The weekend had it's ups and downs but it's one of those cases where you remind yourself to never give up no matter how bad things look. We practiced Saturday and finished the day looking like one of the fastest in the field, we were definitely confident going into race day. On race morning I was dialed and I put down my best qualifying session yet, I qualified 2nd of 14. It was a bittersweet feeling, you'd almost want to be 1st or 3rd and there is a reason why. My first heat ended in the first 50yrds.,  I was hung out to dry and put into the barriers. This was a bad feeling with how well we were running. With the result of the first heat being the start position for the main I was starting dead last!

    Looking like my series standing was blown from the start and starting at the back of the field the pressure was off and I went out there to see how far I could get up the field. It happened that the 3rd place qualifier (#4) also had issues in the heat race so we started at the back together and decided to "shake and bake" our way to the leaders, there was no other way we could catch them through traffic otherwise. The green dropped and I hung back waiting for the field to single file out through the first couple turns then I began to pressure each driver until there was an opportunity to pass. The #4 kart and I drafted our way past several competitors down the straight and were well through 5 drivers when an accident happened on the straight right in front of us prompted a red flag. (the wrecked driver walking away safely and the race continued)

   I didn't know it at the time but this at the time but this was just what I needed, the restart was single file and the group was once again nose to tail. I got a jump on the restart and went three wide into the first turn , passing 2. With my new found partner now stuck behind I was on my own to make my way to the front. I reeled in each remaining driver in front of me until I set my sights on the next pack of 3, 50 yrds ahead. As I got closer to the end, I realized it was the top three and I had worked my way up to 4th. I was getting closer and closer each lap in hopes I could reel them in as well, until I passed the flag stand  with the white flag waving, my heart sunk as I had closed so much distance but was not in the position to do anything. I was still going for it and counting down the turns on our 18th lap. All of the sudden I see top 3 karts ahead of me tangled entering into turn 8 of 12! I am coming up fast and pass them to take the lead! As it is happening, I am questioning if it really is, I pull onto the straight and look back both sides to see no one pulling on me.....I passed the waving checkered fist in the air....I just went from LAST TO FIRST! It was an amazing feeling and when I pulled into the scales it almost seemed like the crowd was more excited to see the race than I was driving it. What a rollercoaster race weekend. I went from no chance and now I am in top standings entering the remainder of the Gold Rush Championship Series.