Jan 7, 20225 min read

KERSHAW SC TESTING MY MIATA TO RACING MY GO KARTS IN DAYTONA FLORIDA

We started at Kershaw SC where I got to test my Miata and boy was it a blast. It rained for 2 solid days, but at least I got some rain practice in. I can’t wait till I can start getting my license with NASA so that I can start racing in 2023, only because of my age falls in the middle of the race season. (See my previous posts with videos and photos)

Next we ventured off to Orlando to vacation for a bit before our 2 back to back racing weekends, where we went to Hollywood Studios and explored the town.

Daytona Kart week rolls around on 12/27, where we had setup day. I of course helped my dad (that owns CRP Racing) setup the tents and stuff for the team, to prepare for the upcoming days of racing and get my go karts ready to roll. My realistic goal for the weekend was to at least be in the top 10 or be somewhat known to be competitive.

12/28 was day 1 of the event where we had 3 practice sessions in each class along with qualifying for both days in both classes, so altogether I had to qualify 4 times.

Qualifying results in the KA class were great for my first national in the junior class.

Day 1 qualifying session I ended up 7th out of 32 and Day 2 I was 10th out of 32 by .136 off the leader’s time, so I was pretty proud of myself.

My qualifying results in the 206 jr class were not the greatest for me, but I had no draft and ended up by myself in the first session, but the second session was much better. Day 1 session I qualified 11th out of 28, with Day 2 session I qualified 6th out of 28 only being .265 off the leaders, which again is not too bad.

Day 2, 12/29 was prefinal and final day. My first class out was the KA class where I lined up 7th in the prefinal and fell back to 9th by the end of the race. My final was not much better with a kart spinning out in front of me, so it pushed me back to finish 19th by the end of the race. You can say I wasn’t very happy with those results, so I knew I had to go into the next race stronger.

Next class up was 206 Junior, where I started 11th. On the start I got pushed back to 14th but was able to recoup up to my 11th place spot again. In the final I lined up in 11th, with a good start I was able to get myself up to 8th, till another kart decided he wanted to battle me for the 8th spot which knocked us both down the line once again to finish 11th place. I was happy with my results because I was fast and was so close to the top 10, but knew I could do better.

Me just thinking to myself…. I will never understand some kids in racing. What is the point of fighting me for 8th position when we were both fast enough to push to the front to battle for first. I don’t know what some kids are taught, but they may want to start teaching them more racing techniques to win, not to finish in the top 10.

Day 3, 12/30 was prefinal and final and the last day of racing. My first class out again was the KA class which this time I lined up in 10th (on the outside), ugh. Start was good, I was probably up to 8th till someone spun out again right in front of me, guess what, this time it knocked me out and I couldn’t finish the race, so I finished last with a DNF. What a great day this is turning out to be…thinking to myself.

The final was okay, I had to start dead last so that was fun with 29 karts in front of me going into turn 1, which is always a fun little mess. I was able to get up to 26th, but that is all I had in me. Hey I did have the 14th best lap by myself so that is saying something…I guess hehe.

I know in the KA class I have a lot to learn with the different braking points and such, I just hope I can get there soon enough to be competitive again. I just hope my size doesn’t hurt me too much since I am still small and have to add like 80lbs of lead to my kart still, so you can say that is fun to wheel around all day J

Next class was 206 Jr where I had to start 6th, and which again is the outside line going into turn 1. I got a pretty good start even though I was pushed back to 7th, but then a freight train came back and pushed me back to 8th. Got to love the draft trains, they get you every time it seems.

In the final I lined up 8th, got another good start and got up to 6th, once again another kid had to fight for my 6th place position and knocked me down to 10th, I was able to salvage a 8th place spot at the end final which I was pretty ecstatic about till I showed up at the scale house. I was handed the lovely pink piece of paper that said I have a bumper penalty, which was caused by the kid that kept trying to knock me off the track, but I was the one that was assessed the penalty. I don’t know if it stuck because I am still 8th on the race hero app, so not too sure what that was about.

Here is one of my videos from Daytona Kart week in the 206 Junior Final. It isn't my best drive and I have some work to do to be the best I can.

Overall I am happy with my final results for my first big race in the junior kart.

I know as a driver I have so much more room for improvement and to improve I know I have to work hard and be willing to learn. I know I have a lot of work cut out for me over the next few years but I am ready.

Below are some photos off track. Me hanging with my friends Nash Gierke and Keelan Harvick and my little brother.