April 4th, Columbus Motor Speedway-USAC Midgets
More details at the Columbus Motor Speedway website!!
Results
Columbus Motor Speedway, Columbus, OH (1/3 mile paved)
Qualified: 14.284 sec, 27th
Heat: Started-7th, Finished-7th
Feature: Started-12th, Finished-12th
Well, our first racing week-end is in the books! We headed to Columbus to run with the Big Boys of the
USAC National Midget series. Twenty-eight midgets signed-in for the National class. Even though it
was a sunny day, with the breeze it was still kinda chilly which made us prep the car (heaters and the
like) before hitting the track. It ended up being a somewhat long day too. The pits opened at noon,
but we didn't hit the track until 5pm. So, there was plenty of time to get everything warmed-up. We
knew we would be WELL out-classed, but I wanted to get the car out and have some fun. Throughout the
two practice sessions, we tuned the car faster and faster. The track is basically a cirlce, so we
were trying to keep the car from rolling onto the right-rear too much. The car would feel loose around
most of the track. Another thing that was challenging the whole night was that water was coming up
through the track in turn 4. The start of the season was quite exciting actually. When they threw
the green for our first practice, the car right ahead of me spun-out. Luckily, I was able to miss him
with no incident. For qualifying, they did something quite unique. We qualified in groups instead of
one at a time. We were given three green flag laps to get set the fastest time we could. Along with
keeping the show running, it's must less stressful for the competitors. Our qualifying time put us in
the 4th heat of the night. I was able to stick with the pack for the first couple laps. One of the
cars kept having his left-front brake lock-up on him though, so a smoke-screen would go up every time
going in to the turn. Needless to say, it was quite distracting, and I started to lose touch with the
field. There was a caution with a couple laps to go that got us caught back up, but I wasn't able to
get around any cars. The top four finishers from the heats went straight to the Feature. So, finishing
7th in our heat means we had to run the B-main event. We would have finished 6th or better to transfer
to the Feature. We didn't have much time between our heat and B. In fact I didn't even get outta the
car, but we were able to make an adjustment or two. Those changes helped a lot as we kept touch with
the field the whole race. On the start, two cars got together in-front of us which did put us back a
little bit. I was able to avoid everything and able to track down the next car. There was a pack of
about 4 of us racing hard most of the race. I was faster then a couple of them, but I had trouble
getting around the guy right in-frong of us. Finally, just past half-way through, I was able to come
off the 2nd turn under him, and he washed-up the track entering 3. I got past him and was able to
finish-up the race on the lead lap. Our 12th place ended our night though. I was happy the we kept
getting faster all night, and that we made it through the night with no damage. So, it looks like our
next race will be May 23rd at Mid-Michigan in Springport, MI. We'll be running the midget again, but
if there are changes in schedule, I'll let you know, and have it posted on the website. I have to
thank a BUNCH of people for coming out to the track for support as well! It was great to see familiar
faces helping us in the pits and cheering us on. In the pits: Rylee Stoner; Rustyn Stoner; Dale Solze.
And in the stands: my sister Shelley Lumby and her family Darren, Cody, and Kierra; my aunt and uncle,
Karen and Gary Layman; my cousin Chris Blacka and her family Jim, Connor, Shane, and Bryan; and Carrie,
Sam, and Gene (even though you weren't there, I knew you wanted to be) Lama! If I missed anyone, I'm
sorry, but again, thank you soooo much everyone!!
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