Pinch Me! Am I dreaming? I just won another
state race! This is awesome!
I got to the track early Saturday morning.
Like last week, we decided not to go to the track for Friday night practice.
We went out for the first practice and the kart was tight. The same
thing that happened last week happen this week too. We had put the kart
on the scales at home on Friday and the cross was high so we adjusted
it back out. Then, after the first practice we put it back on the scales
and it was gone again. We put the cross back in and the kart was a lot
better.
The last time we were here we were loose
but we thought that the track would come in and we would be fine. So,
we didn't change anything and waited but the track never came in. Like
before, we were loose again but this time went to softer tires and the
kart was perfect. Then my crew chief started worrying about the track
coming in and that we would be too tight so he put back on the hard
tires and went up a little on air pressure. That was really a handful
to drive! It was all I could do to keep the kart on the track. Funny
thing was though, we were a little faster like that than before.
When qualifying came the track was faster
than it had ever been all year. In the last practice we were turning
laps over a 1/2 second faster than when we were here in the spring.
We decided to go with the soft tires for qualifying in heavy but went
way up on air pressure and that wound up hurting us a little. We qualified
3rd. In light we went down a little on air pressure and did a little
better qualifying in 2nd.
Then the first race came. I started behind
the pole sitter and had planned to just get on his bumper and ride for
5 or 6 laps and then hope for something to happen so I could pass the
lead. We tried 3 times to start the race and then they started us in
single file. Turned out that that wasn't a problem because, on the first
lap I passed the 2nd place kart and on the second lap the first place
kart went a little high coming out of turn 4 and I went by him for the
lead. Like last week, I ran a low line and protected my back door. The
2nd and 3rd place karts were racing for 2nd and occasionally one or
the other got up on me for but couldn't make the pass. I held on and
lead the last 18 laps to win the race. Can you believe it! 2 state race
wins in a row!
The next race was a little different. I
was starting on the outside pole. We tried several times to start the
race and couldn't but do you think they would let me go single file?
No way! FInally we got the thing under way and I fell in behind the
3rd place kart and it looked like I was going to repeat the prior race.
The only thing was that the track had gone away a little and we probably
should have changed tires because the kart was little too free. I was
doing pretty good though and actually got the lead on about the 5th
lap. Then, the second place kart got under me in turn 3. I tried to
hold my line coming off the turn but the other kart caught me in the
left rear tire and spun me around. That brought out the yellow. Now
at some tracks the leader gets his spot back, at others both the karts
involved go to the rear, but when they lined us back up they put me
in last (12th) and the guy that spun me in first!
On the re-start I got around one kart and
passed 2 or 3 karts on each of the next couple laps. I found myself
in 5th at around lap 15. It looked like I might actually go to the front
again but then I got to racing with the 4th place kart and we swapped
positions a couple times and did quite a bit a rubbing. That slowed
us down and the leaders pulled away. I finally got by and moved into
4th where I finished the race. That was a tough race.
Once again, I want to to thank all the people
that have helped me this year. 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 have given 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, this wraps up my 2002 season. I think I
did pretty good. I finished 3rd in both light and heavy in the FKA Series,
same as I did in the WKA Florida Divisional Series. I sure learned a
lot and had a lot of fun. I'll be going to a couple of money races this
fall to try my hand at Jr. Sportsman II before next
season starts in December and then we'll be going to the banquets
in November to pick up my awards. I'll have full details along with
picture of both here at my site so check back and stay in touch!
