perfect!
In qualifying we were the forth class to go out so we got to see a how other karts were doing to help us with our tire selection. We qualified 2nd in both light and heavy.
In the first race (heavy) I started on the outside pole and tried my best to stay with the pole sitter. Funny thing was, usually they go single file after you try to start the race a few times and fail. We had 3 re-starts before we got the race underway but they kept lining us up side by side. So much for lucky breaks! Anyway, when we finally got things underway I slipped up and had to fall back in line in 5th. The race from there was pretty un-eventful. Jordan Dill won the race followed by Barry Ownby in second and me in 3rd and that's how we finished the points standings for the year too. Congratulations to Jordan on winning the Jr. Sportsman I Heavy Championship.
Now for the best part... In the second race I started on the outside pole again but this time, with a little help from the kart behind me, I got out ahead of the pole sitter and took the lead in the first turn. From there on I drove the race of my life! I knew that if I slipped up coming off the turns or drove a little high going in, they would pass me, so I drove as low as I could on every turn, every lap. Now it's rare that we get a caution in a state race. Usually, you have to be unconscious and laying in the groove for them to do that, but not in this race! 4 times, due to karts spinning or breaking down, they threw the caution and 4 times I got a good jump on the restart and held on to the lead. Turned out that the cautions actually worked in my favor because that bunched up the slower karts behind me and I never had to deal with lapped traffic. When the checkers came out it was for me this time! I finally won a state race!
I want to to thank all the people that helped me get this win. First I want to thank God for giving us all a safe race and a safe racing season. Then, I have to thank Rohn Moon for giving me great engines, Twister for a great kart, McKenzie Racing Concepts, M & M Performance Bodies, Digatron, and HMS Tire Conditioners for the parts and supplies they gave me throughout the season, and last but not least, my Mom and Dad for giving me the chance to live a boy's dream.
Well, I have one more race in Sportsman I before I have to move up to Sportsman II. This weekend Travis Carter moved up to Sportsman II and won the race! Way to GO-Travis! They say winning gets a little easier after you get your first win. I sure hope they are right! I got a feeling that it still won't be any easier in Sportsman II though. Oh well, I love racing regardless of where I finish. The people I meet, the new friends I make, the things I learn, and the chance to help others makes this a really great sport. Don't get me wrong though, I still want to win races, now more than ever!
