Wilt Racing: 2008 Nicholas

Friday, November 28
Some Racing and Lots of Rain
Carolina Fall Nationals
28 November 08
(Qualifying Day)

Sr. Honda (41 cars) – Nicholas hits the track for batch qualifying today.  He is hoping to hold on to his current track record or break it himself.  Track conditions aren’t the best, but he works his magic and takes fast time for the class with a 6.243!  Second place runs a 6.362 so Nicholas knows he has the car to beat.

Lt. Mod (13 cars) – Nicholas is excited to finally have some Lt. Mods at NCQMA to race against after a full year.  He hasn’t had any competition since the Eastern Grands in this class.  He knows he has a good car and a good motor.  He smokes qualifying!  Nicholas runs a fast lap of 5.865.  No one else runs in the 5 second range.  Second fastest will run a 6.072.

Lt. 160 (41 cars) – Nicholas is flying in this car for qualifying also.  He will unfortunately just miss fast time by .011.  His best time is a 5.967.  Only Nicholas and the fastest car will be under 6 seconds.  Nicholas and Daddy are very happy with their qualifying efforts for today.

Carolina Fall Nationals and Rain!
29 November 08

Sr. Honda (A-Main) – Well, after some rain delays already for today, Nicholas is ready to get in his car and do some racing.  He is supposed to be starting in his 5 hole out of 10 cars for this 40-lap race, but the #3 car doesn’t show up for the race so he gets bumped to the 4th outside position.  He does a great job by coming out in 2nd at the green flag, but the usual first lap caution is out.  Nicholas will go back to 4th single file for the restart.  A car gets under him on the restart, and he loses a few positions falling back to 7th.  He gets in line and starts his passing.  By the time the next caution is out with 27 to go, he is back up to 4th.  On the restart, a car gets under him again and gets Nicholas sideways.  Nicholas straightens out his car, but another Talon teammate will spin out resulting in the field lining back up for another restart.  Nicholas is still in 4th.  As the drivers are rolling around under caution, Nicholas suddenly comes to a stop on the track.  His right front tire is broken and won’t roll.  He is brought into the pits, but they can’t get the car fixed.  For the second year in a row, the fastest car is taken out of the race due to accidents.  Rain will start with 3 laps to go, and time has expired on the clock so the race is called.  Nicholas will end up with a 9th place finish (DNF).

Lt. Mod (A-Main) – This race never hits the track.  It rains the rest of Saturday night and Sunday canceling the rest of the A-Mains.  Nicholas is awarded a 1st place trophy and the WIN for his fast time in qualifying!!

Lt. 160 (A-Main) – Same with this race.  It rains, and it rains, and it rains!  Nicholas receives a 2nd place trophy for his qualifying time.  This will end our 2008 racing season.  Till next year…

Saturday, November 8
Add 2
Two Regional Championships!!
8 November 08
(NCQMA Regional, Salisbury, NC)

Sr. Honda (26 cars) – This qualifying comes down to the same scenario as last year.  As long as another NCQMA driver doesn’t get fast time, Nicholas is the Region 3 Sr. Honda Champion for the 2nd year in a row!  Nicholas starts this day out on a good note.  He is hoping to break his track record, but he’s just a tick off.  He does manage to take fast time again for Sr. Honda with a 6.161 so he’s thrilled with another championship!

A-Main – Nicholas has won this regional race for the past 3 years.  He would love to keep his streak going for Veteran’s Day.  He is starting 5th out of 10 cars for 40 laps.  He doesn’t come out as good as he usually does at the green with all the cars scrambling for positions right away.  He settles into 6th.  Nicholas does his thing and starts picking off cars one by one.  The race goes green till only 5 laps left!  Nicholas is up to 2nd.  As the cars are under caution, the leader’s car breaks and has to come into the pits.  Nicholas becomes the new leader!  It looks as though he may save his winning streak.  The field lines up single file behind Nicholas.  As they come out of turn 4, Nicholas gets absolutely punted by the 2nd place car causing him to spin out.  His luck runs out here.  The judges decide to give Nicholas a DOT instead of a charge call on the other driver.  He goes to the rear of the field in 9th place.  Nicholas knows his chances of winning are over with only a handful of laps left so he just tries to make up as many positions as he can.  He only has time to make a few passes before crossing the finish line in 6th.  Somewhat disappointing but Nicholas is the Region 3 Sr. Honda Champion again!!  Congrats man!

Lt. 160 (18 cars) – Nicholas is a little off in this car today.  He isn’t the only one though.  Only 2 cars will run below a 6.0.  Nicholas posts a fast time of 6.014 making him 4th fastest.

A-Main – Nicholas is starting on the outside pole in the 2nd position for the start of this 40-lap race.  Not the best place to be at this track because the outside line always goes to the back unless the outside car can get down in front of the #1 car.  Nicholas manages to get a great start and takes a HUGE LEAD at the green.  He has ½ a lap on the field when the first caution is out with 31 to go.  He lines up 1st but falls to 2nd then yellow is out again with 29 to go.  He runs there for awhile trying to get a good run to take the lead.  He finally takes a shot at it.  He goes for the pass but spins out!  With 11 laps left, he goes back to 9th (for the second time today).  He makes as many passes as he can before the end of the race.  Nicholas will finish this race in 4th, but technically he’s the first regional driver to finish.  Nicholas becomes the Region 3 Lt. 160 Champion!!

Saturday, November 1
Winning the Championships with Wins!
Two Fast Times, Two Wins and Two Championships!!
1 November 08

Sr. Honda (21 cars) – Nicholas gets SO close to breaking his own track record that he set last November.  He takes fast time for the class with a 6.147.

A-Main – Nicholas is in his “comfortable” starting spot of 5th out of 10 cars for 30 laps today.  He gets shuffled to about 6th place as cars stay double file on the start.  The #3 car wrecks after the first lap so Nicholas lines up 5th with 29 to go.  The car in front of him spins out on the restart so we are expecting the usual “charge” call on Nicholas that the judges love to give, but fortunately the judges finally make a DOT call on the car that spun out so Nicholas moves up to 4th.  They go back green, and Nicholas is up to 3rd when the next yellow is out with 26 to go.  The race goes green from here, and Nicholas grabs the LEAD with about 20 laps left.  He is lapping cars with 15 to go.  He ends his NCQMA year with a WIN and a SR. HONDA CHAMPIONSHIP!!!  Way to go dude!!

Lt. 160 (12 cars) – Nicholas is having an awesome day!  He will set fast time in this class with a 5.939.

A-Main – Nicholas starts this race in 5th out of 10 cars for 30 laps.  He comes out in 2nd at the green flag, but the usual first lap fiasco occurs bringing out the yellow so he goes back to 5th place single file.  He passes for 4th before the next caution is out with 27 to go.  He just takes 2nd place when another caution is out with 23 to go, and his pass doesn’t count so he lines up 3rd.  He gets a great restart and takes the LEAD with 18 to go!  Nicholas just laps 2 cars when there’s a wreck bringing out the RED FLAG.  With 12 laps left, he lines up first.  The lap cars go to the back so Nicholas and the 2nd place car are bumper to bumper.  The race goes green the rest of the way as Nicholas starts lapping cars again.  He holds on to the lead and takes the checkered flag for another fantastic WIN!!  He also takes the NCQMA Lt. 160 CHAMPIONSHIP!!  What a way to finish the year!

Saturday, October 25
Closing in on Regional Championships
Two Track Records and a Win!
25 October 08
(MAQMA Regional, Lanier, GA)

Sr. Honda (15 cars) – Nicholas more than makes up for taking the track record back at this track since the last regional here.  He shatters the current track record by running a 6.475 beating it by 0.224!  Second fastest for today will only run a 6.641.

A-Main – Nicholas is starting in the 5th spot out of 10 cars for 40 laps.  He gets 3rd at the green, but coming out of turn 4, the #1 car spins piling up the WHOLE field.  Nicholas tries to go high but hits the wall.  He is carried over the wall and into the pits.  He comes out in 6th place.  The race goes green for a long time, and Nicholas is doing his best to get back up front.  Cars are sliding everywhere especially out of turn 4.  Nicholas is finally up to 3rd when a caution comes out with only 3 laps to go.  He passes for 2nd with 2 laps left and takes the checkered flag in 2nd.  Nice comeback man!!

Lt. 160(15 cars) – Nicholas is on a roll today.  He breaks his own track record in this class with a fast lap of 6.207.  His last record was a 6.427.  Another Talon teammate will take 2nd fastest with a 6.312.

A-Main – Nicholas is starting in 5th out of 10 cars for 40 laps.  The field takes the green flag, but a car flips before the lap is complete bringing out the RED FLAG.  Nicholas will line up 5th single file.  He is up to 3rd when the next yellow is out with 17 to go.  The 4th place car gets under Nicholas on the restart.  He tucks behind that car, and they roll for awhile.  They catch the 2nd place car, and both drivers pass together with about 13 laps left.  Nicholas is taking his time waiting for the best opportunity to pass for the lead.  With less than 10 laps, he goes for the LEAD and keeps it till the end!  Another Lt. 160 WIN for Talon and Dan!!

Saturday, October 18
Love These Days!!!
A Fast Time and Double Wins
18 October 08

Sr. Honda (18 cars) – Yea, two weeks in a row!  Nicholas takes fastest qualifier with a time of 6.188.

A-Main – Nicholas starts 5th out of 10 cars for 30 laps or 20 minutes.  He comes out of turn 4 in 3rd place at the green, but a caution flag will put him back in 4th place single file for the restart.  The race goes green, and Nicholas is up to take the LEAD with 22 laps left.  He is lapping cars with 18 to go.  He checks out on the rest of the field.  He is lapping cars as quick as he catches them.  Another great Sr. Honda WIN!!

Lt. 160 (12 cars) – Nicholas is back on track with this car this week.  He runs a fast time of 5.944 making him 2nd fastest.  Gee, doesn’t that mean the 4 hole though?!

A-Main – Nicholas is back in familiar territory in the 4th spot to start.  As usual, it’s 10 cars for 30 laps or 20 minutes.  The #1 car is in the pits at time so Nicholas gets bumped to the 3rd position.  He gets 2nd at the green, but the yellow is out right away so he goes back to 3rd single file.  He grabs the LEAD within the first 2 laps of the race.  He has a quarter of a lap on the 2nd place car and is lapping cars with about 20 to go.  Then 3 cars wreck and one flips bringing out the RED FLAG with 15 to go.  Nicholas lines up 1st with 13 minutes left on the clock.  They restart, and 2nd place will pass Nicholas for the lead within a couple laps, but Nicholas will pass him right back.  Nicholas’ car gets tapped in the left rear when the 2nd place car tries to pass him again.  The other driver has to check up and let off the gas to avoid wrecking.  This gives Nicholas some track distance.  He catches lapped cars and is passing them right away with no hesitation.  This is a fantastic car!  Another WIN for Nicholas’ sponsor!!

Saturday, October 11
Great Runs Today!!!
Finally a Local Fast Time
11 October 08

Sr. Honda (18 cars) – Nicholas and Daddy have hooked up the car today.  Nicholas runs a fast lap of 6.128 during batch qualifying finally taking fast time for this class.  He technically breaks his own track record, but track records aren’t open for this race.  Talon will take 3 of the top 5 qualifying spots.

