August 9, 2008

We were all geared up to go racing this week after having missed so many lately with all of the rain. Looking to the sky we saw nothing but blue skies and big puffy clouds so it looked as though we might actually get some racing in this week.
The track was packed. Looks like everyone was either ready to go racing again, or ready to prepare for next weeks NESPS race at 106. Either way there were a lot of karts at the track this week. Jack had 5 in his class; Justin Barry, Nick Curdo, TJ Bleau, and Dan Gayman.
First practice Jack was pushed out first but had to take a caution to allow the final two cars to enter the track. Jack easily maintained his position up front throughout the practice session but discovered a problem with the car so he had to miss second practice for repairs.
Jack started last in the heat race and had to work his way to the front if he wanted a good starting position for the feature. He made a really clean pass around Nick on lap 2 and went to work on Dan in the 08. He was having a little trouble setting up his passes and drove in a little too early into the corner. With Dan being a relatively new driver and driving a somewhat erratic line, Jack was unable to drive underneath him in the corner before Dan started back down to the low line collecting Jack and bringing out the caution. The contact dropped Jack to the back of the field. Starting in fifth with less than 7 laps to go Jack tried to make his way back through the field. He made another clean pass around Nick on the restart and again went to work on Dan. He finally made the pass with 4 to go but was caught half a track behind Justin and TJ having been held up behind the 08. Running flat out he just didn't have enough time to get to the front runners and had to settle for third.
Jack loses the jump on the start and lines up behind the 96 and the 15 in a race for the checkers. Attempting to make a pass on lap 7 in turns 3 and 4 Jack goes under Justin and Justin just barely comes down the track bumping into Jack causing them both to spin out on the front stretch bringing out the caution. Both drivers get their cars righted on their own but Jack gets sent to the back of the pack with 8 laps to go for "having brought out the caution". 8 laps was just not enough time to make up that many passes and Jack came home third.