I have always dreamed about racing at Mid Ohio since I was a little boy and watched my dad crew for a race car driver there with SCCA. This weekend was the weekend that it was my turn, to live my dream and get on the track in my Miata for the first time ever.
Friday was practice day and I was able to find speed each and every time I was out there. By the end of the day I improved my time by 3 seconds.
Saturday was the day to get on track to race! We were running the club course.
I qualified 14th out of 19, and was ready for race time. Race time came, I got in my car and I was so excited to be racing at the Mid Ohio track for the first time. If I remember right I told my dad on my radio
"This is so exciting! I am actually racing at Mid Ohio. This is so awesome!"
Green flag flew, got a great start but got bunched up with a lot of cars, try to hang on but finished out my race in 14th, and had some great battles. My biggest accomplishment was I dropped a total of 3 seconds since Friday and I was only 2 seconds off the leaders, which is much better than I have been doing. Always room for improvement on my racecraft in the car, but I will get it figured out.
Sunday was not the best day for me, but not the worst.
I came home in 14th, but I did keep dropping my time again each time I was out on the track, just couldn’t keep up with the leaders because I still didn't have the speed. We were on the Pro Course today, and I just couldn’t get up to speed, which was partially my fault with me not pushing harder and over slowing the corners. Getting used to a car vs. a go kart can be a bit complicated, but I will never give up and will keep pushing as hard as I can at every race. I did have some great battles on track and avoided someone spinning out in front of me, which made the race fun and interesting.
I am overall proud of myself for improving all weekend long, but I know I must learn to trust my car and its handling, not over slow the car into the corners, more steadier hands and overall just my race craft in the Miata vs. karting.
Big thanks to my dad for everything you do for me, John Allen and Nathan Nicholson for the help and great advice, I really appreciate it.
Thank you to my sponsors and the people that help support me in my Miata! Mazda Motorsports Teen Mazda Challenge CRP Racing Nitro-Kart Carvantage Wright Graphic Design & Printing Motul Rock's Trailer Sales OGIO WELD Racing Trackdaytire.com Mazdausa Tarter Realty Auction & Appraisal Co. National Auto Sport Association
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