October 17, 2009 Last Points Race

This is the last points race weekend of the season. Again we have a makeup race so we'll be running one heat and two features. We were hoping to have a big field full of karts practicing for the Howler next week but just the regulars showed up for the Tiger Sprint class.

The track ran the make-up feature first and lined the karts up by points so we were starting on the pole. Justin started second and went real wide going into turn two and TJ drove underneath him to take over second spot. We ticked off a few laps driving around spread out pretty evenly in single file after Justin attempted a pass on TJ and lost some of his momentum. Justin quickly caught back up to TJ as Jack drove further away out in front. Justin spent the next 10 or 12 laps trying to make his way around TJ before finally making the pass with just a few laps to go. Jack was about a straight away ahead of them when he took the checkered flag for his 5th win in a row!!

The track went back to heat races to qualify for the final feature points race of the season. Jack started in last since he is the leader in the points standings. Jack drove too low coming off of turn 2 and gave up the inside lane to Justin Barry keeping him in second spot. Justin got loose coming out of turn 4 and turned right into the side of Jack as he was driving underneath him. This caused the two of them to lose all momentum to TJ but they kept going and the caution never flew. Jack got second spot from Justin after the accident and the two hooked up to chase down TJ. The boys fell to a little more than a quarter track behind but were able to reel TJ back into within ten kart lengths just before the finish. Checking over the karts before the feature showed that we had a bent spindle and the toe was knocked way out so even though we didn't get the heat win it was a great effort considering the condition of the kart.

The final points feature has Jack starting in second along side TJ Bleau, with Justin Barry in the third spot. Jack didn't get a very good start and Justin sailed right by him to take the second position. Justin made a pass attempt on TJ on lap one and missed, losing some momentum and falling back from TJ by a few kart lengths. They pretty much drove nose to tail until about lap 12 when Justin made the pass on TJ for the lead coming out of turn two. With 4 to go TJ made the same move on Justin coming out of turn 2, but it appeared that Justin didn't see him and half way through turn's three and four Justin drove straight up the track and off the exit ramp. Thankfully no one was hurt. Those Barry boys know how to save it off the exit ramp!!

Caution flew with TJ in the lead followed by Jack and then Justin for a single file restart. Jack stayed glued to TJ's back bumper for three laps before he set up the perfect pass as he took the white flag. Jack ducked under TJ coming off of turn 2, drag raced neck and neck down the back stretch and came out in front out of turn 3. TJ ducked down to tuck in behind Jack but Justin was already diving in there and the two of them spun out coming out of turn 4 as Jack took the checkered flag for his 6th win in a row. What a way to end the season!!

October 10, 2009 - Triple Crown Event

The Wild Thing Karts Triple Crown Event rolled in to town this week. Unfortunately Jack did not attend the event down at Stafford so we are already behind in the standings. This week's Triple Crown Feature also counts as our regular program race so we will be running the Triple Crown at Route 106. We also have a makeup race from August 22nd that we will be running today so we have a long day ahead of us.

Gates opened at 2:00 and we were there right on time. The pit area was already packed with trailers, a lot of which had come up for the Triple Crown. We got the pits set up, set out the scales and went to work. Everything looked good to go so we were ready to head out for first practice. Jack pulled out onto the track right behind one of the other karts and opted to stay behind him rather than risk passing and getting taken out during practice laps. The kart looked and felt good so we opted for no changes. For second practice we bolted on a new set of tires and went out to scuff them in. Jack pulled off the track before practice was even over.

The line-up for the make-up race was based on points as of the rained out date so Jack got the pole position. 5 extra karts signed up to race giving them an 8 kart field. Jack pulled out to an easy lead while the 15 of TJ Bleau and the 96 of Justin Barry battled with the 24 of Cornelius Flynn, the 29 of Danny Wesson and the 28 of Teddy Hodgdon. While the four of them did battle lap after lap Jack was able to drive further and further away from the group. Jack crossed the checkers about a half lap ahead of the field to take the win. A great start to the night!!

The regular program was to run time trials. Jack loves qualifying and usually does a great job. Because there was so much time between the previous race and our time trials we nearly missed the line up!! Jack went out last to qualify as the track was getting colder and colder, the tires had no heat in them, but he went for it. On his first lap he got a little sideways due to lack of grip going through turn 2 and still bested all other competitors by a tenth. His second lap was flawless and Jack took the pole!!

Jack started on the pole with the 28 of Teddy Hodgdon in second the 95 of Josh Gayman in third. Jack jumped out ahead of the 28 while the 95 and the 96 of Justin Barry followed him past the 28. Coming through three and four on the second lap the 95 of Gayman went way high and the 96 of Barry was able to duck underneath him. Jack had quite a decent lead on second place and continued to pull away to about a 12 to 15 kart length advantage. He maneuvered through the lapped traffic and maintained his lead when the caution came out for a spin at the end of the front stretch on lap 9.

The karts restarted single file and Jack and Justin hooked up and jumped out ahead of the field. The fourth place 43 of Devin O'Connell dove under the 95 of Gayman while the 24 of Mikey Flynn dove under both of them to take over the third spot. Jack and Justin drove further and further away while the field raced each other behind them. The 15 of TJ Bleau got into the mix taking over the fourth spot while the 43 reclaimed third. Jack pulled Justin right between the lapped karts of David Gayman and Gabriel Camuso. The 43 brought out the second caution when he followed the 29 through the lapped karts and tried to go around the 29 at the exit of the corner. The 43 drove over the nose of the 29 and the two of them ended up in the outside wall.

The race restarted on lap 12 with the 106 boys leading the way; 95J, 96, and 15. Jack and Justin again hooked up and took off but it would be short lived as the caution once again flew 3 laps into the run. They lined them back up for the final shoot out to the checkers. Jack and Justin rode nose to tail for much of the last five laps maneuvering through traffic with relative ease. Justin made an attempt on the last corner to take Jack at the line but Jack was able to hold on for the win.

Jack's two wins tonight moved him far enough ahead in points to clinch the 2009 Championship!!