Hey Race Fans,
Things were pretty crazy for the past 2 weeks. It all started when we had a short week a couple of weeks ago. We raced in Norwalk Ohio on Friday and then it was off to Dayton Ohio for Saturday. I am not much of a Peoria fan so I decided to skip Peoria Hot Shoe on Sunday.
We ended up leaving on Friday morning. We arrived right about practice time. I was riding the 450 class and the 750 class. It was not a big race just a local Ohio race that pays well. When practice started I was up first on the 450. I felt all right, but knew I needed to make some gearing changes. So that's exactly what I did. Next I was up on the 750.. I again felt pretty good and made a few adjustments to the bike to help it turn a bit better. After that there was a short break and we were up again on the 750. Again everything felt pretty good, but I seemed to be struggling a little bit. On the 750 I felt really good and made no new changes.
Next up was the 450 heat race. The top two out of the heat race would also compete in Dash for Cash. I got a decent start and ran 3rd for most of the race until Brandon Laursen got around me on the last lap. I again came in and made some more changes.
Next I was up for the 750 heat race. In this class there was also a Dash for Cash and they were taking 3 riders from each heat. I got off the line really well and was running second. I was working on making a pass for the lead when my brakes went out and I almost lost it. I finished the race and ended up second. This gave us just enough time to come in and make the brake change before the dash.
This time I got a horrible start. I was pretty much dead last in the first turn. I worked my way up to 4th out of six and stayed there for the rest of the five lap race. After the dash I made a few minor changes and got ready for the main events. I was up on the 450 first. I got off to a great 3rd place start. After bobbling with two laps to go I got passed and ended up finishing 4th.
In the main event on the 750 I got off to another great start. I was running second for two laps when the motor let loose and put me out of the race. I was very disappointed, because I felt really good on the Harley, but that stuff happens in racing. I was pretty happy with my finishes and felt I had a decent day. After loading up we headed for Dayton which takes about 3 hours. We ended up parking at a truck stop so we could get some sleep and shower.
After arriving at Dayton for another big purse race put up by KK Motorcycle Supply we got unloaded and waited for practice to start. It wasn't the normal Dayton by any means. It was very hard and kind of a skiddery track I'm used to the normal deep rough cushion. After going out on the 450 for the first time I decided the only change we needed to do was to take a tooth off.
The bike felt great and my times seemed to be right there. Next I as up on the 750. I felt very good and didn't think we needed to make any changes. I felt I could run it into the corners a little more but that was up to me not anybody else.
Next I was back up on the 450 again. I again felt really good and did not make any changes. Next I was up on the 750 and again it felt really good. I felt like I was running it in better and I was very confident. Next up was the scratch heats.
I was up on the 450 first. I got off the line in second and ended up 3rd after a small bobble. Next was the 750 scratch heat. Again I got off to a decent start. I started in third and finished in third.. They took the winners of each 750 scratch heat and put them in a dash. So before getting ready for my 450 heat I decided to watch the dash.
Unfortunately it only lasted into the first corner where a bad crash happened. It involved the two Halbert brothers and Nick Cummings . Sammy Halbert who looked like he should have had a broken arm ended up only having to get stitches near his nose.
Jethro Halbert ended up breaking his wrist and ankle and having to get surgery on his ankle. Nick sustained the worst of injuries and is still in the hospital in Dayton. He has a bruised lung, broken shoulder, broken vertebrae in his back and is still unconscious.
From what I have heard and seen is that although he has only opened his eyes once he is responding to people talking to him by squeezing there hands. I hope the best for Nick and his family. GET WELL SOON BUDDY!
After hearing the news about Nick I was kind of shaken up for the rest of the night. But after the accident was cleaned up I was up in the first heat for the 450 class. After the crash they for some reason decided to dig the track up very deep.. Being in the first heat race I did not really know what to expect. I got off to a decent start and was running third for about 5 laps when JR Schnabel got around me. I ended up finishing 4th putting me in the main event.
I was very excited as I did not make the main here last year. With the track changing so much I decided that I was also going to have to make some major changes to the motorcycle. Next I was up on the 750 again they were taking 4 riders. I didn't get the best start and was sitting in 5th until the last lap when the guy in front of me crashed moving me up to 4th. I was so excited because I was going to be in both main events.
Next up was the 450 main event. By this time the track was still deep and getting very rough. After starting on the second row I did not get that great of a start. I made my way up to 8th and bobbled on the last lap. I ended up finishing the race in 9th. Although I was a little disappointed, because I wanted to do better I was still happy about putting it in the main event.
The 750 was next. I was a bit nervous as the track was so rough and deep for the 450. I again did not get the best of hole shots but worked my way up to finish 10th. Again I wished I would have done better, but I am still excited about making the main event.
After a short week of getting ready with so much stuff to do it was next off to a Thursday race in Michigan and then a Grand National in Bulls Gap, TN.. Also throughout the week I helped Nick’s wife's parents with the children.
On Thursday I went to a race in Midland Michigan. The track was very wet and we did not get on it until 7P.M , but it turned out pretty good. We were only allowed to run 450’s so I brought my framer along. I seemed to be struggling in the practice session so I made tons of changes. By the end of practice they were running well. Then I watched the first heat race and the track again changed a ton.
I was up in the second heat so I left the bike the way it was. I got off the line in 3rd and got passed putting me in fourth. I was again struggling with bike set up so I made some more changes. In the main I would have to line up on the second row. I was a little disappointed, but knew I could make up for it.
I got off the line in about 7th. I worked my way to 5th and made a few mistakes moving me back to 7th. I ended up finishing the race to bring home a 7th. After the race we headed home went to bed and got up early on Friday only too wash bikes and gear and reload to head down to Bulls Gap, TN.
On Friday we left around 1:30 in the afternoon to go to Bulls Gap, TN. Dayton was right on the way so we decided to stop in and see Nick. His condition hasn't really changed, but we are all hoping for the very best. After stopping and seeing him we had to finish the drive up. We arrived about 2 hours away at a hotel and decided to call it a night.
The next morning we woke up fairly early and headed over to the track as we were supposed to be there at 11 A.M. Once we got there and got all unloaded the track had some issues so they took some extra time to work on it. Once the show got going though things rolled pretty smoothly. In practice I just could not seem to get going. I struggled in the first round so I decided to try my other bike. That one felt a little worst so I went back to the first bike we ran. I qualified in 33rd.
I was making a lot of changes to the bikes, but just could not figure the track out. I was up in the 3rd heat race. I was starting on the second row and new the way my night was going I was going to have my work cut out for me. I got off to a 9th place and pretty much stayed there the whole race. This would put me in a semi being that they only take 4 from the heat races. Next I was up for my semi. I knew I had to figure something out and it would have to be quick if I wanted to make it into the main event. I got a great launch from the second row when someone in front of me almost crashed and I had to check up.
I went to pretty much last. I made a few passes and worked my way up to 7th. They only took 3 out of the semi to the main so I was cut a little short. After struggling with the track all day I was feeling pretty bad until I got to my semi.
Although I did not make the main event I had improved so much from the first round of practice. Overall I have felt really good so far this year. I am really looking forward to Lima Ohio next weekend and I hope to see all of you there. Thanks for all your help and support.
Nichole Cheaza #15