A DAY AT THE TRACK WITH

IfN Sl JAMES 47075715 3 IB'fZ'M.V £ED MOTORSPORTS DEVEL.OPMENT SKIPBARBER·com (866) 736·5319 STaFF eCIToAl pUBLISHeR Curt J. Paluui ., ... - '" ,. .'" ... , [email protected] cec:~rn~~t3.:2009 - .JanUaRY 2010 aSSIS'TCIr1T eCITOR Mike Burrell [email protected] aOVeRTISlnO Francine Jaworski [email protected] ceslof"l Sen D. McCartney [email protected] CIFlC:ULaTIOn Francine Jaworski [email protected] conTRIBUTlnc; eCI'tORS John Copeland Derek Daly Tom Godfrey Quentln Haines Vahok Hili Garry Lobaugh Bob Markiewicz Arle Ouimet Mike Unger Bruce Walls Greg Wright eCITORlaL Ol=l=lces National Kart News 51535 Bittersweet Rd. Granger, IN 46530 574-277-0033 Fax 574-277-4279 www.nkn.com e-mail: [email protected] National Kart News is published monthly by National Kart News, Inc. located at 51535 rnrrrton SimULaTion Bittersweet Rd., aT Home Granger, IN 46530. Postmaster: Send Address changes to National Kart News, 51535 Bittersweet Rd., Granger, IN 46530 Subscription rates: $22.50 a year for 12 issues. Allow 6-8 weeks for the first Issue.

DRIVERDEVELDPMENTSERJES~ ------

the pack. There was a scatter of cars everywhere, I lost 9 positions, and then gained 6 back by the exit of the next corner! After a silly race I went from 5th to 14th and back to 5th in the space of three laps. I suppose the lesson was to; expect the unexpected and deal with it - My dad was not impressed but kept telling me to keep talking to Reggio (my engineer). Miller Motorsports Park in Utah was another struggle in qualifying but after a lot of changes, the car was really good in the race. However, I got a bit too ambitious after a restart and got my front wing damaged with an overly ambitious overtaking move (big lesson!). After a pit stop for a new nose and wing (and without a full course yellow) I finished with the smashing result of 20 something ... ugh I don't even remember. I was fast but I had yet to put practice, qualifying and the race all together without incident. My dad was still a little concerned that the steep learning curve might be a little too much for me but he was also very aware (and happy) that the lessons were coming thick and fast. After Utah, he told me to keep talking to Reggio.

my relationship with my engineer, Mike Reggio, would be one of the keys to success in the season- he kept saying talk to Reggio.

exs:aec:-rTHe unexpeCTec <:======anc DeaL WITHIT. Virginia International Raceway was next up and the lessons started to pile up. It was probably one of the worst races of the year because I think there were a total of five or six green flag laps. I was never really on the pace all weekend but that was not the real drama. Unbelievably, (who eventually won the championship) brake checked the field on a restart that by the time the effects got to me in fifth place, chaos broke out. I was just coming out of the last corner and had to jump on the brakes without being straight and had a massive screeching 360 degree spin right in the middle of

Introducing 40 mm!!! I.Available 50 mm or 40 mm High Quality Ceramic Ball :t Available Steel or Ceramic balls Steel Ball

Benefits - EasyAxle Changes - Simple Oeaning - Concentric Axle Support -True Axle Rotation - Longer Axle Ufe - No Axle Misalignment

Patented Removable Concentric Outer Ring Snap Shield Solution '~. -_- -_-__ __ - - - - ',;; - -- - '!JvDRIVER DEVELOPMENT SERIES

