WOW what a weekend I had at Stars Championship series at Pittsburgh International Raceway Complex!
I came home with my first podium finish in the KA100 Jr class, alongside some great competition.
My dad and I made a last minute decision to go to Pitt for the last Stars race so I can get more seat time in my junior chassis. I haven’t been to this track since 2018 when I was still in the Micro class, which is a big difference from my junior chassis.
The weather was rainy on Saturday so I had to qualify on rain tires, which I qualified 2nd, .097 seconds off my former CRP Teammate Danny Dyszelski.
Heat 1 I was still on rains and I finished in 3rd place after a great run with 1st and 2nd place.
Heat 2 we were on dry tires and I finished in 2nd place by .229 seconds with a great drafting partner/Nitro Kart teammate, James Overbeck.
Sunday was prefinal and final day and it was a nice, sunny day.
In the prefinal I finished 2nd place with some competitive lap times for having a broken chassis. Yes I said broken, Matt Lankford was looking at my kart after the race and noticed my bar next to my seat was broke so we had to go get it welded. It is probably all the weight on my chassis, about 80lbs worth lol.
The final came around and I started 2nd. In turn 1 I was still in second till about turn 2 or 3 another driver fighting for 2nd & 3rd place(already on lap 1) was trying to make the pass on me, but I stuck to my line and got pushed back to 4th. I kept pushing forward and I knew 1st place was too far ahead and that my best chance was 2nd place. I pushed so hard I caught the 2 kart draft and passed them for 2nd. I gapped them by almost 3 seconds and finished the final in 2nd place.
Congrats to Danny on his win/championship in the KA100 Junior class this season!
I am very proud of my accomplishments this weekend, especially since I just moved up and very new to this class. My goal was top 3 and I was able to accomplish that goal with the help of my dad John Grim, Matt Lankford, Greg Bell and Brent Crews.
Also big thanks to Comet Racing Engines for the fast engine, without it he wouldn’t be able to contend and Nick Tucker with Nitro-Kart for the support he provides to us on and off track since day 1.
Thank you, the series, for putting on a good event and the chili bash and Xander Clements with Kart Chaser for the live action feed and all the officials out there working their tails off to make sure we have good clean races.
Thank you to my sponsors for all the support you have provided to me and never giving up on me.. CRP Racing, Precision Karting Technologies, Rock's Trailer Sales, Mason Motorsports, OGIO, EVS Sports
Next up, club race at New Castle 10/17, possibly Buckeye Karting in Cincinnati 10/23 & 10/24 if the weather is okay and then Daytona in December.
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