A-Main – Nicholas is back in the 5th spot out of 10 cars for 30 laps.  He is on a mission again, and he is in the LEAD on the first lap!  Yellow flag is out with 26 to go.  Nicholas lines up in 1st.  The race goes green the rest of the way.  His car is a rocket tonight.  He is lapping cars with about 20 laps left and has half a lap lead on the 2nd place car when he takes the checkered flag.  Awesome WIN!!

Lt. 160 (13 cars) – Nicholas isn’t as lucky with this car today.  He’s a little slower than normal, but he still manages to put it in the top 5.  With a time of 6.007 he is 4th fastest.

A-Main – Nicholas is starting in 2nd out of 10 cars for 30 laps.  The #1 car spins out as they take the green flag so Nicholas will line up in 1st.  He falls to 2nd with 26 to go then back to 3rd.  A car spins out, and Nicholas and another driver try to go high, but Nicholas gets bumped.  He keeps the car going to avoid a DOT.  With 19 to go, he lines up 3rd.  He holds onto 3rd for a few laps then falls to 5th as 2 cars get under him.  Yellow is out again with 6 laps left, and Nicholas lines up 4th.  The field takes the white flag, and the car behind Nicholas tries to pass him.  They bump and keep going, but the flagman decides to throw the yellow flag instead of the checkered for the lead cars.  After several minutes, they decide to RED FLAG the race to straighten out the situation.  After much discussion, the cars are lined up the way they were running, and the race is called.  Nicholas finishes this one in 4th.

Saturday, October 4
Great Racing!!!
Two Track Records and a Photo Finish!
4 October 08
(MCQMRA Regional, Nashville, TN)

Sr. Honda (8 cars) – Nicholas hits this track flying!  He annihilates his old track record breaking it by 3 tenths!  The new track record is now a 7.197.  Actually 5 of the 8 drivers will break the old track record.  What a small field for a regional race though.  This should be a good race!

A-Main – Nicholas is starting in 5th out of 8 cars for 40 laps.  He comes out in 4th place after the green.  He starts picking off cars one by one.  He takes the LEAD with 32 to go.  Nicholas is lapping cars in no time.  The race is going great till all of a sudden a car goes straight into the turn 3 wall very hard bringing out the RED FLAG.  There are 22 laps left.  Nicholas lines up the field and gets a great restart.  He checks out on the rest of the cars.  The race goes green till the end.  Nicholas is lapping cars with about 15 to go, and the 2nd place car is nowhere close to him.  An awesome WIN!!

Lt. 160 (10 cars) – Nicholas is ready to qualify this car.  He rolls out onto the track and is flying again.  He posts a fast time of 6.892 blasting the old track record to pieces by almost 3 tenths!!  Actually 6 out of the 10 drivers will break the old track record also, but Nicholas will stay the fastest and qualify in first.

A-Main – Nicholas is starting in 5th out of 10 cars for 40 laps.  Caution is out right after the green so he lines up 5th single file.  They get the green again, and 5 cars go into the turn 2 wall including Nicholas!  He has a bent rod so he goes into the pits and comes back out in 7th.  His car must not be hurt too badly because he starts picking off one car at a time till he works his way up to take the LEAD with 31 to go.  Next caution is out with 30 to go, and Nicholas’ pass for the lead will count.  He lines up in 1st.  There are several restarts, and he keeps the lead till 14 to go.  He loses the lead for a few laps then gets it back, but the 2 lead cars will start shuffling back and forth with about 5 laps left.  With shade in turns 3 and 4, Nicholas is having some trouble keeping the car from skating up the track in that corner.  He is in the lead when he and another NCQMA driver take the white flag.  The other car just about drives Nicholas up into the turn 2 wall, and there is a lap car that insists on trying to stay in front of Nicholas which slows him up.  Nicholas decides he’s not going to take that one so he pounds the gas and dives down to the bottom of the track and goes low and hard into turn 3 to get under the lead car coming for the checkered flag.  These 2 drivers are battling for the championship in this class so every point counts.  They bump, their wheels get stuck together, but they keep going.  They barely have enough speed to come across the start/finish line together.  Other cars that were behind them actually pass them to take the checkered flag, but they are lapped cars.  We wait and wait and wait till the scorers try to figure out who has won the race.  The judges are talking about making a call on the car that drove Nicholas up high, but when Nicholas comes back and bumps the leader going for the win, the judges decide all bets are off and what’s fair is fair.  We hear that one scorer stopped scoring, one had Nicholas finishing first, and the third scorer had the other car finishing first.  With a discrepancy, the decision goes to the head scorer who had the other driver winning.  Nicholas is scored in 2nd for this race.  Very exciting!!  These 2 boys are driving their little hearts out!  After watching the videotape, we are pretty sure Nicholas’ bumper crossed the line first, but we are happy to take 2nd.

Saturday, September 20
Good Day!!!
Back Home at NCQMA
20 September 08

Sr. Honda (18 cars) – Here we go again!  Nicholas has a great time of 6.160 during batch qualifying, but a fellow Talon driver will beat him and almost break Nicholas’ track record for this class.  Nicholas is 2nd fastest – again!

A-Main – Nicholas is starting 4th out of 10 cars for 30 laps.  He gets a great start and comes out in 2nd, but a 3-car wreck will bring out the caution flag before the first lap is complete.  Nicholas will line up in 3rd.  He gets the LEAD with 27 to go and is quickly lapping cars.  Next yellow is out with 18 to go, and Nicholas lines up the field behind him.  He gets a great start and keeps the lead.  The race goes green from here, and Nicholas will finish this one with another WIN!!  Welcome home dude!

Lt. 160 (11 cars) – What is up with Nicholas and the 4 hole??  He will qualify 2nd fastest in this car with a time of 5.967.  His Talon friend beats him out again.

A-Main – Nicholas is getting really used to starting in the 4 hole now.  More flashbacks from last year!  There are 11 cars in the field today for 30 laps.  He finds a hole and gets down into 5th after the green flag.  He passes for 4th but can’t get around the 3rd place car quick enough so Nicholas gets passed by the car behind him.  He falls back to 5th.  There’s a wreck and a car flips bringing out the RED FLAG with 23 to go.  Nicholas lines up 5th.  On the restart, a car goes DOT so Nicholas moves up to 4th.  On the next restart, a car flips bringing out another RED FLAG.  Nicholas is now up to 3rd, and we still have 23 laps to go.  He makes a pass for 2nd and is just about to catch the tail end of the pack when the caution comes out with 19 laps left.  The race goes green the rest of the way.  Nicholas finally catches up to the lead car as they are lapping cars, but he doesn’t have enough time to go for the pass for the lead so he plays it smart and finishes in 2nd!  Nice racing man!!

Saturday, September 13
Keeping the Points races close
One So-So Race, One Great Race
13 September 08
(NGQMA Regional, Cumming, GA)

Sr. Honda (25 cars) – Nicholas doesn’t do too badly today in qualifying.  He is just off of the track record.  His fast time of 6.271 will put him 3rd fastest.  The top 4 qualifiers are from NCQMA (3 of them are Talon cars)!

A-Main – Nicholas is starting in 3rd out of 10 cars for 40 laps.  He is in a tight point’s competition race with the car in 2nd.  The car on the pole doesn’t get on the gas fast enough at the green flag, and the outside pole position car takes off getting the lead.  Nicholas sees this, gets a little too anxious and tries to make a pass to get around the slower car, but they will wreck.  Nicholas gets a charge call, but his car is also messed up so he goes into the pits.  He will come back out and line up in 8th.  The race goes green from here.  Nicholas can’t keep the car down in the corners.  He is able to make some passes, but his car can’t get up to full speed.  He will get lapped by the leader with 14 to go then 2nd and 3rd place will lap him with about 10 laps left.  He makes a great effort by staying out there till the end.  Nicholas will finish this one in 8th.

Lt. 160 (20 cars) – Nicholas qualifies this car with a fast lap of 6.063 – just a tick off the track record of 6.059.  He will start this car in 3rd.  Once again, the top 3 cars are from NCQMA and all Talon drivers!  Way to go guys!

A-Main – Nicholas is starting in 3rd again today out of 10 cars for 40 laps.  He goes for the LEAD at the green, and this time he gets it!  This class just starts rolling.  The kids are driving great.  Nicholas has half a lap lead on 2nd place with 20 laps left.  He is lapping cars with about 15 to go.  He totally dominates this race.  CAUTION FREE!  Nicholas brings home a WIN for Wilt Racing, Talon and the Jones family!!  Nice way to finish another regional weekend!

Saturday, August 30
Lovin Huntsville!!!
New Track Record and Double Wins!
30 August 08
(HQMA Regional, Huntsville, AL)

Sr. Honda (19 cars) – Nicholas hits the track very confident.  He is awesome when his Sr. Honda car is hooked up.  He has a great qualifying run and posts a fast time of 6.713 breaking his old track record of 6.823.  Actually the top 3 qualifiers will break Nicholas’ old track record for the day.  Nicholas is loving this track.  He is pumped about racing!

A-Main – Nicholas is starting 5th out of 10 cars for 40 laps.  He settles down into 5th at the green.  First caution is out with 39 to go.  There are several restarts as the drivers try to find some patience.  They finally get some green flag laps, and Nicholas is passing cars one by one.  He takes the LEAD with 27 to go.  Next yellow flag is out with 24 to go.  Nicholas had a good lead on the other cars.  He is just about to catch the last car and lap it when it spins out in front of Nicholas with 19 laps left.  Nicholas lines up the field behind him for the restart.  He is still running in 1st when the next caution is out with 11 to go.  They take the green again, and the 2nd place car who is another NCQMA driver gets under Nicholas for the lead on the restart.  Nicholas is in 2nd with 9 to go.  He finally takes his shot and grabs the LEAD with about 3 laps left.  He takes another great WIN at what is becoming his favorite track in Region 3!!  Nice job dude!

Lt. 160 (18 cars) – Nicholas has another great qualifying run in this class.  He doesn’t quite get the fast time, but his time of 6.555 will put him 2nd fastest.

A-Main – Nicholas is starting in 4th out of 10 cars for this 40-lap race.  He falls into 5th place after the start but gets tapped by the car behind him and spins out in turn 3.  Cars start wrecking then one flips bringing out the RED FLAG.  All the cars are given a DOT so Nicholas goes to the back in 9th place.  He is showing good patience and making good passes when the next caution is out with 36 to go.  He lines up in 5th.  They restart, and Nicholas has gotten up to 2nd.  He is right on the back bumper of the leader when the next yellow comes out with 30 to go.  The leader sees the yellow light before Nicholas and lifts off the gas, but Nicholas is still full speed.  He taps the leader and spins him out after the caution so Nicholas isn’t penalized.  The leader and Nicholas both get their positions back.  With 25 to go, he lines up 3rd but a lap car is between him and the leader.  He will pass for the LEAD with about 20 to go and is starting to lap cars.  The next yellow is out with 9 to go, and there is a lap car between him and 2nd place.  Nicholas keeps the lead on the restart, and the race goes green the rest of the way.  Nicholas finishes this regional weekend with another WIN!!!

Saturday, August 23
Can Nicholas get rid of the Monkey?
Sr. Honda Cup Race
23 August 08

Sr. Honda (18 cars) – Well, Nicholas is the first car out for single car qualifying today.  He still holds the track record at a 6.142.  He runs a fast time of 6.197.  Unfortunately, another Talon driver will beat his time (but not his track record) making Nicholas 2nd fastest again.

