From K.J. Motorsports
This weekend the KJ Motorsports Team continued their asphalt season by competing in a Checkered Flag Sprint Series sanctioned race at Charlotte County Motorsports Park in Punta Gorda, FL.
With the season coming to a close (last 2 races), it is good to be back at a familiar track running as well as the team is currently. Amanda’s win, with Keith in a close second, at the last event, was a huge boost to the team. The cars have been running great and both Keith and Amanda are poised to finish the season strong.
A total of 21 cars showed up for the Checkered Flag Sprint Series event. The 21 cars were broken up into 3 heat races. Amanda was in the first heat and started 3rd. Geoff Styner and Brian Maddox made up the front row. On the initial start, Styner took the lead, but it was short lived. On the second lap, Amanda passed Styner to take the lead. On lap three, the red flag came out as Jimmy Alvis Jr. hit the tire wall, in turn one, ending his night and causing a huge clean-up effort on the track. When the heat got back under way, Amanda led the final 5 laps to win heat race. This was Amanda’s fifth heat race win of the year.
Keith was in the second heat race and started 4th. Robbie Hackett and Ric Voisey made up the front row. Unlike the first heat race, this race ran quickly without any cautions or red flags. Keith easily made his way to the lead and won the second heat.
Between the heat and the feature, the KJ Motorsports crew worked on both cars to get them ready for the feature. Keith’s car needed a stagger change, weight adjustment and ride height change. Amanda’s car did not need any major changes, so it was just prepped for the feature. With the changes made, the cars were ready to roll out for the feature.
Twenty of the 21 cars were able to make it out for the feature race. Keith started 7th and Amanda started 8th. Frankie Hurst and Geoff Styner made up the front row. As the green flag flew, Keith made his move quickly, by the end of lap one, Keith had moved from 7th to 3rd. Amanda was moving to the front as well, at this point she had moved from 8th to 6th.
The first caution came out on lap 3, as Frankie Hurst spun in turn 2. This got cleaned up and on the restart Keith was able to get around Brian Maddox to take the second spot. The race was not green very long. On lap 5, Geoff Styner hit the wall between turns 1 and 2 and at the same time Mark Gimmler and Brian Maddox stopped on the track after getting together in turns 3 and 4. Gary and Brian were able to continue, but Styner was done for the night.
On the restart after the second caution, Amanda was able to make some well timed moves and drive her way to the third position. Keith was following Steven Bradley and trying to find away around him. As the laps were clicking off, Keith’s car began to develop a slight push. The push was not severe enough to cost him any positions, but enough so that he could not make a run on Bradley. The final laps were run and Keith and Amanda were holding there positions to the checkered.
In the final standings, Steven Bradley won the event followed by Keith, Amanda, Gary Gimmler and Mark Gimmler in 5th.
Keith is still the Checkered Flag Sprint Series point’s leader with a 10 point lead over Mark Gimmler. Amanda is fifth in points and is 10 points behind fourth place. Amanda also leads the Rookie of the Year competition with a 31 point lead on her nearest competitor.
KJ Motorsports will next compete with the Checkered Flag Sprint Series race on December 5th, back at the Charlotte County Motorsports Park. This will be the season finally race where the championship and Rookie of the Year titles will be determined.