103rd Street
Jacksonville, FL
Aug. 26, 2000

Local Series Race

This weekend we were back in Jacksonville! It was kind of crazy. I had a Girl Scout function to do in the morning, so it didn't look like I was even going to make it for the first heat race. Well, I did!! Dad talked them into making us close to the last race and I made it in plenty of time!

Dad drew a good number, so I started on the pole for the first heat race. Eddie, #88, started second. #89, a new guy, was supposed to start second, but since it was his first race, he wanted to start last, so Eddie moved up from 4th to 2nd. Matt, #5, started behind me. Greg, from TS Racing, started fourth and #4, Gordon, started fifth.

I got a good jump on the start and took the lead. On the second lap Eddie passed me on the straight. I wasn't sure where everyone else was because Greg is usually pretty fast, as well as Matt. So on the next lap I passed Eddie back on the straight. Then on lap four he passed me. It looked to me like who ever had the draft on the last lap was going to win. So I stayed behind Eddie and took the white flag. Coming out of the sweeper I left just enough room between Eddie and me. He moved to the inside and I decided to try the outside. It worked; I sucked right up to him and went around to take the checker!!

I had my work cut out for me in the second heat. I was starting sixth (last). I didn't get a great start and was stuck behind #89 for the first lap. As soon as we got on the straight I passed him. I had Matt and Greg in my sights. Eddie had already jumped out into the lead and I'm not sure what happened to Gordon. As we came around to the straight on lap three Greg pulled out pass Matt and I followed him. Greg got by, but I didn't. On lap four I pulled out from behind Matt to pass him. I was next to him when it looked like he was going to pull out too. I just stayed there and then it was like, ahh, I better brake. I did and managed to get past Greg at the same time. I tried hard to catch Eddie, but ran out of laps. I finished second. Since dad drew me a good number, I would start on pole for the feature.

By feature time my stomach was doing tricks. It was worse than a national race!! I calmed down and we pushed up to the grid. The temperature dropped about 10 degrees as the sun went down. I adjusted my air pressure and I was hoping I did enough!!

I got a good start and pulled out into first place. Apparently Greg got a good start too. He moved into second place. I never saw anyone around me. I just kept my foot in it. I was expecting Eddie to come around me at any time. I never saw him. Then dad gave me the signal that he wasn't that far behind. I just kept racing. On the last lap I must have held my breath the entire straight, and I never saw a challenge. I took the Checkered Flag first and gained 25 points on Eddie in the championship! Eddie finished second, Greg third and Matt fourth.

After the race I told Eddie and his dad that my stomach sure did feel a lot better, his dad just said, "wait until next time!"