A-Main – Nicholas is starting in his 4-hole again out of 10 cars for 40 laps.  This is beginning to feel like most of his starts from last year’s race season.  Anyway, they take the green flag, and Nicholas finds a great hole immediately and gets down into 4th place.  He passes for 3rd right away.  He is on a mission.  He wants to win this special race extremely badly.  The top 3 cars are nose to tail then the leader goes from first to fourth as 2nd place, Nicholas and 4th place all pass him at the same time.  Nicholas is up to 2nd with 30 to go.  He passes for the LEAD with 25 to go then he and another Talon driver hook up to start lapping the field.  They pass each other for the lead a couple times.  They have lapped the field up to 4th place.  Nicholas will take a final pass for the LEAD with about 8 laps left and keep it.  FINALLY he comes across the start/finish line in 1st!!  Another great WIN!!  This race went caution free.  Awesome racing guys!!

Tuesday, August 19
2 Championships 1 Night
Congrats to the Summer Series Champion!!
19 August 08

Sr. Honda (11 cars) – Nicholas has the Sr. Honda Summer Series Championship locked up so he doesn’t race on this last Tuesday night.  Nice job man!!

Lt. 160 (9 cars) – A-Main – Nicholas’ pill draw has him starting in 7th out of 9 cars for 30 laps or 15 minutes.  He comes out in 4th place after the green flag.  He is up to 3rd when a car tries to pass Nicholas, and they bump wheels causing the other car to flip.  Nicholas lines up 3rd after the RED FLAG with 22 laps to go.  He gets 2nd on the restart but will slowly start falling back.  Apparently something has gone wrong with his car since he was hit (possibly a tire going flat).  He will eventually get passed by the 2 lead cars with 5 laps left.  Nicholas will finish this last summer race in 8th.  Not the best race for him, but he does have reason to celebrate.  He is the Lt. 160 Summer Series Champion!!

Saturday, August 16
Keeping Focus
Another Awesome Race Day
16 August 08

Sr. Honda (18 cars) – Nicholas is in heat race #2.  He is starting in 6th out of 9 cars for 25 laps.  Caution is out right after the green when 2 cars DOT so he lines up in 5th single file.  He gets 2nd place rather quickly after the restart.  He is just passing for 1st when the caution is out again with 21 to go.  He lines up 2nd.  They take the green flag, and Nicholas will make his move to take the LEAD with 18 laps left.  Another Talon driver just catches up to Nicholas when a car DOTS bringing out the yellow with 4 to go.  There are several attempts at a restart.  They finally get going again.  Nicholas keeps his position and WINS this heat to transfer straight to the A!

A-Main – Nicholas is starting in 3rd out of 10 cars for 30 laps.  He gets 2nd at the green flag start.  He grabs the LEAD with 25 to go.  His Talon buddy is right on his back bumper and will take the lead from Nicholas with 20 to go.  Nicholas will take the LEAD back with about 15 laps left then his buddy will pass him for the lead again with about 10 to go.  Nicholas makes his final pass for the LEAD with 4 laps left as they stay in 1st and 2nd and start lapping cars together.  What an exciting caution-free race!!  Nicholas makes a statement with another strong Sr. Honda WIN!!  Great racing by two great Talon drivers!

Lt. 160 (11 cars) – Nicholas is in heat race #1.  He is starting in 4th out of 6 cars for 25 laps.  He falls to the back and tucks behind the last car to get the low line.  He is up to 2nd with 16 to go.  He takes the LEAD with 10 to go with a Talon driver behind him in 2nd.  They run together lapping cars.  Nicholas WINS this heat race!!

A-Main – Nicholas is in 4th out of 11 cars for 30 laps.  He falls down into 6th after the green.  He is slowly working his way up through the field.  He is up to 3rd as he catches his Talon teammates in 1st and 2nd when the first caution is out with only 7 laps left.  He gets shuffled on the restart because 1st and 2nd bump, but the caution comes out again so he keeps his 3rd position.  On the restart, the first handful of cars are nose to tail, and Nicholas will help to spin out 2nd place.  The judges give Nicholas a charge call so he goes all the way back to 10th.  They restart, another caution, he is up to 9th.  They restart, another caution, he is up to 8th.  Mom is mad now because the battery in the video camera has just died!  There are only a few laps left as they go back green.  Nicholas passes a couple cars then some cars wreck and hit the wall bringing out the RED FLAG.  With 2 to go, Nicholas lines up 4th and gets 3rd on the restart.  He tries to get his front bumper under the car in front of him to take 2nd, but he doesn’t quite get the pass made as they come out of turn 4 to take the checkered flag.  Nicholas finishes this race in 3rd.

Tuesday, August 12
Winning the Battle
Batch Qualifying again
12 August 08

Sr. Honda (13 cars) – Nicholas is in the last batch of cars to batch qualify.  He posts a fast time of 6.184, but falls just short and he will come in 2nd fastest.

A-Main – Nicholas is starting in the 4 hole out of 10 cars for 30 laps, but a little luck comes his way when a car is in the pits as the warm-up time expires allowing him to move to the inside 3 spot.  He grabs the LEAD at the green flag.  Caution is out with 28 to go.  He lines up first.  The field goes green, and Nicholas starts checking out on the rest of the cars.  Next yellow is out with 20 to go after just lapping 2 cars.  They line up with the 2 lapped cars between Nicholas and the 2nd and 3rd place drivers.  (Little sis, Kaitlyn, happens to be one of the lapped cars!)  He keeps the lead on the restart and is running away with the race again.  He is lapping cars several times as the race goes green till the end.  Nicholas gets another WIN!!

Lt. 160 (7 cars) – A-Main – Nicholas is starting in 2nd out of 7 cars for this 30-lap race tonight.  He gets the LEAD at the green flag and holds onto it till 18 to go when another Talon driver passes him for the lead.  Nicholas tucks in behind the leader’s bumper, and they roll passing cars as quickly as they catch them.  First caution is out with 12 to go.  Nicholas lines up 2nd.  He got the LEAD again on the restart, but 2nd place will pass him back very quickly.  Nicholas is again right on the leader’s bumper.  They come out of turn 4 and see the white flag.  The lead car gets slightly loose, and Nicholas is so close to his bumper that he taps the leader causing him to spin out.  The judges make a call on Nicholas putting him to the rear of the field.  He lines up in 6th, but there are lapped cars ahead of him.  He is technically the last car on the lead lap in 4th.  There are 2 laps left.  Nicholas passes the lapped cars to cross the finish line in 4th.

Tuesday, July 29
Another Tuesday!

Batch Qualifying Tonight
29 July 08

Sr. Honda (14 cars) – Nicholas qualifies 2nd fastest with a 6.221.  He misses fast time for the class by .001!

A-Main – Nicholas was to start in 4th out of 10 cars for 30 laps or 10 minutes, but circumstances would get in the way of this race hitting the track.  Sr. Honda was scheduled to be the last race out for the night.  It’s 2 minutes till 11PM, and the drivers are still sitting in their cars in staging.  A decision is made not to go past our curfew.  Nicholas will receive points for 2nd place.

Lt. 160 (12 car) – Nicholas is slightly off on times tonight in this car.  He qualifies 5th fastest, but since we don’t get qualifying points, starting on the pole is not a bad place to be!

A-Main – Nicholas is starting on the POLE for 30 laps or 10 minutes.  He holds onto the LEAD at the initial green flag.  Nicholas just gets passed by the 2nd place car and then the caution comes out with 26 to go.  He lines up in 2nd.  He falls to 3rd after the restart.  The top 4 cars are running nose to tail.  With 18 laps to go, the cars in 2nd, 3rd (Nicholas) and 4th all wreck coming out of turn 4.  Nicholas lines up in the rear of the field in 9th.  Not sure if there was a call on him or not.  He works his way back up to 5th and passes for 4th place when the other car spins out next to him.  There are 2 laps left.  He lines up in 4th and stays there till the checkered flag flies.  WHEW!!  That was close!



Tuesday, July 15
Still Proving the point after the Grands!

Double Win Tuesday
15 July 08

Sr. Honda (9 cars) – A-Main – Nicholas is starting on the POLE out of 9 cars for 30 laps or 15 minutes.  He takes the LEAD but yellow is out.  He lines up 1st and restarts.  He checks out again and is lapping cars with 25 to go.  Next yellow is out with 12 to go, and Nicholas had a HUGE lead.  He keeps the lead on the next restart with 11 laps left.  There is only 5 minutes left on the clock.  RED FLAG comes out, but the clock keeps running till there are only 2 minutes left.  They go back racing.  The 2nd place car will pass Nicholas with 5 to go as they catch some slower cars.  Nicholas passes back to take the LEAD with 2 to go and brings home another WIN!

Lt. 160 (6 cars) – A-Main – Nicholas starts 2nd out of 6 cars for 30 laps or 15 minutes.  He gets a good start and jumps into the LEAD from the outside pole position.  He is flying and lapping cars when the first caution is out with 15 laps left.  Nicholas keeps the lead on the restart till about 10 to go when the 2nd place car passes him.  Nicholas passes for the LEAD a couple laps later just as the 2nd place car bikes really hard but manages to put it back down and the race stays green.  Nicholas picks up another WIN!



Tuesday, July 8
Still Proving a Point!

Back so soon!
8 July 08

Sr. Honda (9 cars) – A-Main – Nicholas starts 4th out of 9 cars for 30 laps or 15 minutes tonight.  He falls just about to the back at the start.  He gets down and starts making passes.  He is up to 4th when 2 cars wreck in front of him.  He gets tagged and goes DOT.  There’s a call made on one of the other cars so Nicholas gets his position back.  He lines up in 3rd with 23 to go.  The race goes green from here.  A few times some cars bumped, but they all stayed running.  Nicholas takes the LEAD from the driver that won the Eastern Grands with about 11 to go.  He catches up to Kaitlyn (who is running in 5th) with 2 laps left.  He knows he has a big enough lead so he stays behind her till the checkered.  He makes his point with a Sr. Honda WIN!

Lt. 160 (6 cars) – A-Main – Nicholas is starting in 3rd out of 6 cars for 30 laps or 15 minutes.  He gets 2nd at the green flag.  He takes the LEAD with 24 to go.  The first caution comes out as the 2nd place car spins out behind Nicholas as they are lapping cars with 11 laps to go.  RED FLAG out for a wall fix.  Only 4 cars left to race.  It starts to rain again!  The lap cars come into the pits putting 2nd place right behind Nicholas.  Nicholas lines up 1st.  They go green.  He keeps the LEAD on the restart and holds on to WIN!



Saturday, July 5
Out to prove a point!

Back to Saturday Racing
5 July 08

Sr. Honda (14 cars) – Nicholas qualifies his Sr. Honda car 2nd fastest with a time of 6.266.

A-Main – Nicholas is starting in 4th out of 10 cars for 30 laps or 15 minutes.  There is a RED FLAG right at the start.  Nicholas lines up 3rd single file.  He takes the LEAD with 27 to go.  Caution is out with 24 to go.  Nicholas lines up 1st.  He falls to 3rd on the restart.  He passes for 2nd and catches the leader.  They are lapping cars when the leader bikes hard causing Nicholas to back off the gas.  Nicholas and the leader swap back and forth for the lead till the end of the race.  Nicholas runs out of laps as he takes the checkered flag in 2nd place.

Lt. 160 (10 cars) – Nicholas qualifies 3rd fastest with a best time of 6.092.

