Home sweet home
Virginia International Raceway (VIR) - Alton, VA
June 24-26, 2005

Usually I don't goto the practice day before the race weekends, but this time I went to help out a racer friend with learning the track. I head to the track alone on Thurs and meet up with Lee in the paddock and setup camp. I take my time and get out on the second session and follow Lee, then lead him around for a couple laps. I do this again and help him improve on his trouble spots and he picks up the pace by the end of the day.

Friday is the CCS regional races. I get to the track early and head out in morning practice. Turnout is pretty good and the GTL race is packed. Lots of SVs and thunderbike riders warming up for the National race. As tough as it usually is, I do well. I work through the SVs and the bike is running well. I try to catch Josh Day, but just can't do it, and finish 8th out of 26. Pretty good. That's it for the day so I head home and get some rest, as tomorrow is a big day.

Sat morning I get to the track and head out in practice. The bike is OK, but not as good as yesterday. First race is the CCS 125GP. I get a great start and lead the race through T3 till Brian Kcraget passes me into T4. He starts to pull away through the first lap, and then Stewart Aitken-Cade passes me on the straight for the start of lap 2. Sweet.. I'm still in 3rd.. we come around to T4, and we see the red flag. DAAAAAAMMMN. I was doing so well. Fuck!

We restart the race and of COURSE, I don't get as good a start. I pass a couple people and can't catch up to the lead group. I start to dice with Dave Celento for a bit, but once I show him a wheel, he puts his head down and he starts walking away from me... I try to catch up, and whilest doing so, I turn a new personal best time of 1:39.00. But Dave's ahead just enough that I couldn't catch up, and I finish 6th.

Next is LWGP. Another SV filled race.. similar to the GTL race, but I get stuck behind Kevin Weir and can't seem to get around him. While wasting time with him, Celento catches up and passes me. I sit behind him, hoping to get him to pass Kevin, frazzle him and leave the door open for me. We sit behind Kevin for a bit and Dave passes him, but I can't get though. Frustrated with the situation, I just chill and finish 15th.

The bike isn't running the best... it's barely revving out, but I have to work with what I got. Qualifying goes OK.. don't get any pull from anyone, but qualify 8th, and .45 seconds slower than last year. Place is good, but my time isn't. That's it for the day so I head home and get rest for the National race on Sun.

Ahhh Sunday, the big day. We get suited up and ready for the race. I get into my spot and the green flag drops. We start and I try to stay aggressive from the start. I do OK, only get passed by one or 2 guys. I try and stick with the lead group, but they slowly walk away. As we go around, I see the halfway flag, and am relieved as I start to get tired. I see Merle ahead and I slowly catch up to him. 4 laps left, I pass him, then he repasses me and we tango for a lap or so, and I find his weakspot. So I decide to forget the games, and sit and wait for his weakspot and pass him there on the last lap. However, as I'm about to, Joanne dives in under me and ruins my chance. FUCK!.. Now I'm screwed. As we go up the hill, I try to catch up to Joanne, hoping to follow her around Merle at the top of the coaster, but she dives in late and I don't have any room to follow so now I'm 2 down where I should be. DAMMNITT! I try 1 last time around the last turn onto the straight. I setup and go for it.. but I can't quite get him, and he beats be by 1/2 a bike length. Shit that sux. I finish 11th, should have been 9th. Later Joanne tells me that why I was tangled up with Merle, she was able to catch up, otherwise she would have never caught me. Damn that sux.

Despite the frustrations, not-the-best running bike, and SV-laden races, it turned out to be a nice weekend and some great racing. Looking forward to racing at Barber, one of our favorite, and best tracks to race on.