3 SPOTS AWAY FROM A PODIUM AT CKNA EAST LANSING MICHIGAN REGIONAL EVENT IN THE JR CLASS!

This weekend there were a lot of ups and downs in the Junior class. It was a tough class which I knew going into, especially going up against the more experienced drivers in my class. The track was nice but very bumpy, tight corners and everyone passed you on the inside and outside line, no matter where you were on the track. This track made it hard to get ahead in position considering, I would come off the track with more marks on my go kart from other karts, because everyone treated you like you were bumper karts. It was very exciting but frustrating weekend at times, but here is a recap of my race weekend.

On Saturday morning warmup I was the fastest which lined me up to go first in the qualifying session. I qualified 5th with no draft.

Heat 1, I instantly got pushed into the grass and pushed back to 17th, but due to my front bumper coming off I had to come in and didn’t get to finish. (DNF)

Heat 2 I started the race in 25th and worked my way up to the 17th spot, but still hard to get around some kids that use your kart as a battle ramp.

The final race I started 17th, worked my way up to 12th but since my back bumper came off this time, I lost 2 laps and was labeled as finishing last.

Saturday was just a really bad day, no matter what I tried to do and how hard I pushed, I would somehow just end up in the back. On a good note, my teammate and buddy Eli finished 2nd and Addy finished 6th.

Sunday once again I finished morning warmup being the fastest, which I was kind of hoping that I didn’t because it kind of felt like a curse.

Qualifying comes up, they spread the field out, I am by myself with nobody around, my teammate Addison was by herself, and Eli was able to have a drafting partner by the end of the session. My friend Eli was able to pull off the fastest time, I finished out in 4th place, which still isn’t bad for the kids I am up against, and Addy finished out 10th.

Heat 1 rolls out with me starting in 4th place, it was a good race overall, except for the fact that someone went over the back of me in a turn, but it didn’t slow me down, and I finished the race in 5th.

Heat 2 rolls out with me starting 5th, which it is normally good to be in inside line, but not at this track. Turn 2 it is better that you are on the outside line so that you don’t get pushed out in the grass going into turn 3. What do you think happened to me in turn 3? I got shoved wide into the grass and lost quite a bit of spots and finished out the race in 10th place.

The last race of the weekend and I started 10th, which is good because it was an outside line, I knew I had to make this one count. We come down to the checker flag and into turn 1, someone right next to me on the left gets spun out and takes out almost ½ of the field behind me. I luckily got out of that safely and raced hard. I got myself up to 8th but fell back for a few laps to 9th, but I was able to battle on the last lap and raced for my 6th place spot to the checker.

After today’s results, I felt more confident in my driving ability in the Junior class, AI am glad that I got to get the feel of the drivers and class before the big CKNA Grand Nationals in October, since this will be my first Junior 206 Grand National race. I know I have some work to do with the aggressiveness, but I will get some practice before then to prepare.

Thanks as always to my sponsors for supporting my dreams, without you guys I wouldn’t be where I am today.

Next race will be a club race at New Castle Motorsports Park, where I may try out my X30 engine or race my KA100.