A-Main – Nicholas is starting 3rd out of 10 cars for 30 laps or 15 minutes.  He gets the LEAD at the green flag start, but yellow comes out so he goes back to 3rd place in single file.  He gets the LEAD again after the restart.  There’s a HUGE wreck again bringing out the RED FLAG.  Only 5 cars are left on the track with 28 laps to go.  Nicholas lines up 1st.  On the next restart, Nicholas falls to 2nd with 22 to go.  He hits the backstretch wall with the right rear HARD trying to miss a car but stays out on the track to line up in 2nd.  Nicholas and the leader keep checking out on the restarts.  Nicholas finally passes for the LEAD again with 14 to go.  He brings the field around the track in 1st, but he loses the lead on the restart when his car goes high coming out of turn 4.  He tucks down into 2nd and takes the LEAD for the final time as the race goes green the rest of the way.  Another WIN!!



Saturday, June 28
Off to the Grands we go!
Eastern Grands - Practice Round #1
22 June 08
(Silver City QMA – Meriden, CT)

Sr. Honda – Nicholas goes out with 7 cars for 5 minutes.  He’s out for about 2 minutes when the rain starts.  Caution is called, and the cars are stopped.  They go back out, and Nicholas is passing all the cars.  His best lap is a 6.22.

Lt. Mod – Same thing – 7 cars for 5 minutes.  There are several cautions during practice.  Nicholas comes in 2 or 3 times to talk to Dad about the car.  He is passing most of the other drivers.  Dad thinks they are off a little on gear, and the engine was running hot.  Nicholas has a best time of 5.97.

Lt. 160 – Nicholas is in the last group of cars for this class so there are only 6 cars for 5 minutes.  He was a little loose in the corners for the first few laps then the car started to come in.  He stayed out for the whole time.  His best lap is a 6.02.

Eastern Grands – Practice Round #2
23 June 08

Sr. Honda – Only 6 cars show up for this group today.  Dad has made a couple little changes to this car.  It looked good on the track.  Nicholas came in with about 2 minutes left for a shock adjustment.  He is back out for a minute.  His best time today is a 6.28.

Lt. Mod – Only 5 cars in this group for 5 minutes.  Dad made a gear change.  The car looked really good during practice.  Nicholas comes in with about 2 minutes left.  They make a change to the right rear tire.  He goes back out for the last minute and has a best time of 5.84.  Great run!  Dad is happy.

Lt. 160 – There are 6 cars in this group again.  Dad has made numerous changes to this car.  Nicholas stays out till only a couple minutes left.  He comes in, and Dad motions they are finished.  His best lap is a 6.05.

Eastern Grands – Qualifying Day
24 June 08

Sr. Honda (79 cars) – Nicholas has a good run and posts a fast lap of 6.3390.  This will put him 10th fastest!  He’ll start this car on the POLE of the B-Main!!

Lt. Mod (35 cars) – Nicholas is the last car to hit the track for this class.  Dad knows what Nicholas needs to run to get into the A-Main.  He goes on the clock and posts a fast lap of 5.8770.  This is 5th fastest!  Nicholas will start this car on the POLE of the A-Main!!  Dad and Talon Chassis are thrilled!

Lt. 160 (71 cars) – With one car in a B and one car in an A, Dad is hoping this car can do the same after some really good practice times.  As qualifying goes on, the skies start getting cloudy.  The sun is peeking in and out.  Dad panics and locks up the car.  It turns out to be the wrong choice (I’ve told him every year NO last minutes changes in staging!).  Nicholas goes out, and the car looks really bogged down.  He runs a best time of 6.1460.  Dad and Nicholas know this isn’t good.  Nicholas winds up 28th fastest.  He will start in the F-Main.  After checking over the car, Dad finds a mechanical problem.  Rear birdcage bearings had locked up.

Racing Starts
26 June 08

Lt. 160 (F-Main) – Nicholas starts 4th out of 10 cars for 30 laps.  There is a caution after the green so he lines up 4th single file.  He gets 3rd, then 2nd, and takes the LEAD with 19 laps to go.  There is a wreck on the backstretch with 18 to go that brings out the RED FLAG.  Then a RAIN DELAY!  They get ready to go again.  The 2nd place car bumps Nicholas on the restart and gets him loose in turn 2.  Nicholas goes high to gather up the car and falls back to 5th.  He makes a couple more passes and finishes in 3rd!  Good enough to transfer!

Lt. 160 (E-Main) – Nicholas is starting 8th out of 10 cars for 30 laps.  He makes an awesome move at the start and gets the low line quick, goes under some cars and comes out in 4th place!  Two laps into the race there is a RED FLAG.  Nicholas is up to 2nd after the restart but falls to 3rd with about 10 laps left.  With 2 laps to go, a car flips bringing out another RED FLAG.  Nicholas lines up 3rd.  All the cars stay in line.  Nicholas doesn’t go for any passes knowing he’s in a transfer spot.  He’ll finish this one in 3rd!  Another transfer!!

Lt. 160 (D-Main) – Nicholas will start in 8th again.  He falls down into 10th at the green flag.  He is having trouble passing cars in this race.  He works his way up to 8th with only 10 laps left then the first caution of the race comes out.  He lines up 7th.  He knows he needs two more positions to transfer again with only a few laps left.  He goes to pass for 6th, and they hit.  Nicholas gets the call and goes back to 10th place with 6 laps left.  He does his best to pass as many cars as he can, but he can only get up to 7th.  No transfer this time.  This class is done for Nicholas.  He is a little bummed.  Great effort dude!!

27 June 08

Sr. Honda (B-Main) – Nicholas is excited and a little nervous today.  He really wants to A-Main his favorite car this year.  He knows he’s in a great starting spot.  He has the POLE!  There was a rain delay before the Jr. Honda race so Dad puts the one-way back on the car.  Nicholas brings the field around for the green flag start, and he gets a great LEAD!  As luck would have it though, caution is out right away.  He lines the field up single file and keeps 1st.  Next yellow is out with 26 to go.  Nicholas is still in the lead.  He loses the lead to another NCQMA driver on the restart and falls to 3rd.  He stays with the top 2 cars and eventually takes back the LEAD with about 14 laps left.  The second place car will pass him with less than 5 to go.  Nicholas tucks in behind him and stays there knowing he finally has a shot at making a Sr. Honda A-main.  He crosses the finish line in 2nd!!  YEAH, Nicholas is going to the A-Main!  Everyone is thrilled!!

28 June 08

Sr. Honda (A-Main) – Nicholas is starting 7th out of 10 drivers for this 40 lap Grands race.  He comes out in 4th at the green and is up to 3rd when the caution is out with 37 to go.  He dives low to take 2nd, but the car behind him also goes under Nicholas making it 3-wide going into turn 1.  Nicholas gets out of the gas to avoid a big wreck and falls back to 7th.  He makes a pass and is up to 6th when the next yellow flag is out with 35 to go.  There are numerous restarts.  The drivers just won’t settle down.  He gets 5th place on a restart when 2 cars wreck right in front of Nicholas in turns 1 and 2.  He has nowhere to go.  He hits one car hard with his right front and launches the car up in the air.  The corner workers try to push him off, but the car won’t move!  He’s taken into the pits where Dad, Kevin and many others work quickly to get his RF tire out of the nerf bars and straighten his radius rods.  He comes back out in 9th, but the car won’t steer.  He can’t get up to speed and spins the car out.  Next yellow is out with 31 to go.  He goes back into the pits.  They beat and bang on the car again, and Nicholas lines up 8th.  There are several cautions allowing Nicholas to come in and get work done.  Another car falls out of the race with 27 laps left.  With 24 to go, Nicholas is in 6th place.  He is driving the HECK out of this car!  With 10 laps to go, he is in 5th.  On the restart, he makes a HUGE move and gets to 2nd!  Mom has people in the stands cheering for Nicholas knowing how badly his car was wrecked and now he’s making a run for the win!  They get a lap in, and Nicholas goes for it.  He takes the LEAD from another NCQMA driver.  The crowd and Dad go nuts!  Mom is screaming for Nicholas to go!  Then our luck runs out.  There is a wreck bringing out the RED FLAG with 9 laps to go so Nicholas’ pass doesn’t count.  He lines back up in 2nd.  We’re all holding our breath to see when he’ll try to pass for the win.  Every lap he’s trying to get the car to go low and stick so he can take the lead, but the laps are ticking away.  They take the white flag, and Nicholas just goes for it.  He puts his front end under the leader going into turns 1 and 2, but the leader isn’t giving Nicholas any room either.  Nicholas’ car doesn’t stay as low as he had hoped, and he hits the leader bringing out the caution.  Nicholas gets the call of course.  He goes to the back of the field which only consists of 5 cars now.  They take the green and white flag, and Nicholas makes one pass to cross the line in 4th!  He didn’t get the win, but he was definitely the crowd favorite.  The fastest and best car does not always win and once again at the grands this was the case for Nicholas.  A fantastic effort to make a wrecked car the fastest car.  What awesome driving dude!!!

Lt. Mod (A-Main) – Nicholas is ready to race again.  He is starting this car on the POLE for 40 laps.  This is only Nicholas’ second race in this car.  He’s up against the very best experienced Mod drivers in the country.  He gets the LEAD at the green flag and starts to check out.  He has a pretty good lead on the rest of the field till caution comes out for the first time with 25 to go.  He keeps the lead on the restart but will fall to 2nd within a couple laps.  With 20 to go, he gets stuck on the outside after a restart and gets freight-trained back to 6th.  He is up to 5th with 12 laps to go.  Yellow is out again with 6 to go.  Nicholas is still in 5th.  Dad is starting to notice that the engine is starting to sputter and losing some power.  They restart with 4 laps left, and the car behind Nicholas gets under him.  He gets freight-trained again and falls back to 10th.  He only has enough time to make 2 passes and finish in 8th!  Our Grands are over for this year with some great runs, if we could only get some luck.  Great job Nicholas!!  We are very proud of you!!

Tuesday, June 17
Thanks to the Jones Family!!!

A Generous Offer
17 June 08

Sr. Honda (6 cars) – Nicholas was offered Jared Jones’ cars for tonight so Nicholas wouldn’t have to take a chance on wrecking his cars before leaving in a couple days for the Eastern Grands in CT.  There are less than 10 cars so the drivers are lining up according to their pill draw.

A-Main – Nicholas is starting 5th out of 6 cars for 30 laps.  There is a 2-car wreck during warm-up so Nicholas gets bumped to his “favorite” 4 hole.  They take the green, and he falls in behind his little sister in 4th.  He works his way up to 2nd within 10 laps but couldn’t catch the leader.  He runs there for most of the race when 3rd place finally catches up to him and passes him with less than 10 to go.  The race goes caution free.  Nicholas finishes 3rd!

Lt. 160 (4 cars) – WOW!!  What has happened to this class?  Once again, Nicholas is in Jared’s brand new Lt. 160 car.  This car is a rocket!

A-Main – Nicholas is starting on the POLE out of 4 cars for 30 laps.  He goes high on the initial start.  The car appears a little loose.  He falls to 3rd.  He just passes for 2nd when the car he was passing spins out with 15 to go.  Nicholas passes for the LEAD a couple laps after the restart.  With 9 laps left, he lines up 1st and keeps the lead till the checkered flag flies.  This is hopefully the FIRST of many WINS that Nicholas will get for car owner, Dan Jones!!  Thank you Jones family!



