All American Clash FINAL RACE

What a busy week!  Didn't get much if any working out done thanks to events at night almost every single night.   Life will slow down some day right?  

Monday was my rest day since I had crammed 3 days of running back-to-back to back and needed a day off.  Tuesday was a new to us event Plates and Pours.   While we almost weren't allowed to participate since there was an invisible check in time that I never saw and we both work jobs (urgh), we finally were able to find someone and get our passports to begin our culinary journey.   Basically, you get a map, and every participating business has a drink and or a food.  Most places had some really yummy drinks and as someone who doesn't drink hard liquor, it hit HARD.  Plus, we got to go the fancy smancy speakeasy that is membership only in Manhattan and have some really tasty fru fru drinks that we would never order normally.  

All in all, it was a fun experience however, if none of the businesses have any of the foods offered at the event, what is the point?  At several places, we had very amazing food for them to tell us, yeah, we just made this for the event, sorry you won't ever get to try it again.  Okay.  

We also had football this week and unfortunately this team was really good, so Andrew got 0 playing time.  I get it and I am not mad because those kids looked like GROWN ASS MEN.  Seriously, what are they feeding these kids?  With the big race coming up I did NOT want him getting hurt.  If we race more next year, we may have to let football go and it makes me super sad :( I also may need two more jobs and to find sponsors to help fuel our fun next year!!!!

The weekend culminated in the last two races of the All-American Clash.  This is the series we have been traveling to all summer.  We had races in Tulsa that we didn't attend, Minnesota, Greenville IL, and then our home track.  We love this series because a) our track is in it but also b) it's on tracks and not parking lots.  Lots of kids love flat track racing and maybe Andrew would too but we love the value of him racing on a track.  Before NASCAR took over our youth program, all of the series were at home tracks and the home tracks made money off of the events.  Then everything moved to NASCAR tracks and guess who doesn't get the money anymore????  Now we have tracks going under because they can't keep kids in weekly races.  We have members who love flat track racing and who kick butt flat track racing and maybe Andrew would like it at some point, but we want our money to stay with the tracks and local clubs.  Anyway, off my soap box LOL.  

We came into our home track in third place in points for the Heavy 160 class by the skin of our teeth.  Again, we mainly were in that position because our teammate Noah's car kept breaking as he was usually in 3rd and we were in 4th.  I hate to win on a technicality. I know that is racing, but it still hurts my heart for Noah as he clearly had the faster car in several races.  

We had had our one and only practice with our white car this week and when we arrived at the track, a couple of club members were there and worked on his car and turned it into a rocket!!!! I wished we had had the other car there becuase they not only fixed our car, but they also explained the whys to both Tony and I and it made so much sense.  He went out and turned the fastest laps he had ever done in that car in the dark.  We were super excited to see what he could do.

National races are all about passing points in the heats.  This has not been our strong point in the past but lately, he had been passing like crazy.  It's best if you start in the back and work your way forward to get maximum points.  He drew P8 in a stacked heavy Honda class, so we told him to get to work.  He went from P8 to P4!!!!  This gave him a wonderful starting spot of P3 in the feature which helped him to get to P2 for the finish against some super awesome kids.   I am not sure why his podium picture looks like a mug shot though.  Go figure.

Heavy 160 was not working that night.  We made lots of adjustments, but last place in the both the heat and the feature was the best we could do. I figured that eliminated us from the overall points because his teammate kicked ass and took names and got a 2nd place finish and podium that was well deserved.

The second day was all about dealing with this newfound speed.  We ended up fourth in both classes, so one off of the podium.  I was SO proud of that finish though in heavy Honda because they battled to the very last lap.  Heavy 160 was thrilling as we finally got the car dialed in and he was battling for 2nd, but a tire losing air pressure and going flat made us end up last.  I am so excited for the last few races because this kid is ON FIRE!

The banquet was Saturday night at the track, and of course, I had to leave due to well, dogs.  My BRF had some obligations and wasn't around to let them out, so I had to leave as soon as the racing was done.  That was okay, Tony and Andrew were going to stay for the banquet to cheer everyone on.  I knew it was going to be close for the overall points but figured his teammate Noah had won and should have won.  I just happened to sit down at my computer after getting dogs taken care of and opened the final spreadsheet of points to see Andrew in 3rd place in Heavy 160?????  WHAT?  I quickly called Tony and told him to have Andrew at the awards to cheer on his teammates just in case it wasn't a fluke.  Y'all, he won by three points!!!!!

I've said it before and i will say it again.  I don't like winning just because our teammate's car broke.  I wish they could have tied for that award becuase Noah deserves it hands down. I know that part of racing is having your car ready to go and that is sometimes how it just happens, but dang it, I want them both to win because Andrew did pass cars and did well, but Noah had a rocket in every race. Andrew did have good parts to every 160 race, so I am going to remember that.  I am also going to look forward to next year and winning in both classes.  

  

To wrap this up because yeah, it's long, I would like to for my memoires make a bullet list of all of the things I am proud of for this year's clash series.  

• Winning 2nd place in Heavy Honda.  That class was stacked with awesome drivers, and he didn't let any of them scare him
• Going against kids that were mostly older and or in high school and not being intimidated
• Conquering a new to him track that was very tricky and again not just phoning it in in IL
• Lots and lots of passing in all races!
• Improvement in MN, a track that kicked our ass last year.  
• The heavy 160 class in MN where he was up 2nd place's butt the entire race
• Getting all the way up to 5th place in MN in heavy Honda after getting a bum call and being put to the back
• Driving a car with a flat tire like he was on fire

I am just so very proud to see the maturity and the improvement, and I can't wait till next year.  I am really loving watching him to come into his own and truly love racing.  I am so hoping we get at least one more year if not two in quarter midgets before he gets too big for his cars.  We have one large car waiting for him and may have to sell our other three to get a second large car.  If ya see me on only fans, mind ya business, baby needs racing stuff!

Have a great week y'all!