July 19th, Northern Ohio Burris Speedway Series #4-Toledo


Results

Heat 1A (10 laps): Started-1st, Finished-1st
Heat 2A (10 laps): Started-6th, Finished-4th
Feature (20 laps): Started-5th, Finished-5th

This weekend we finally got to run a race at Toledo Speedway withOUT the threat of rain. We were there to run the 4th race of the Northern Ohio Burris Speedway Series. Going into this weekend, we were sitting 4th in the points, and with a good run, we were hoping to move up a little. We had 11 karts entered in the class, so the decision was made to run two heats, an A and B, of 6 and 5 karts each. Then, from the finishing positions in the separate heats, the starting positions for the 11 kart feature would be set. I drew a pretty good pill, so we started on the pole for Heat 1A. Throughout hot laps, the kart was a little loose, so we made some adjustments that we thought would tighten it up. I must say, we hit the nail right on the head because the kart was just a little loose in the beginning, but tightened up as the laps progressed. We ended up leading flag to flag, and came home, if I'm not mistaken, with our first ever heat win at Toledo! We decided to make a very minor adjustment, 1/8" of tire movement, for the second heat though, since we would be starting in the back. We hoped to start the kart off a little more loose, so it be fast early, and tighten up by the end. Well, our calculations were a little off because the kart started off loose and just kept getting looser. We were able to get up to 4th, but couldn't pull underneath to get by the 3rd place runner. So, with our heat finishes we ended up started 5th in feature. That was right behind series’ point leader Kent McCloskey. Starting second was Bobby Gindlesperger, who is also 2nd in points, and 3rd place in points, Seth Schneider, started 9th I believe. The first start of the feature was wild and crazy. There were karts going everywhere, but I think we ended up around 4th. We had to have a complete restart though because of something that happened behind us. The restart was a little less hectic, although they did make it 3-wide ahead of me coming off the 2nd turn. Everyone made it through alright on the first lap, but the second lap; someone got out of shape, and two of them got together. They slowed down enough that I was able to quickly dive under them to go into 3rd. We ran there for the next 7-8 laps as we were reeling in the 2 front runners. However, Kent was able to get past me. I fell in behind him to try and get to the leaders faster. But, another kart, Scott Bross was able to slip under me off of the 4th turn. I followed him as close as I could. If fact so close, that I didn't see the caution come out because of a spin ahead of us. We made it through ok, with only me bumping Scott when he slowed up. We found out later that Kent and Bobby had gotten together with Bobby spinning. Well, they ended up giving Bobby his spot back even though he caused the caution! I still don't understand this. It is VERY COMMON KNOWLEDGE that in racing, anyone who causes or is involved in a caution they go to the tail of the field on the restart. At the very least, Bobby should have restarted last, and even if they felt Kent did something on purpose, then he should have gone to the tail too. Either way, it would have really helped us in points. Anyway, Bobby got his spot back and we restarted 5th with 3 laps to go. That's were we ended up because as I tried to make the pass on Bross, the kart behind me made a move under me. I gave him room, but he couldn't make the pass, and by that time, I gave up a lot to Bross. I made it back up to him, but couldn't get around him by the checkers because the kart was a tick loose in the middle of the turn. I'm not exactly sure who won the race. We finished 5th, and came home ahead of Seth, so we made up some points there. Our next race will be the 5th race of the NOBSS at Barberton on July 27th. Racing will be starting somewhere around noon. I have some things in the works right now, and will probably be making an announcement sometime soon. Oh, I almost forgot, we were allowed to run the Animal in practice and without any sort of set-up in it, ran laps half a second faster than the flathead. Have I mentioned I love the Animal? Oh also, congratulations to Brian and Becky Kremer on their marriage this week-end!
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