Sunday, June 15
A Hit in the Regional Points
One Track Record and a Rain Delay
14-15 June 08
(NCQMA Regional, Salisbury, NC)

Sr. Honda (23 cars) – Nicholas qualifies 3rd fastest with a time of 6.207.  Chris wasn’t happy with our Sr. Honda motor so he was considering not running this car at the Eastern Grands if Nicholas didn’t have a chance of winning.  After a few people got wind of this, we had many, many offers from fellow competitors to run their engine for this regional and take to the Grands.  He finally decides to take Mr. Mumper up on his offer of an engine so Nicholas is running an engine that Kyle has previously used in his car.

A-Main – Nicholas is starting 3rd out of 10 cars for 40 laps.  It had started sprinkling with 9 laps left in the Jr. Honda race.  They get that race finished and decide to send the Sr. Honda cars out.  It is still slightly drizzling as they roll off.  The field takes the green flag, and Nicholas gets 2nd place.  He takes the LEAD after about 5 laps and stayed there for many laps.  The top 4 drivers are nose to tail and mixing it up almost every lap.  A car spins bringing out the first caution with only 9 laps left!  Nicholas had just gotten shuffled back to 4th.  The rain gets harder during the caution so the cars are brought off the track, and everything is cancelled till tomorrow.  So close!

A-Main (Sunday) – What a bummer!  These kids have to start their whole race over because of the rain delay.  Nicholas is starting 3rd out of 8 drivers (some families left yesterday) for 40 laps – again.  He gets the LEAD after a lap with another Talon driver right on his bumper.  The two of them keep switching out for 1st place.  Nicholas just passed for the lead again when a slower car spins out in turn 2.  Both drivers hit the stopped car bringing out the caution with 16 laps left.  Nicholas goes into the pits, but he has a bent axle.  The cars line up to restart.  Nicholas doesn’t come back out.  He finishes 7th with a DNF.
 
Lt. 160 (20 cars) – Nicholas qualifies 6th fastest in this car with a time of 6.071.  That will put him in the B-Main to start.
 
B-Main – Nicholas is starting 5th out of 10 cars for 30 laps.  The #1 car falls out so Nicholas gets bumped to the 4 hole.  Cars start wrecking in front of him on the green flag start.  He goes high and outside, but his right rear tire hits the turn 2 wall.  RED FLAG comes out.  Nicholas doesn’t need to come into the pits so he lines up 4th single file.  He just passed for 2nd when a car flips bringing out another RED FLAG with 26 laps to go.  Nicholas goes back to 3rd for line up.  He gets 2nd place again on the restart and takes the LEAD with 21 to go.  The race goes green till the end with Nicholas and another Talon driver lapping cars.  Nicholas WINS the B!

A-Main (Sunday) – Nicholas is starting 6th out of 10 cars for 40 laps.  He fell down into 8th after the green.  He got up to 7th, but he and the 6th place car got stuck together.  They passed each other a few times trying to catch the top 5 cars, but they just couldn’t get there.  Nicholas finally gets lapped by the leader with 3 laps left.  The race went caution free so that didn’t help Nicholas to make up any positions.  He will finish this one in 7th.

Lt. Mod (1 car) – This is Nicholas’ fourth regional qualifying this car.  There is still no one to race against.  He gets a TRACK RECORD with a time of 5.988.

Tuesday, June 10
Summer Heat Series Begins
Tuesday night racing begins!
10 June 08

Sr. Honda (9 cars) – There is no batch qualifying for Tuesday night races when there is less than an A-Main so drivers will line up according to their pill draw.  This is a very special night for Wilt Racing.  Nicholas and younger sister, Kaitlyn, are now in the same class and will be racing against each other for the summer series.  Look out!!

A-Main – Nicholas has some good luck tonight and gets the POLE position to start.  There are 9 cars for 30 laps or 20 minutes.  Nicholas gets the LEAD at the green flag.  Mom is video taping Kaitlyn so I can’t really see what Nicholas is doing for most of the race.  At one point I even had to ask some people in the stands who was leading.  They laugh at me and say Nicholas!  First caution is out with 16 to go, and Nicholas lines up in 1st.  He keeps the LEAD on the restart.  He will lap a couple cars before the end of the race but not his sister.  He starts off the summer with a WIN!  Nice job man!

Lt. 160 (7 cars) – No batch qualifying for this class either.  Drivers will line up according to their pill draw.  Where have all the drivers gone??

A-Main – Nicholas isn’t quite as lucky for this class.  His pill draw has him starting in 7th out of 7 cars for 25 laps or 12 minutes.  Someone has dropped out so Nicholas moves up to the 6 hole.  He got 5th at the green flag.  Yellow is out with 22 to go, and Nicholas lines up in 4th.  He is up to 2nd after the restart.  He passed for the LEAD but would lose it with about 10 laps left.  Nicholas lines up in 2nd after a caution with 6 laps to go.  He gets the LEAD again on the restart for a couple laps.  The 2nd and 3rd place cars bump each other hard, but no caution comes out giving Nicholas a pretty good lead.  Second place would catch Nicholas rather quickly, and the 2 of them would pass back and forth for the last 3 laps of the race!  Nicholas runs out of time to go for the lead again so he will finish this race in 2nd.

Saturday, June 7
Staying Consistent
School’s over – it’s time to race (more)!
7 June 08

Sr. Honda (14 cars) – Mom has to ask Ms. Kim to write down qualifying times for me today because I’m back at the house having a yard sale with Grammy.  Nicholas runs a fast lap of 6.373 making him 4th fastest.

A-Main – Nicholas is starting 2nd out of 10 cars for 30 laps.  The drivers just get the yellow flag after warm-up to begin lining up when a Talon driver hits the wall hard bringing out the RED FLAG.  The driver is cleared, the car taken to the pits and the rest of the field gets ready to take the green.  Nicholas gets a great start and takes the LEAD.  First caution is out with 26 to go with Nicholas in 1st.  The rest of the race will go green.  Nicholas will fall to 2nd with 20 laps left and then to 3rd with 15 to go.  He stays there and is lapping cars with the 2 lead cars.  He brings this one home in 3rd.

Lt. 160 (11 cars) – There are only 11 cars today so everyone will make the A-Main.  Nicholas qualifies with a time of 6.086 which is 3rd fastest.  Fast time for the class will run under 6 seconds.  WOW!

A-Main – Nicholas is starting 3rd out of 11 cars for 30 laps.  He dives low coming out of turn 4 at the green flag and takes the LEAD!  First caution flies with 23 to go, and Nicholas will line the field up behind him.  He loses the lead on the restart, but a car spins out so he goes back to 1st.  He keeps the lead on the restart but not for long.  He will fall to 2nd within 2 laps.  The race goes green for a long time.  The leader and Nicholas are lapping cars one by one.  The lap counter just gets to 5 to go when a BAD 3-car wreck on the backstretch brings out the RED FLAG!  The field goes back to 6 laps left with Nicholas in 2nd.  The race goes till the checkered.  Nicholas rolls with the leader.  He crosses the line in 2nd.

Saturday, May 31
A Long Day?
Heat races at NCQMA
31 May 08

Sr. Honda (17 cars) – Nicholas is in heat race #2.  We have borrowed an engine from another Talon team for this weekend because Nicholas’ is at the engine builders.  His pill draw has him starting in the 3 hole out of 9 cars for 25 laps.  The top 2 will transfer to the A.  He gets 2nd place at the green.  He is still in 2nd when the first yellow is out with 23 to go.  He falls to 4th after the restart with about 15 laps left.  He then falls back to 6th with 2 to go.  He stays there to finish 6th.  Looks like this engine may not be as good as the one that has been breaking all the records.

C-Main – Nicholas is starting in 4th out of 9 cars for 25 laps.  The top 6 will transfer.  There is a 3-car wreck as they get the “one to go” signal to start the race.  Nicholas lines up in 2nd double file.  He falls back into 5th after the green.  He passes 2 cars at once to get into 3rd place.  Yellow is out with 19 to go, and he lines up in 3rd.  He got 2nd on the restart and passes for the LEAD with 17 to go!  Next yellow is out with 14 laps left, and Nicholas is in 1st.  He starts lapping cars with the 2nd place car right on his bumper.  The driver in 2nd passes Nicholas with 1 to go, but Nicholas will pass him right back to WIN!

B-Main – Nicholas is starting this one in a good spot – the 5 hole out of 10 cars for 25 laps.  The top 6 will transfer.  He came out in 5th place at the start.  He passes for 4th with 22 to go.  He gets 3rd on the restart.  Nicholas passes for 2nd, but on the next lap he gets passed back and falls to 4th.  There is a 3-car wreck that brings out the yellow then RED FLAG with 16 laps left.  Nicholas lines up in 3rd.  The 2 lead cars slow down for some reason after the green flag start so Nicholas goes for 2nd.  He has the pass made, but the other car taps Nicholas’ wheel which causes him to spin out.  Two cars hit Nicholas.  Out comes the pit cart for Nicholas.  The car gets the needed repairs and there are 16 laps to go when Nicholas comes back out on the track in 10th.  He makes a fantastic move and passes 3 cars instantly after the restart.  Yellow is out again with 14 to go.  Nicholas lines up 7th.  Another yellow has Nicholas in 6th.  He makes another good move and passes 2 more cars on the restart.  He’s up to 4th.  He grabs the 3rd position with 8 laps left and will finish 3rd.  Good enough for a transfer!

A-Main – Well, after a long day, Nicholas has finally made the A.  He is starting in 7th out of 10 cars for 30 laps.  He comes out in 4th after the green flag.  He falls to 5th with 20 laps left.  First caution is out with 18 to go.  He lines up 4th.  He passes for 3rd, but the yellow is out again.  He keeps the position and lines up 3rd.  They go green.  A bad 3-car wreck in turn 4 brings out the RED FLAG with 18 laps still left.  The race finally goes green for awhile.  Nicholas will get passed and fall to 4th, but he’s right on the back bumper of the car in front of him until the white flag flies.  They catch a lap car so Nicholas takes the opportunity to go under the 3rd place car.  They are side-by-side coming out of turn 4 with Nicholas on the inside, but he comes up a little short for the position.  He’ll finish in 4th place.  Not bad after the way the day started!

Lt. 160 (13 cars) – Nicholas is in heat race #2.  His pill draw has him starting 6th in the 6-car field for 25 laps.  The top 2 will transfer.  He gets 4th right away at the green.  He makes another pass for 3rd with 16 to go.  The 2 lead cars check out on the rest of the field.  The race goes caution free never giving Nicholas a chance at catching the leaders.  Nicholas and another Talon driver keep swapping 3rd and 4th position.  With about 3 laps to go, Nicholas makes the final swap and holds on to finish 3rd.

B-Main – Nicholas is starting 2nd out of 9 cars for 25 laps.  The top 6 will transfer.  Nicholas sticks it on the outside for a full lap then finally edges out the car on the pole to take the LEAD.  He starts to check out on the field, but a caution comes out with 24 to go.  Nicholas lines up 1st and checks out again.  He is just about to lap a car when yellow flies with 21 to go.  He is still leading with 16 laps left.  He falls to 2nd with about 8 laps to go and will stay there to transfer.

A-Main – Nicholas starts 6th out of 10 cars for 30 laps.  He gets down after the green flag and is under a car going for a pass when they bump tires.  Nicholas spins out.  He lines up in 8th – not sure if there was a call made on him or not.  He is up to 6th after several restarts.  We have yet to get a lap in so we are still on lap 30!  They finally get a few laps in when caution flies with 26 to go.  Nicholas is up to 3rd.  He gets 2nd with about 20 laps left.  He and the 3rd place car keep passing back and forth.  Next caution is out with 10 to go, and Nicholas is in 2nd.  The top 3 cars run nose to tail for awhile.  Nicholas will get passed again and fall to 3rd with about 5 laps to go.  The 2 leaders will get a few car lengths on Nicholas so Nicholas is content to stay put and finish a strong 3rd!

