PKRA Race #5 Shifter results and commentary
Track configuration – Full track, counter clockwise
Date: October 26, 2008
Qualifying
This was going to be my first race day with some new added responsibilities. The previous race I had started doing a prayer before each event and that went over great, but this race I was taking on the responsibility of pictures for the NBoundZ website and the PKRA website, so I was trying to coordinate award pictures and getting back and forth from the pit to the track to capture photos.
The day started off with us setting up camp next to Steve “Razzle Dazzle” Randazzo’s rig (Razzle Dazzle Camp) and getting set up for the day. Things were going great, until I decided to get in my kart. The first practice uncovered that I had a broken bead on my right rear tire, my tire went down in the kink in the back stretch. That caused me to change my pants after practice and it would send me into a frantic mode trying to fix it. Thankfully, Curtis Ruth of Innovative Karting took care of the problem for me, so I was good to go. The driver’s meeting had a different feel, Randy (race director) was setting it straight, there were several issues that needed to be addressed before us going out on the track, but nothing was too surprising. Bottom line, this is racing, take it seriously and follow the rules, plain and simple. I got some good pictures of the awards and the group that showed up for the prayer before the race encouraged me in our mission of boldly professing our faith in Christ at the track. Again, things were going great until I got into my kart. I went out to qualify and things seemed to be fine after the first lap, but when I came to the end of the straightaway after lap one, I lost spark and the engine stalled and I slid off the track. This seemed vaguely familiar, I was hoping I hadn’t blown a motor. Fortunately, it didn’t slow down Chris Fosso and Steve “Razzle Dazzle” Randazzo too much. Steve was going so fast he laid down the fastest lap in for the rookies and was still able to wave at me as he passed by me each time. Chris was trying real hard to get a good time, but was forced to slow down for the yellow, just as Steve was, but he didn’t wave.
When we got back to the pit, Chris and Steve leaped into action to try to figure out was up. We immediately realized the motor was fine, we had just lost spark. Since Curtis was qualifying, Dave Van Gordon came over and wowed us with his ability to fix the problem. It came down to a poor connection in the ignition box, an easy fix, once we figured it out. Dave also fixed my tach sensor. I was super appreciative of the help and I would be ready for the heat race, well until I got into the kart….
In the meantime, my wife brought hamburgers and hotdogs and Gary Young stepped up to the plate and started grilling a mean lunch for the camp. We ate and made our way to the grid for the heat race. The front runners of the shifter class was flying in qualifying, there would be a battle in the front too, they were only separated by 2 tenths of each other.
Qualifying times from MyLaps.com
Place No. Name Best time In lap Best speed Diff Gap
1 36 Eric Wuestenhoefer 45.784 2 62.904
2 16 Trenton Gentile 46.473 3 61.971 0.689
3 24K Kyle Hathcox 46.762 2 61.588 0.978
4 98 Jason LeVeque 46.962 2 61.326 1.178
5 95 Steve Randazzo 49.421 2 58.275 3.637
6 61 Chris Fosso 49.712 2 57.934 3.928
7 35 Clayton Peck 52.381 1 54.982 6.597
After filling our bellies for lunch it was time for the first heat race and Gary Young took over photo duties for me while I was out on the track. We headed out on the track and immediately there was drama. Eric Wuestenhoefer, who was on pole, lost his muffler. Luckily for him, the confusion caused the group to line up incorrectly three times and they ran us around the bullpen three times allowing Eric to get his kart fixed and lined up in the back of the group. I got a clean start and had a perfect view of Eric dirt tracking it around all of the rookies and get in the mix of it with the front runners. What an awesome move! After the race, Eric said he didn’t even realized he dropped a wheel on the start, maybe he didn’t, maybe that was rubber smoke I saw! The heat race was a great confidence builder for me in the new kart, I finally wasn’t getting pulled on the back stretch. I was all over Chris Fosso the entire race, a couple of times we traded paint (stickers). I tried my hardest to get around him, but Chris did a great job of defending his line. It was a clean race and due to us running so close together we caught Steve “Razzle Dazzle” Randozzo in the last couple of laps. According to Chris Fosso, Chris was all over Steve for the last couple of laps, but there was some disagreement on the term “all over” . Either way, we all had a great time. Rumors were spreading, someone had been DQed for being too light, the drama was unfolding. Eric had also made it back to second place after starting in the back, an incredible feat considering the limited passing opportunities in this direction and configuration. After a download with the rookies on the heat race, I grabbed my camera and headed out to capture some photos.
Heat Race from MyLaps.com
Pos No. Name Laps Total time Diff Best time In lap
1 24K Kyle Hathcox 8 6:18.256 46.889 7
2 36 Eric Wuestenhoefer 8 6:18.713 0.457 46.378 8
3 98 Jason LeVeque 8 6:20.587 2.331 47.008 8
4 95 Steve Randazzo 8 6:40.092 21.836 49.001 8
5 61 Chris Fosso 8 6:40.858 22.602 49.147 8
6 35 Clayton Peck 8 6:41.304 23.048 49.143 8
Not classified
DQ 16 Trenton Gentile 8 6:20.195 47.109 3
There was a lot of smack talk going on in the Razzle Dazzle camp, so the Main was going to be a good time. The start was very interesting, I got by Chris Fosso and Trent was held up by some sketchy counter moves between Chris and I. Eventually Trent got by Chris and then about a lap later he got by me. In the meantime, Steve had slipped away with the front runners and stayed with them for a couple of laps. The gap was huge between Steve and I and I had Chris poking in on me everytime I bobbled. Chris and I diced it up the whole time, but I never let him by. Steve raced an awesome race and proved he would only need a little more time in the shifter to start running with the front of the group. After the race, Chris and I agreed we had never worked so hard for second to last and last, but it was a total blast. The next club race is on the same weekend as NASCAR at PIR, so Steve and I won’t be able to make it. I guess Chris may win the unofficial “rookie of the year” by default and there isn’t much we can do about it.
The Main from MyLaps.com
Pos No. Name Laps Total time Diff Best time In lap
1 36 Eric Wuestenhoefer 12 9:19.984 46.423 5
2 24K Kyle Hathcox 12 9:24.978 4.994 46.774 6
3 98 Jason LeVeque 12 9:27.816 7.832 46.774 6
4 16 Trenton Gentile 12 9:35.967 15.983 47.027 3
5 95 Steve Randazzo 12 9:55.228 35.244 48.536 2
6 35 Clayton Peck 12 10:01.453 41.469 49.533 4
7 61 Chris Fosso 12 10:02.013 42.029 49.168 3
Shifter 2008 Fall Point Standings
Standing # Name Total
1 24 Kyle Hathcox 899
2 36 Eric Wuestenhoefer 830
3 61 Chris Fosso 669
4 35 Clayton Peck 654
5 00 Michael Jimenez 531
6 99 CJ La Due 336
7 98p Jason LeVeque 311
8 12 Wayde Bloedorn 265
9 95 Steve Randazzo 265
10 42 Harley Owen 184
11 53c Dave Van Gordon 148
12 16 Trenton Gentile 147
13 67 Todd Snyder 146
14 31c Joe Johnson 119
15 0 Daryl Choby 119
16 1 Russell Errigo 109
17 53c Nicky Freytag 0
Written by Clayton Peck
