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Success in Texas

What a great time we had in Texas. First off I would like to thank the Kyle Beattie team for their help on making the trip a success. Well, racing on dirt was not what I expected at all. I must say that keeping an open mind is a good thing otherwise you can really miss out in life. I didn’t think we would ever race anything but asphalt but Kevin and Angie loved the experience of oval racing on dirt.

Most of the evening on Friday was practice, practice, and more practice. Although they were a little cautious at first they used their experience and quickly adapted to the slick dirt track.

Saturday started with more practice, heat races, and then the feature event. Track position for the heat race was done by a number draw. Kevin drew third to last and Angie was second to last of 15 cars. The heat race started and it was clear that the coolest head would prevail. After watching many cars spin, go off the track, take the corners to hot and a few black flags, I enjoyed watching Kevin win the heat race. Angie was not far behind and finished in the top 5.

Much to my surprise as the feature races were about to start about 4000 race fans packed the arena. The evening started with a Pit Party where all of drivers brought the cars to the infield and the fans came out to get autographs. It was cool to watch the little kids expressions as they approached the cars and drivers. Lifetime memories for some I am sure.

The legend cars took the field as the main event and had about a ten lap warm-up. Looking up at the fans and then back at the cars and seeing Kevin on inside pole was about as anxious I have ever been. The green flag was waived and the race started. Kevin did a great job holding first for about 8 laps and then slipped back a position or two. It was an edge of your seat kind of race, with something happening at all ends of the track at all times. Kevin even survived an intentional nudge that put him into a spin. Quick thinking, clutch work, and using his shifter kart experience he spun the car into a full 360 and kept it running to lose only one position. Angie did a great job and really poured it on and gained many track positions during the race. I was really impressed with how she handled the extremely aggressive moves put on her during the race. She held a text book line for most of the race and put many of the more experienced dirt racers in their place. End of the race would have Kevin in 3rd and Angie in 6th.

Jim Donahue

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