Saturday, May 24
Sweet Home Alabama
Two Track Records, but no wins this time
24 May 08
(HQMA Regional, Huntsville, AL)

Sr. Honda (24 cars) – Nicholas knocks a whole tenth off the old track record today by qualifying at a 6.823 taking the fast time and setting the new track record!  Great job!

A-Main – Nicholas is starting in the 5 hole out of 10 cars for this 40 lap race.  He fell into 5th at the green flag start.  He passes for 4th right away then makes the move to get 3rd.  He is running there for the rest of the race.  The top 3 drivers are lapping the rest of the field, but Nicholas just can’t catch the first 2 cars till 2 laps to go.  Caution never flies for this race.  First and second place will go side-by-side coming to the checkered flag with Nicholas right on their bumpers!  Nicholas finishes in 3rd.

Lt. 160 (18 cars) – Nicholas has another good qualifying run for this class.  He posts a fast time of 6.518 giving him 2nd fastest.  The top 3 qualifiers today all break the original track record of 6.602 with fast time (and new track record) going to another NCQMA driver.

A-Main – Nicholas is starting in 4th out of 10 cars for 40 laps.  He misses a pretty good chance at an open space to get down in about 5th place and ends up falling all the way back to 10th.  He is passing cars one by one and just goes for 6th place when the first caution is out with 35 laps to go.  Nicholas lines up in 7th.  Next yellow is out with 33 to go, he lines up in 6th.  They go back green.  A few laps later a car spins out in front of Nicholas.  Nicholas hits the other car but stays on the gas to avoid a DOT.  He lines up in 4th with 26 laps left.  He was trying to pass for 3rd when caution is out again with 22 to go.  He gets the 3rd spot on the restart.  With 18 to go, he is up to 2nd, but the other car passes him back.  Nicholas’ car appears to be having trouble staying down in the corners because of the wreck.  He loses some more positions and goes back to 5th.  Yellow flag is out with 2 laps to go, and Nicholas lines up 5th.  His car goes high again coming out of turn 4 on the restart giving some cars behind him the chance to pass.  He falls back to finish in 7th.  It turns out the steering shaft was loose which was giving Nicholas problems turning the car into the corners.

Lt. Mod (1 car) – Nicholas attempts to go for his 3rd track record in this car at a regional.  He is quite successful.  He runs a 6.521 breaking the old track record that was set at a 7.848!  Nicholas is the only car again so he doesn’t race.

Friday, May 16
Defending the 100 Lapper!!!
Sr. Honda 100-lap Race
16 May 08

Sr. Honda (12 cars) – Nicholas is on a mission for tonight.  He’s hoping to defend his title as the WINNER of this special NCQMA race from last year.

Heat Race #2 – Nicholas draws a bad number and will start his heat race as the #6 car out of 6 cars for 25 laps.  It’s been decided that ONLY the winner of the heats will transfer straight to the A-Main – instead of the usual top 2 cars.  The #2 car is in the pits at time so Nicholas is bumped to the inside #5 hole.  The cars take the green, but caution is out right away, and Nicholas will line up in 4th single file.  He is passing for 2nd place when he spins out in turn 4 so he goes to the rear and lines up 6th with 19 laps left.  He is back up to 4th within a lap.  He tries to pass for 3rd, but the car pinches him off with about 8 laps to go.  He knows he doesn’t have enough time to get to the lead and transfer to the A-Main so he stays where he is to finish in 4th.

B-Main – Nicholas starts 6th out of 10 cars for this 25-lap race.  The top 8 cars will transfer to the A-Main.  Nicholas gets a great start and is in 3rd place after the first lap.  With 20 laps to go, Nicholas takes the LEAD!!  He’s out to make a statement to the 2 cars already in the A that he’s coming for them!  First caution flies with 18 laps left as 2 cars wreck right in front of Nicholas.  He lines up 1st.  The next caution is out with 10 to go as Nicholas just misses another Talon Driver that has spun out on the backstretch.  He lines up the field behind him.  The race goes green till the end.  Nicholas WINS!!!

A-Main (1st segment) – This race is split into 2 segments of 50 laps each with a pit stop in the middle.  Nicholas is starting in 3rd out of 10 cars.  He gets 2nd right after the green flag start.  He grabs the LEAD with 46 yet to go!  He holds onto it for awhile, but then falls to 3rd place when teammate Ryan Blaney gets under him for a pass taking another car with him with 40 laps to go.  He falls to 4th with about 37 left.  First caution flies with 34 laps to go, and Nicholas will line up in 4th.  The top 4 cars are mixing it up every lap.  He falls to 5th with about 15 laps left and is still running there (1/2 lap behind the leader) when yellow is out with 6 to go.  With the field closed up again, Nicholas makes some quick passes and is up to 2nd as the race is nearing the half-way mark.  A car spins out after trying to dive under Nicholas and tapping his left rear wheel.  They go back green with one lap left.  Nicholas passes the leader on the backstretch and takes the LEAD as the yellow flag flies ending this first segment!!

A-Main (2nd segment) – The pit stop goes even worse than last year’s.  Last year Nicholas was in 1st, out 4th.  This year he was in 1st, out 6th!  YUK!  Last year it was Chris that had troubles on the tire change.  This year it was Kevin but it was really Chris’ fault for not checking the impact gun!  What a hard time we gave them!!  Nicholas lines up in 6th single file for this next 50-lap segment.  He is up to 4th in the first lap then up to 3rd within 5 laps.  Yellow comes out with 40 laps left because of parts on the track so the flagman throws the RED FLAG to stop all the cars trying to figure out who lost the parts.  Turns out they were from another Talon driver’s car.  Nicholas lines up in 3rd and passes for 2nd place after the restart.  He takes the LEAD with 37 laps to go.  Teammate Ryan Blaney passes Nicholas causing Nicholas to fall to 3rd with about 29 to go.  The next yellow is out with 24 laps left, and Nicholas lines up in 4th.  There is a lap car between Nicholas and the 2nd place car.  Nicholas passes the lap car on the restart and catches the 1st and 2nd place cars with 19 to go.  Another yellow is out with 16 laps left, and Nicholas lines up 3rd.  He grabs 2nd place on the restart and just passes Ryan for the LEAD, but a caution then a RED FLAG flies with 15 to go putting Nicholas back in 2nd for the line up.  They go green, and Nicholas knows he has to make his move if he wants to win this race again.  Nicholas dives under Ryan taking the LEAD with 13 laps left!!  Another driver in 2nd catches Nicholas with 10 laps to go.  Then the 3rd place car catches them.  The 2nd and 3rd place drivers keep trying to pass each other which buys Nicholas some time and space with less than 5 to go.  They take the white flag.  The top 3 drivers are all hungry for the win!  Second place will stick his front bumper under Nicholas going into turn 3, and third place will stick his front bumper under the second place car coming out of turn 4.  Nicholas pinches his car down just enough to keep the edge on 2nd and 3rd as the top 3 drivers come across the start/finish line 3-WIDE!!!  What an exciting finish and some great racing!  Nicholas WINS this race by just INCHES for the 2nd year in a row!!!

Saturday, May 10
Back To NCQMA
Back Home Again
10 May 08

Sr. Honda (17 cars) – Nicholas’ car is a little off for today’s qualifying, but that may be due to the fact that Wilt Racing has spent the last 2 weekends at other Region 3 tracks.  Another factor was a club meeting today meant no morning practice.  Nicholas qualifies 4th fastest at a 6.331.

A-Main – Normally, 4th fastest would have Nicholas starting in 2nd, but again there was no invert for today so he’ll be starting in the 4 hole with a field of 10 cars for 30 laps.  He got lucky and found an opening after the green flag and got down in line in 4th place.  He was running there the whole race until the first caution came out with 2 laps to go!  Nicholas was actually one of the cars involved in bringing out the caution.  He was attempting to pass a lapped car when they wrecked.  The judges don’t make a call on either of the drivers so they both get a DOT and go to the rear of the field.  They restart with Nicholas in 10th, but yellow comes out again, and he moves up to 9th.  Another yellow comes out, and he lines up in 8th.  (If this keeps up, Nicholas will be back up to where he was originally.)  Nicholas is technically still in 4th place because there are lap cars in line ahead of him.  They finally go green, and Nicholas is making passes as quickly as he can with only 2 laps left.  He gets up to the top 3 cars just as the checkered flag is flying.  He crosses the line in 4th!

Lt. 160 (13 cars) – Well, Nicholas is at least being consistent today.  He qualifies this car 4th fastest with a time of 6.131.

A-Main – Without inverting again today, Nicholas starts in the 4 hole out of 10 cars for 30 laps.  It took him awhile to find a spot, but eventually got into 7th.  He was running in 6th when the yellow comes out with 23 to go.  He is up to 5th at the next caution with 8 laps to go.  He gets 4th after the restart but has trouble getting around the 3rd place car allowing the car behind him to catch up.  That car passes Nicholas on the white flag lap so Nicholas will bring it home in 5th.

Saturday, May 3
Nashville Bound

3 Fast Times and a WIN

3 May 08(MCQMRA Regional, Nashville TN. States Race) 

Sr. Honda (13 cars) – Well, the rain forecast (or gas prices) must have scared lots of people away for the weekend.  Numbers are way down for this regional and states race.  Wilt Racing got to the MCQMRA track early Friday morning to get practice before the rains hit.  Using notes from last year to set up the car, Nicholas went out for a couple practice runs.  Bad storms would come late morning so Nicholas didn’t practice this car again till later in the evening.  On Saturday morning Nicholas would qualify at a 7.492.  Quite a bit slower than his track record here of 7.244 and established the new track record since his old track record was retired.  It was good enough for a fast time though.  He’ll start in the A-Main.

A-Main – Nicholas would start 5th out of 10 cars for 40 laps.  We told him to be patient on the starts so he was cautious as the green flag flies.  He gets into line in 5th, but his car seems to be a little loose in the corners.  He goes side by side with another car for a pass when that car cuts down causing them to bump.  A car is right behind Nicholas so as he bumps the first car, Nicholas gets hit hard in the rear and both of them spin out.  The car Nicholas was passing keeps going so only Nicholas and the car that was behind him get a DOT and go to the back of the field for the restart.  Nicholas will line up in 9th with 37 laps to go.  He starts passing cars one at a time until the next yellow is out with 17 laps to go.  Nicholas is up to 3rd.  After the green, he takes 2nd spot, and the field will race for many laps.  Nicholas catches the first place car and passes him for the LEAD with about 6 laps left.  As our luck would have it, caution would come out for a 2-car wreck and then a RED FLAG with 4 laps to go.  Nicholas’ car was better on long green runs.  This wasn’t good.  They finally line up to go back racing.  Nicholas is driving hard trying to stay in the lead, but the 2nd and 3rd place cars would get under him causing him to fall to 3rd with 2 laps to go.  The top 3 drivers take the white flag.  The 2nd place car would pass the leader, and Nicholas would see a chance to get under that car also coming out of turn 4 to just edge him out and take 2nd coming across the start/finish line!  A fantastic finish as all 3 of these drivers would lead at one point on the last 2 laps.  Nice clean racing by all!

