09/07/2022
Crandon race report
The Crandon race, for me, looked different than any other race has looked before.
I wasn't driving a race car this weekend. For the first time I was in the right seat A.K.A the wrong seat. My original plan for going out to Crandon was too ride with
Since brought me out and was letting me sleep in their stacker trailer. I was earning my keep by working on their race cars in-between practice sessions and heat races. Brent got 2nd place in 4800 practice/qualifying session and got 5th place in 4400 practice/qualifying session, and I got into the top 12 in 4400.
The parade was on friday, so that made for a fairly relaxed day. Brent would race a heat race in the afternoon, but other than that it was a slow day which when it comes to a race weekend is always refreshing. Brent took 1st in his heat race which made the night one for celebrations.
Saturday came with a bit more pressure, Brent had the 4800 main race and Brett, John, and I had the 4400 main, I was in the hot pits for the 4900 and EMC race for Jake Versey and Brent Harrell, and Rick Lavezzo. After those races I ran down to hop in with John Grounds. I got belted in and got ready to take the green flag for the 4400 main, this would be the first time I have sat in a race car for a green flag since KOH.
Not only that, it was the first time I have ridden in a 4400 car and it was a dream come true for more than one reason. I have always looked up to John and I also have always wanted a Miller chassis and getting to ride in one only makes me want one more!
Although as many of you know by now, the 4400 race didn’t go according to anyone's plan. Sunday came and everything that happened the night before was unveiled and it was nerve racking to say the least. All I could do is keep telling myself that, thinking about things like that for too long can send your mind to some dark places. I have been in this mindspace before and overcoming it is no easy task. The last time was after I was told that I had a brain tumor the day I was leaving for KOH the first time. Burying myself in the race hustle is one way I have found that helps silence the nasty thoughts that come from something traumatic.
The Ultra4 race started with a parade lap in Honor of Zandy. The race for John and I was a blast! We made it through turn 1 clean, John was sliding the Miller chassis through the turns like a pro. We had a couple close calls that John saved perfectly, the best part of the race for me was on the what I believe was the 3rd lap we went through turn onee at 80mph and it felt perfect even though when we landed the second jump after turn 1 we landed completely flat and bottumed the car out, and literally knocked the air out of me.
I had never experienced anything like it before, I was fighting to breathe and now I am still having a hard time breathing but I want nothing more than to get back into a race car and do it all again!
