08-10-02

Whiteland Raceway

     Heat 1.  Brooks started near the back and worked his way to the front in about 9 laps but didn't have time to catch the leader.  Heat 2.  Bad luck because the Carb fell off the intake with 2 laps to go so he DNFed for that heat.  Feature- Brooks had to start on the back since he DNF in the second heat.  I told him to play is safe in the first turn and then get after it.  He worked his way from 17th to 6th when a huge accident blocked the track.  While parents were pulling karts apart the top 5 karts had come back around and almost were in position to lap him.  While waiting for the ok to pass the accident 3 karts shot by him while waiting.  Brooks said he was mad since he was waiting for an adult to motion him by per the rules at his home track.  Brooks ran them back down and passed them in about 4 laps.  He was making up the ground he lost to the leaders but 30 seconds is a lot of time!  Brooks did a great job moving back to second and finishing 2nd in a wild traffic jam of a race.  Brooks finished 9 seconds behind the leader and with a couple more laps he would have found his way back to Victory Lane!  I gave him an attaboy for this patience and his effort.  Brooks showed tremendous maturity in such a tough race.