Lt. Mod (1 car) – Nicholas is the only car in this class for the second week in a row.  We didn’t register it for regionals, but Nicholas had to qualify it so he can race this class at the Grands in CT.  He only got 8 laps on the Nashville track as the skies opened up and soaked the track for a few hours on Friday.  Saturday would be much better track conditions than on Friday so Nicholas did his best to get the fastest time he could.  As it turned out, he set a new TRACK RECORD of 7.015.  He wanted to go out and race with a couple Lt. Bs.  Earlier in the day we had been told that was ok, but come time for the Bs to go out, we were told we couldn’t so Nicholas didn’t get anymore seat time.  We’re hoping to practice with some cars at our track before leaving for the Eastern Grands.

Lt. 160 (8 cars) – WOW, not even a full A-Main for this class.  We feel like we’re back in Region 6 at a regional!  The track is still slow on times.  Nicholas is the 6th one out to qualify.  He would run a 7.181 which would be good enough for another fast time today and track record!

A-Main – For the second time today, Nicholas would start 5th out of 8 cars for 40 laps.  They take the green flag coming out of turn 4, but a few cars would bump and wreck in front of him.  Nicholas would hit the brakes hard and turn hard left causing him to do a 180 to avoid the wreck.  Thankfully the judges see that Nicholas DOT’d after the caution so he gets his spot back and will line up in 3rd single file for the restart.  He gets 2nd place and then takes the LEAD with 26 laps to go as the race would go green for many more laps.  The next yellow would not come out till 12 laps to go just as Nicholas got passed and fell to 2nd and then was trying to lap a car.  Cars in the middle of the pack keep bumping in line-up.  Nicholas would take a hard hit from the car behind him causing him to run up on the back of the leader.  As they start to go green again, the leader will lose a muffler and tailpipe bringing out yellow again.  This has Nicholas back in 1st place.  The field takes the green, Nicholas wiggles coming out of turn 2 and loses the lead but gets the lead back in turns 3 and 4.  Another yellow out with 11 to go has Nicholas still in the LEAD.  Same thing happens to Nicholas as before.  His car breaks loose coming out of turn 2 so he loses the lead and will fall back to 3rd place.  Before they can complete a lap though, there is a wreck on the backstretch.  Nicholas slows down coming out of turn 4, but the car behind him doesn’t and hits Nicholas causing him to spin out on the frontstretch.  The judges are nice again and notice that Nicholas’ wreck happened after the initial yellow so he will get his 1st place spot back.  Nicholas takes the white flag and comes around looking for the checkered flag, but I look up and the flagman is picking something up in the flagstand as the cars roll by him.  By this time a car has spun out on the backstretch so he throws the yellow flag.  Well, most of the drivers knew checkered should have flown so ALL the cars but Nicholas leave the track.  Some of the judges even leave the stand.  Nicholas stays out on the track and keeps doing laps waiting for his flag to carry.  All of a sudden I hear Chris yelling up at the race director about the cars leaving the track, and then the tower announces that drivers and judges need to return to the track because the race is NOT complete!!  There is a big discussion going on, and the drivers for the next class out are told to get out of their cars till a decision is made about how to finish this race.  What a mess!!!  HUGE DELAY!  Chris is fighting that the cars should line up the way they exited the track, but the tower lines them up the way they were on the previous lap without putting the car that DOT’d in the rear (was the 2nd place car behind Nicholas).  The third place car is the same driver that was in 3rd during the Sr. Honda race that ended up winning so all I can see is the same scenario about to happen in this race because Nicholas is having trouble keeping the car down coming out of the turns on restarts.  It’s decided that they will get the green/white flag with 1 lap to go.  This has all the signs of being a huge disaster with drivers fighting for positions.  Gee, could it be a Talladega shootout with the “big one” coming at the end??  Well, the cars line up, the flagman throws the green and white flags, and they are off.  Nicholas gets a good restart and has just enough room to keep the lead going down the backstretch.  He gets a little loose coming out of 4, but he has enough speed that he takes the checkered to WIN!!!  (Thank goodness that is over.)



Saturday, April 26
A Little Rain Again, A New Track Record
26 April 08
(NGQMA Regional, Cumming, GA)

Sr. Honda (22 cars) – Nicholas is the 17th car to hit the track for qualifying.  He was running in the high 6.3s yesterday during practice.  Dad was hoping new tires and some adjustments would show some improvement, but it wouldn’t.  Nicholas would run a 6.402 which would put him 4th fastest.  At least he made it to the A-Main.

A-Main – Nicholas would be starting 2nd out of 10 cars for only 25 laps.  It would start to rain during the Jr. Honda A-Main (they had 14 laps left).  After about a 2-hour delay, Sr. Honda would finally hit the track at almost 10PM.  By now, dad is scratching his head about how to set up the car for the new track conditions.  Teammate Ryan Blaney is in the #3 car.  They line up to take the green flag.  At the start, Ryan gets the lead, and Nicholas gets down into 2nd place right behind him.  The two of them check out on the field.  They had a really good lead when the first caution would fly with 17 laps to go.  Ryan and Nicholas line up first and second.  They take off again.  Nicholas is all over the back bumper of Ryan’s car.  He finally gets a chance to take the LEAD with 11 laps to go.  The next yellow is out with 9 laps left.  Nicholas and Ryan are still the top 2 cars.  Ryan stays glued to Nicholas’ back bumper, and they roll.  Ryan’s car is a tick faster, and he is actually pushing Nicholas for a couple laps.  With 3 laps to go, Ryan goes for the pass.  He would take the lead, but Nicholas would tuck in right behind Ryan.  They take the white flag, and as they come out of turn 4 for the checkered flag, Nicholas tries to cut it down low and get under Ryan for the win.  He would come up just a little short though to finish 2nd.  Some great racing by these two Talon drivers!

Lt. Mod (1 car) – Dad and Nicholas decided to take the Lt. Mod car along to get some practice.  Nicholas isn’t running this car for regionals, but he does have to race it next weekend at the States race in Nashville, TN since he will be racing this class at the Eastern Grands in June.  During practice on Friday, Nicholas was very fast and well under the current track record (6.328) with some fast laps under 6 seconds so they decide to register it.  Nicholas goes out for his qualifying run and posts a fast time and new TRACK RECORD of 6.018!  He’s the only Lt. Mod so we decide not to race it.  Nice job dude!!

Lt. 160 (24 cars) – Nicholas has a better qualifying run for this class than he did the beginning of last year.  He doesn’t quite make the A-Main, but his time of 6.155 would make him 8th fastest starting in the B-Main.

B-Main – Nicholas is starting 3rd out of 10 cars for 30 laps.  He gets bumped to the 2 hole because the #2 car is in the pits at time.  He lines up next to Ryan Blaney.  They get the one-to-go signal from the flagman, but as Ryan and Nicholas start to go, the flagman calls off the start.  They line back up.  Coming out of turn 4, the #5 car behind Nicholas gives him a great push and shoots Nicholas out in front of Ryan to take the LEAD, but it wouldn’t last for long.  Caution would come out before the first lap is complete so Nicholas would line up in 2nd single file behind Ryan.  Nicholas gets the LEAD again on the next lap, but yellow is out so he goes back to 2nd again with 29 laps to go.  Ryan and Nicholas take off and get a huge lead till the next caution is out with 27 to go.  Nicholas gets the LEAD on the restart with Ryan right on his tail.  The race would green from here on out.  Nicholas’ car would start to slow down, and he was trying hard to keep a transfer position.  He falls to 2nd with about 15 laps left, then falls to 3rd with 13 laps left and would eventually fall to 4th with about 8 laps to go.  Thank goodness the 2 cars behind him would start to battle for the last transfer spot so that gave Nicholas enough time to stay in 4th till the checkered flag.  Transferring to the A!

A-Main – It’s now 10:45PM.  What a long day!  Nicholas is starting in the rear of the field for this one.  He’s in 9th out of 10 cars for 25 laps.  As the Wilt luck would go, he gets bumped to the outside #8 spot.  They take the green, and there is some shuffling going on.  Nicholas would fall to the back so he could get the low line, but the usual first lap caution comes out so he lines up in 8th.  This would unfortunately be the only caution for this class as they would go green till the end.  3 Talon cars are in this race but they are all stuck in the back of the field as the field gets stretched out and everyone appears to be running the same lap times.  Very little passing going on during the race made it hard to gain positions.  The 3 Talon drivers would come across the finish line in the order they were racing.  Twenty-five laps instead of the usual 40 and no cautions would work against these drivers, but an A-Main for Nicholas this year at this track was good for the points.  Nicholas would finish the Lt. 160 race in 9th place, but he should be higher in the regional points because a few of the drivers that finished ahead of him aren’t running regionals.

Saturday, April 19
Rain, Rain, GO AWAY!
19 April 08
(Heat race day)

Sr. Honda (18 cars) – Nicholas is in the Sr. Honda heat race #2 for today.  His pill draw was a terrible number putting him 9th place to start out of 9 cars for 25 laps.  Two cars wreck during the 30-second warm-up resulting in Nicholas being bumped from the 9 hole to the 8 hole.  He ducks down behind the #7 car as they get the green flag going into turn 3.  He is running in 6th place after the first lap.  He is up to 3rd with 18 laps to go.  He has the 2nd spot with 15 to go and has his eye on the leader.  Nicholas takes the LEAD with 7 laps left and goes on to WIN!!  Great caution free race!  Nicholas did a great job by being patient after having to start in the rear and work his way up through the field. 

A-Main – Nicholas would have transferred straight into the A-Main with his heat race win, but the rains would come, and the rains would come, and the rains would come.  The last heat race of the day was hitting the track at 10PM Saturday night so no mains were run today.  It was decided after several rain delays that if all the heat races got done, points would be awarded according to the driver’s finishing place.  Nicholas will get 1st place points.

Lt. 160 (15 cars) – It’s now 4:45, and Nicholas is just hitting the track for his Lt. 160 heat race #1.  He drew a better number so he’s starting in 2nd out of 8 cars for 25 laps.  Two Talons are on the front row.  Nicholas stays side-by-side with the #1 car and is running the outside line for over 2 laps.  He finally gives it up a little so he doesn’t get pinched into the wall and falls down into 4th place.  He is up to 2nd with 18 laps to go.  First caution comes out with 15 to go, and Nicholas lines up in 2nd.  After the next yellow, he takes the LEAD on the restart.  With 6 laps to go caution is out again, and then the RAINS start again!  Nicholas had half a lap lead on the second place car.  It is 7:04PM before the field is able to restart the race and finish the last few laps.  The track is very slippery, and the air is getting cooler.  They take the green, but none of the cars can make a pass.  Nicholas keeps his lead, but first through fourth place are nose to tail till the checkered flag.  Another WIN!!!

A-Main – There will be no main race tonight.  Nicholas would have transferred to the A with his heat race win.  It started to pour again as the cars were leaving the track.  It took another few hours till the Lt. 160 second heat race could run.  Nicholas will be awarded first place points.

Saturday, April 12
Rain Hampers Beat the Clock Day

12 April 08
1st Race back at NCQMA for 2008

Sr. Honda (22 cars) – After about a 2 hr rain delay, qualifying got under way for what was supposed to be “Beat the Clock” day for NCQMA drivers to try and break the track records in all classes.  Needless to say with clouds and rain, we didn’t have the ideal track conditions for that to happen.  It was told to us later in the day that this special race day would be rescheduled when track conditions were better.  Anyway, Nicholas holds the current track record for Sr. Honda with a 6.142 set at the regional race last November.  Nicholas is the 13th driver to hit the track.  He runs a lap time of 6.351 giving him fast time for Sr. Honda.  Second fastest would be Talon teammate Ryan Blaney with a 6.431.

