By Keith Butler
This weekend the KJ Motorsports Team continued their asphalt season by competing in a Checkered Flag Sprint Series sanctioned race at the recently renamed Punta Gorda Speedway in Punta Gorda, FL.
During the first practice session Keith’s car was very loose as the team was dialing in the stagger. Amanda, in the first practice was having some trouble with the right front tire chattering. As the cars went out for the second practice, both cars were feeling a lot better. Keith also knew they were bolting on 2 tires before the heat, so he was very happy with where they were.
A total of 19 cars showed up for the Checkered Flag Sprint Series event. Amanda was in the first heat and started 4th. After battling with another car for 2 laps Amanda fell back to 5th and finished the 8 lap heat in that position.
Keith was in the second heat and started 6th. Soon after the heat race got the green flag trouble ensued for a front row starter. On lap 2, coming out of turn 4, Geoff Styner (15jr) got airborne after getting together with another car. Keith was able to get by the trouble this situation caused and take the lead. Keith was able to maintain the lead after that and win the heat race.
Between the heat and the feature, the KJ Motorsports crew worked on the cars to get them ready for the feature. Keith’s car only needed an air pressure adjustment. With Amanda’s car, she only needed some minor changes in the stagger and cross weight to get her ready for the feature.
Seventeen cars made it out for the 30 lap feature race. As the cars were scheduled to take the green flag, Darrin Miller and Ric Voisey made up the front row. Keith lined up in the 7th starting position and Amanda started 4th. Just after the field took the green flag a large pile-up formed in turn one. This accident, and red flag, included Keith, Amanda and series point’s leader Mark Gimmler. Keith and Mark were done for the night while Amanda was able to pit and fix some minor damage and look over her tail tank that was crushed, but did not leak. Amanda was able to make it out and restart towards the rear of the field. Amanda on the next restart got hooked to another car and could not get unhooked until the other car spun into the infield and caused another caution. Amanda, at this point, was running around 5th position. The final caution of the night came out with 7 to go in the race. It came out for a car spinning that was running in the top 3. This moved Amanda up to 4th for the restart and she was able to maintain this position to the checkered flag.
In the final standings, David Slawiak won the event followed by Scotty Adema, Gary Gimmler, Amanda and Collin Cabre finished 5th. Keith finished in 14th.
The next event for the KJ Motorsports team is October 30th at the DeSoto Super Speedway in Bradenton, FL with the TBARA.