What a long weekend in Springfield. Rain outs are never good for anybody and this weekend was full of rain. With all the rain, we did however get to race both our events, but they weren't your typical "Springfield" race tracks. It left everybody shaking their head and wondering where to start with set-up, etc.
 
Springfield ST, Part 1
 
As soon as we rolled into the pits and got unloaded saturday night, it started to rain. The IMDA was determined to get the race on and we rode practice and qualifying in and out of rain sessions. I ended up qualifying 24th or so. I felt pretty good in practice, but I just couldn't get a clean lap and ended up missing the front row by a few spots. Anyway, I lined up for my heat race on the middle of the 2nd row. I felt good and confident I could get up into the top 6 to make the main event. The first start, I passed a bunch of guys on the outside and worked my way up to 4th before the red flag came out. On the 2nd start, I didn't get the best jump and tried to swing around everyone the back stretch before I was taken out which brought out a red flag. Since the AMA was rushing to get the show in, they wouldn't give me time to start my bike after I fell. I was covered in mud and it was a struggle to kick it. After giving me about 20 seconds to start it, they told me to get off the track. I went into the infield, cleaned my boot off and started it on the 2nd kick before the race started. The race started and I went to the back of the grid and pulled onto the track only to get black flagged. None of this is important as the race was called during the 2nd heat due to rain. I think this was karma on the AMA for not giving everyone fair time to restart the race because they were rushing to get the show in.
 
Springfield Mile
 
I honestly did not think there was any way we would be racing the mile on this day. When we got up, the track was caked in mud and as the day moved on, I knew daylight would be our next enemy. We got into the pits at 3:00 or so and got ready to rock and roll. We got two qualifying sessions and were going to run a shortened program once again. I qualified descent, around 18th or so and I felt a lot better then my times showed. The track was really tacky and rough and the fast line seemed to be around the top of the track rather then the usual line off the guardrail. I ended up 5th in my heat race which put me on the 3rd row for the main event. I got a descent start in the main and for the first 5 laps, I kind of hung back in like 16th or 17th spot. I couldn't get a rhythm down and was riding a race all by myself. All of sudden I started clicking off some fast laps and I passed a couple guys and I could see the battle of what looked like Carr, Taylor, Cheza and someone else which turned out to be Bigelow a straight-away ahead of me. I ran some hard consistent laps and caught up to their draft by myself which took a good 6-8 laps. Once I caught them, I passed Bigelow and Carr in the middle of turn one and two and Cheza and Taylor down the back stretch, which put me into 10th place and I had Vance and Bergen in my sights with about 8 laps to go. As soon as I passed Taylor, going into 3 my bike started making a grinding sound and locked up on me going into turn 3. I ended up DNFing and ended up 16th place. What would of turned into 9-11 points turned into only 3. I was really bummed out, but I felt awesome. I ended up moving back into 19th in points, which is not 15th place where I would of been if I placed where I was running in the main, but its all part of racing and everyone has mechanicals in their career. Unfortunately we have had them the past two races, but what can you do.
 
Springfield ST,Part 2
 
This day looked to more of a sure thing then anything else all weekend. It was sunny and the track looked descent. I went out for the first qualifying session and I crashed. The 2nd session I went out and I was 8th fastest which put me 14th overall. The track was getting super dry as the day rolled on and the AMA didn't seem to care too much about track matietence. I was in a pretty mellow heat race number 2. I was confident going into it, but after watching the first heat, I got a little nervous. It looked like they were riding on ice without screws. I got a bad start which didn't help and tried to pass some guys up high in turn 3 and I almost low sided as the dust was built up very thick. I lost a lot of spots and the harder I rode, the worse off I was. I ended up like 10th on the single file, slippery short track. At this point in time, I was shocked the AMA would ever let a grand national race track end up this way. Sure enough for the last heat race they watered and prepped the track and in 10 laps on a 13 second track, the heat race was 15 seconds faster then my heat race. I was lined up on the middle of the back row in semi 2. The track had about 20 laps on it before it was prepped and again I had a slippery track to try and figure out. I couldn't come to terms with the track at all and I didn't make the top 3 to transfer. I was very disappointed with how the track turned out and with how I rode on the track. The track is the same for everyone and I just couldn't hack the conditions I guess. It wasn't your typical, wide open short track and these slippery tracks are something I am going to have to work on for next season.
 
In other news, the last hot shoe event in Gas City, IN was canceled. In addition to my 4th place overall in the 750 Hot Shoe Series, I finished 4th overall in the 450 Hot Shoe Series as well with 3 top 5 finishes and 1 podium finish. We have almost a two month break before our season finale in Pomona, CA. I will be doing a lot of training and a few local races as well to stay sharp for this event. I will also be spending some quality time with my family who I haven't seen all summer. Thanks to everyone for the support and for all the prayers for my buddy Brandon Robinson who is recovering from his crash in Indy. You can follow his progress on his website @ Brobinson44.com.