WKA FL Divisional
Naples, FL
July 29, 2000

This was the last race of the Florida Divisional Series for 2000. It was in Naples, which meant I left Savannah around 1:00 pm, met dad and we got to Naples around midnight Friday evening.

We got up at 5:30 and were ready and at the track by 7. My first practice went well, as did the second one. The kart was loose, but that was the first time I've had that problem in Naples in a long time. My motor turned 14.77 for the first time since "the wreck" in Charlotte. I think all along it was the chassis binding up the motor.

The first heat race I started on pole. What a surprise, since I can never draw better than last. Eddie (from Jacksonville) started second, Chris, #1, started third, #19 started fourth and Robbie, #11, started fifth. I got a good start and led the first four laps. Then Chris got beside me in turn two and passed me. Following him was Robbie, who nudged his way by. I stayed with them, but couldn't pass either one of them. I finished third.

We went in and I decided to change my exhaust pipe. The only problem was I had just been painted, and anything they paint, you can't change. Then dad and I got to thinking about it and couldn't figure out why the pipe should be painted, so I went and asked Vinnie, our tech guy. He said I could change it, so I did.

I started last for the second heat race. Chris started third, in front of me. I didn't ge a real good start, but good enough. Then as went into turn one #19 cut down on Chris and made him spin. Eddie was right beside me and I had nowhere to go. I barely hit Chris, but did hard enough for our tires to get tangled up. I started to roll myself back and Chris just picked me up off of his kart and we raced to see who could get going first. I did, and he rode behind me for another two laps before he got beside me going down the straight. We went into the banked, concrete turn at the end of the straight together, as well as the next right-hander, but he had me going into the left-hander that leads onto the front straight. Together we were making up serious time on #19, but weren't able to catch him. On the second to last lap I came around the turns onto the front straight and pushed a little too hard. I got both right wheels off of the track, but held onto it to finish dead last!

That put me in the prime starting spot of LAST for the feature. Robbie started first, Chris second, Eddie third, 19 fourth and then me. I knew it would be a chore getting by 19 because he drives erratic. It is as if he doesn't ever see anyone unless they are in front of him, and then he aims for their bumper! Eddie told me before the start that if I was in his way to just bump him and he'd move, at least he understood I was in this for points!

I got an okay start and held my position (as if it was hard) into turn three going onto the straight. I pulled out of it and pulled up along side Eddie. I out broke him at the end of the straight and moved up to fourth. I then set my sights on #19. I tried him in several spots, and every time I did, he chopped down on me. Finally I did the same thing to him as I did to Eddie and rode next to him the entire straight. Then we went into the turn at the end of the straight and I was almost by him when he chopped down on me. His front tire hit my back tire and sent me sailing. I thought I was going over backwards! I kept it going and only landed about four feet from the track. I was careful not to burn up my clutch as I got back on the track.

At this point I was mad, and if you've ever seen me drive mad, you better watch out! I caught #19 and passed him on the straight, quite decisively this time! I was running down Robbie, who was in second, but ran out of time to catch him. So I finished third in the race, fourth in the points.

It wasn't the result I was looking for, but I am so happy that the kart is like it is. The motor is great, the chassis is awesome. I was able to run flat out after the turn at the end of the back straight. The kart handled great!