A-Main – Nicholas normally would have started in the 5 hole out of 10 cars for this 30 lap race (or 15 minute time limit), but for some reason there is a second handlers meeting, and we are told that there was another “inversion” done.  The drivers start straight up with the fastest car in first, second fastest in 2nd, etc.  This gives Nicholas the POLE for the “A” Main.  Not a bad place to start!  Nicholas gets the jump at the green flag and takes the LEAD.  The 2nd place car would catch him about halfway through the race, and with about 15 laps to go, but stays glued to the leader’s bumper.  With 8 laps to go, Nicholas gets under the leader and makes the pass for the LEAD, but as our luck goes, the first caution of the race comes out so Nicholas goes back to 2nd in single file for line up.  The field goes back to racing with Nicholas once again all over the leader.  With about 4 laps to go, he gets under the leader on the frontstretch.  Nicholas appears to have had the line going into turn 1, but the leader sees Nicholas is there.  The cars bump and the leader spins out in turn 2.  Of course, the driver passing always seems to be at fault, so Nicholas receives a charge call and will go to the rear of the 10-car field with only a few laps left.  He starts passing right away at the green and is up to 4th or 5th when caution comes out again with 1 lap to go.  Nicholas’ last few passes didn’t count so he lines up 7th and the lap count goes back to 2 laps to go.  After the restart, the front pack goes 3 wide down the backstretch into turn 3, Nicholas sees this and hangs back, but a couple of them will wreck right in the groove.  Nicholas has nowhere to go, hits a stopped car and flips his car on its side bringing out the RED FLAG.  Nicholas is ok, but the car isn’t.  He is carried over the wall, and the car checked out.  His right front wheel is locked up.  So close, but not a good finish for his first points race.  Nicholas finishes in 9th with a DNF. 

Lt. 160 (13 cars) – Nicholas is the 11th car to hit the track for qualifying.  He runs a 6.070 and sets fast time again for the day.  Second fastest has a time of 6.182.


A-Main – Once again, Nicholas should have started in the 5th spot, but with the inverted invert he is on the POLE for this 30 lap race.  We are also on a time limit of 15 minutes for these races because with the rain delay we will be close to our 11PM curfew.  The outside car gets a great start, and Nicholas loses the lead for about half a lap.  Caution would come out before the first lap is completed so Nicholas lines up first single file.  Next yellow out with 28 laps to go, and Nicholas and Ryan will line up 1 and 2 respectively.  They take the green and start lapping cars together till the next caution with 15 laps to go.  Nicholas and Ryan line the field up again and bring them around.  At the green flag, Ryan gets under Nicholas enough to pass and with the cars lined up, Nicholas can’t find a spot to get down into till 4th place.  He is still in 4th with 10 to go.  He gets up to 2nd with 8 laps to go.  Oh no, here we go.  Déjà vu from the Sr. Honda race with Nicholas in 2nd with 8 to go.  Ryan is leading.  After the restart, Nicholas gets under Ryan, and they start passing back and forth a couple times.  Nicholas gets around Ryan one more time for the LEAD, and on the next lap a bad 4-car wreck in turn 2 brings out the RED FLAG.  Time has expired on the clock so the race will continue for the last 6 laps or till the next caution.  The field lines up, and the flagman doesn’t give much notice for the “one to go” signal for the leader.  Nicholas is passing under the flagman as he points the green flag to turn 3.  Chris yells to the flagman that the lead car didn’t see the green, but it’s too late!  (My mind goes back to another race where Nicholas was leading, and the flagman gave the signal as Nicholas was under him.  Nicholas was late getting on the gas, giving 2nd place a chance to get under him, they bump and Nicholas ends up barrel rolling into turns 1 and 2.)  This time though Nicholas catches a glimpse of the flagman’s signal and hits his mark to restart the race.  He keeps the LEAD for the last few laps with Ryan right on his bumper.  Nicholas finally WINS a Lt. 160 race at NCQMA!!  Talon will finish first and second.  Great racing guys!



Sunday, March 30
Rain, Race, Cold, Race??

Sr. Honda (19 cars) – Nicholas had a great practice session on Friday for this first regional of 2008.  His times were comparable to what he qualified at last weekend.  However, come Saturday bad weather would roll in and as is the usual “Wilt luck”, the rains would start just as Nicholas was due to hit the track for qualifying.Out of 19 Sr Hondas Nicholas was #16 to go out.Well, the rains started as #14 finished qualifying. We would sit through a 3 hour rain delay. The track is now clean with no grip so we knew times would not be good.Nicholas would be the second car to go out on the track after the rains, and he would be the fastest of the 5 remaining cars in the class, but his times would be much slower than his practice times and the cars that already qualified earlier. With a time of 6.859, Nicholas would just squeak into the A-Main being the 5thfastest.

A-Main (30 March 08) – Nicholas has the pole position out of 10 cars to start this 40-lap race.  He gets a great start and takes the LEAD at the green flag.  First caution comes out with 36 laps to go.  Nicholas’ car would push high coming out of turn 4, and he falls to 3rd.  He went back and forth with the 2nd place car for a couple laps then with about 30 laps left he takes the 2nd spot.  He falls to 3rd again and the field is catching the slower cars.  Nicholas is still running in 3rd when he catches a slow car with 16 laps to go.  The 4th place car hits Nicholas’ car in the rear bumper causing Nicholas to run up on the back of the slower car.  Nicholas hits the brakes so they don’t wreck causing him to lose the position.  He lines up 5th on the next caution with 15 laps to go, but there’s a lapped car in front of him.  Next yellow has Nicholas still in 4th with 8 to go.  Then a red flag comes out with 7 laps left.  Caution right after the restart has Nicholas up to 3rd place.  Another caution with 3 laps to go, he’s still in 3rd and would stay there till the checkered flag.  Nicholas stuck on the 1st and 2nd place cars all race long but the car was just too loose to win the race.

Lt. 160 (15 cars) (30 March 08) – The “Wilt luck” would hit again on Saturday as the Lt. 160 class was next to qualify.  The first car would go out, and the rains would start again bringing about our second long rain delay.  The club decides to call it quits for the night and start over in the morning.  The track would need dried after some morning rains so it’s mid-morning till the cars hit the track.  Nicholas was #12 to qualify out of the 15 cars.  At least everyone in this class would be on an even playing field to start.  Nicholas’ car looks great and smooth as he runs his line.  He ends up with fast time for the class with a 6.427

A-Main – Nicholas is starting in 5th out of 10 cars for 40 laps.  There is a 2-car wreck right after the green flag.  Nicholas lines up single file in 4th.  He is up to 3rd with 39 laps to go.  He works his way to the front and passes for the LEAD with about 30 laps to go.  The 2nd place car catches him and passes Nicholas, but the yellow flag comes out before the lap is complete so Nicholas lines back up in 1st with 24 to go.  Nicholas checks out on the field of cars, and the race would go green for quite awhile.  Nicholas is just about to catch the tail end of the field and lap a car when caution comes out with 5 laps to go.  There are several restarts, but Nicholas holds on to the lead and WINS!!!  Way to go man!Great way to start the regional points series in the brand new Lt. 160 car.



Saturday, March 22
First Race, New Track
22 March 08 (Metro Atlanta QMA – 1st Points Race)

Sr. Honda (10 cars) – Well, Wilt Racing is trying to decide if we’d like to run for points at the new GA track in Lanier.  We left at 0300 (that’s 3AM for you non-military folks) for the 3 hour trip.  We arrived at the track around 0630, and the handler and the driver were anxious to hit the track.  It’s a very nice track with lots of banking.  The Sr. Honda car did great with the newly updated Ziggy’s engine during practice and was good to go for qualifying.  Nicholas was the second car out for qualifying and would post a time of 6.636.  It was goodenough to hold onto fast time for the class for today.  Second place was a full tenth slower.  Nicholas was very happy.   This is the time that will be used as the first track record for this track.

A-Main – Nicholas was pumped to start his first race for the year in his favorite car.  He was starting 5th out of 10 cars for 40 laps.  He got 4th at the green flag (which mom and dad emphasized “patience”).  He began passing one by one and finally took the LEAD by lap 18.  The first yellow would come out on the next lap,but thank goodness Nicholas’ pass counted.  He went a little high coming out of turn 2 on the restart and almost lost the lead but held on.  On the next restart with 17 laps to go, the second place car got under Nicholas coming out of 2, but Nicholas would retake the lead in the next corner.  He was just starting to check out on the field when a caution then RED FLAG comes out for a wreck with 15 to go.  Nicholas keeps his lead on the restart, and the race goes green for quite some time as Nicholas is starting to lap cars one by one.  He takes the white flag and is coming out of turn 4 to take the checkered when we notice that the flagman isn’t throwing the checkered flag because he saw a car spin out on the backstretch so he turns on the yellow caution lights.  The second place car is very fast and has been getting a good run on Nicholas on the restarts so we are a little worried, but then comes the line up.  There are TWO lapped cars between Nicholas and 2nd place!!  What luck!  Nicholas restarts the race with the green and white flags flying, he gets a huge lead as the cars behind him are slow to restart and brings it around to take the WIN!!

Lt. 160 (7 cars) – Brand new car!!  This is the first time this car and Nicholas have been on a track.  He does pretty well during practice, but dad decided a gear change would be a good thing for qualifying.  Nicholas looks great and will once again get fast time for this class with a 6.324.  This is also the time that will be used as the first track record for this track.  Second fastest would be .058 slower.

A-Main – The long day is starting to wear on Nicholas.  He hasn’t been in a race car since the Carolina Fall Nationals last Thanksgiving.  He was also very sick on Tues and Wed of this week so he isn’t quite up to feeling 100%.  There wasn’t much of a break for him between classes, but he’s ready to give it his best shot.  He lines up for the race in 5th place out of 7 cars for another 40 lapper.  They almost went green once until the #7 car hit Nicholas causing him to roll up onto the #3 car and get stuck.  Everyone was fine, and they all line up again.  He gets 3rd at the green flag, but a lap later falls to 4th.  With 37 laps still to go, two of the cars ahead of him spin out in front of Nicholas as he’s coming into turn 3 so he goes high coming out of turn 4 hoping to miss the cars – which he does, but he gets up into the trash on the track and the car gets loose sending him straight into the wall.  He wasn’t bad until another car comes plowing into him trying to miss the wreck.  Nicholas’ right front wheel gets towed out REALLY bad!  They get him into the pits where dad and other handlers work very hard and very fast to get Nicholas’ car fixed.  They make some adjustments and set him down to re-enter the race in 5th place.  His tire is still towed out, but he drives the car as hard as he can.  He knows the car isn’t working the greatest so he lets cars pass him as they catch him.  Another caution is out for parts on the track bringing out caution then RED FLAG with 29 laps to go.  It turns out the part is a spacer from one of Nicholas’ wheels so he comes into the pits on the red flag, and handlers go to work on his car again.  He comes out in 6th.  Race continues, and Nicholas just tries to hold on, not giving up, just incase someone else would fall out of the race or be DQ’d.  Dad even tries to signal Nicholas to bring it into the pits with about 6 laps to go, but Nicholas decides to stay on the track and wait for the checkered flag.  He finishes a few laps down, but he gives it a great racing effort to bring it home in 6th place.  He had the car to beat, but racing will be racing.  This was a good practice for Wilt Racing for next weekend which is the first region 3 race at this track.