WKA Sprint National
Jacksonville, FL
Dec. 28, 2000

WKA Sprint National
Jacksonville, FL
Dec. 28, 2000

I practiced all day Saturday and part of Sunday before Christmas getting the kart set up just right. I turned a 36.2 (the fastest I've ever turned) and decided to stop there.

So of course what did it do on race day? RAIN RAIN RAIN. It was just nasty weather. Unfortunately I've never raced in the rain in Jacksonville on anything but slicks, so this was a new experience. Plus they changed the format of our races. We are now what they call a "qualifying" class. Which means we go out in groups and run lap times and that is how we qualify for the heat race. Well, they took the top 25 times from the qualifier and then had a consultation race for the remaining eight. I was the 26th fastest. So I started on pole for the consultation race. There was something wrong with my carburetor and I came off of the track after the fourth lap.

I was pretty disappointed, but lucky for me they were only taking the top five and only five of us showed up on the grid. So that meant I started 30th, dead last, for the heat race. We went back and changed motors to get ready for the heat race.

I started last and was able to stay on the track (unlike many others) I finished 20th in the heat race, so that is where I would start for the feature.
The carburetor started acting funny again on the warm-up laps of the feature and I had to lean it all of the way down to get it to run, but it wasn't running hot, so I let it ride. I bullied my way back to my starting position just in time for the green flag. I got an okay start and was pretty competitive for the first five or six laps. Then the handling started going away or the tires, I'm not sure which. But #41 and I had a good race. He kept trying to pass me in the turns but had nothing for me on the straight.

Then the leaders caught us. The next thing I knew first place was passing me. Then I got the blue flag (move over) so I looked around and second-fifth were still a good ways behind me. I went another lap (no flag this time) and never saw them. Then near the end of the straight I got hit from behind so hard it snapped my neck all of the way back. As if that wasn't enough then they hit me again and spun me out. I guess if you can't pass, hit em. Anyway, the kart kept running and I pulled it back on the track and kept going.
All in all, I finished 18th, which is about average for me at a national. I just wish it had been dry!!