Daytona here and gone…
I headed to Savannah a few weeks ago to do some testing prior to the events at Daytona. I put in about 300 laps so I was ready for the Hotshoe at Oglethorpe Speedway ….I thoroughly was looking forward to. ( It’s been a long cold winter)
The Bettencourt Honda faired well as we won the 450 Expert class while the Factory Harley-Davidson came in 2nd in the 750 class.
We then banged in a couple of podium finishes during the triple crown Hot Shoe events in Barberville. The track was rough but we got through it and had a ball.
Daytona was finally upon us. Proudly running the number one plate at Daytona I was ready to put all the testing, and training to work. The track was rough but manageable. We started off on a high note by setting some impressive times as we head to the program. Knowing that Daytona is usually anyone’s game, I was so pumped hoping that the game would be mine to win.
Heat one was a decent heat, got off the line and took the holeshot away from #37 around to the green flag and the first to see it all was going well. Put my head down on this racey track and went to work stretching out the lead bike length by bike length. Took a look back , felt comfortable and stayed on the gas til the checkers.
Had some time for a break, grabbed something to eat and tried to stay cool before the nights main event. I watched the track to see how bad it was grooving up and weather the track would turn into my favor.
For the main, I got off the line with Schnabel right on my tail just when I was ready to punch forward, the red flag came with Smith on the ground. At the restart came off the line 4th with Raun Wood #88 and dicing it up with Chris Carr to make the pass. Trying to find a line that would work stayed in 4th position this time behind Henry Wiles #17 which is no where I wanted to be. Twenty five laps is enough time for me to get to work. Jake Johnson clearly out front with Schnable and Wiles in tow. Saw an opportunity and took over Wiles’s 3rd place and behind Schnable going for everything at this point. Using a different line this time and squaring off in the corners I was closing in on Schnable but had company named Carr. Made several moves against Schnable but it wasn’t sticking, laps were winding down and finally made the move that would seal the deal and now reeling in Jake who was out front and way out there. JR was more determined this time around, I got a bit of a hang up and JR came right by, I quickly recovered with five laps to go. JR was still there then made a slight mistake and stayed ahead. I finished on the podium in second.
Daytona take two. We were on egg shells as the threat of rain was closing in. It would have been a shame if the sky opened up at this point. Qualifying was ok at this point and things were a bit different than the night prior. We were fast enough for a front row start in the heats but not as fast as the previous night. Which is ok.
Heat race number 5 was stacked with Carr, Cummings, Varnes and Pearson. We had a game plan.. Just win it no regrets. Into the first corner with Carr and Cummings sitting in third and making moves on Carr to take over. Now I must real in Cummings. Switching from first and second was becoming a drag, whit flag out and needed a flawless finish , got by Cummings when it mattered and will have a front row start in the main.
Got a crappy start at the main, I was bummed and by lap one I was in ninth. Time to get back to the front. Making passes that would work as I moved up the ladder towards the front into 7th. Wiles and Cummings were next to pass. They both had good lines so I thought, lets try something here. Made some smart moves and sailed into 4th where I stayed at the checkers.
I sit in the #3 spot in the points championship thus far. Next race is April 5 in Tucson AZ the start of the twins season, then to Springfield for Memorial Day weekend both twins and singles events.
Thank you to all the fans in Daytona, hope you enjoyed the show!
Kenny #1