STIC:KTO THe Next up was the high banks of aaslcs ... - at night and I was on a mission. The racing was The TV cameras captured incredible - just nuts at times! It was the closest everything at the New Jersey racing I was ever involved in and I now have a Motorsports Park at the first completely new respect for the Indy Car guys (and doubleheader of the season girls!). I got a feel for the type of concentration level it with live coverage on HDNet! takes to race wheel to wheel with someone for multiple Reggio and I were not "in laps and at such high speeds. Dad was my spotter and tune" yet and before the he talked me through the whole race even to the point of official sessions he asked having me slow down on the last two laps with a "don't me to not be so descriptive force it" message as I considered lapping some back with the handling of the car markers. I escaped a 145 MPH crash when Alex Ardoin issues and just cover the tripped over a back marker and did a complete spin just basics, inches from my nose in turn one before he slammed the wall. I went on to finish second In front of a massive crowd The basics worked (mainly NASCAR supporters!) and as we drove home I felt (at least on Saturday) good about my personal performance and began to feel that it as I was fastest in every was beginning to come together. My dad also felt good as did Reggio. session (wet and dry) put it on the pole and won my first race - what a thrill. It gave me the confidence that I could actually beat these guys. Reality however set in the next day when I struggled in qualifying and could only finish 8th ..... TaKe WHaT THe c:aR Cilves vou. <=====::::::::l talk about a rolier coaster. I learned how to win and lose all on the same The second of two doubleheaders took place at Autobahn Country Club weekend. My dad told me to keep talking to Reggio. near Chicago. This would technically be my "home" race considering I live In Indianapolis. I had lots of family and friends there and I really wanted to put on a good show for them. My two main competitors, Dempsey and Christodoulou were in a new desiqn of chassis and my dad suspected that the chassis appeared to be quicker. I finished third in race one (uneventful but not fast enough) and got by far the biggest cheer on the podium because we had imported the crowd. Unfortunately, race two was one of the most active races of the season, but for the wrong reason - I had to be defensive all day. I had an absolutely atrocious understeer turning left. I actually theuqht my front wing was broken! However, after suffering through a race where all I could focus on was my mirrors, I managed to finish 5th. Reggio discovered that three of my tires were

Can you face the difficult off track challenges and become stronger? Milwaukee was the first oval race of the season and my career. It was a complete and utter disaster. We didn't get to qualify because of torrential rain so we had to start by practice times. I lined up 3rd on the grid behind my teammate Richard Kent. Most of us had never raced on an oval before so we didn't really know what to expect. At the drop of the green flag I had a great start and thought I could pass for the lead. As my teammate and I headed into the first corner side by side, neither of us realized what a horrible result would ensue. We collided, sending both of us into the wall and out of the race. That event marked a really low point in the season. Many unfortunate things were said that really made it tough. I was mad, my dad was mad, tensions were high within the team, but I feel that I developed a ton of mental strength that weekend and started to learn how to persevere through difficult times. Racing is always going to be difficult, but if you can learn to push through the toughest of times you will be mentally prepared to deal with almost anything. As we drove home I knew my dad was concerned however, his motto is always not to keep me from difficult times but to equip me to handle them. I also knew he would tell me to keep talking to Reggio.

DEC 2009 - JAN 2010 800-942-0033 DRIVERDEVELDPMENTSERIES. .- -. ~---~ __ .-. -~ .'-- . - _ .::::._..:::...... =

the proper road course compound but my right front, was This was a race that I should an experimental back up oval tire that was an EXTREMELY have won. I was the fastest carl hard compound. We literally bolted on the problem. What driver combination everyday but a lesson it was dealing with the mismatched tires and it seemed little consolation. I was having to be defensive. At this stage Reggio and I were really mad at the outcome and beginning to really understand each other and I had a during the week I told my dad that pretty good understanding of the car and what it liked maybe I needed to become more and Reggio had a pretty good understanding of what I conservative instead of aggressive. liked from the car. Dad told me that instead of taking anything from my package, I should instead add to it - I should add paTlenc:e IS a VIRTue C====j~ patience. My talks with Reggio were ... and your friend. really paying dividends because I now Another new challenge awaited me in Quebec, had a fast car almost every session and Canadaand my first street race! I told my dad that if it wasn't fast enouqn, we knew what to I thought I could win the remaining four races. It doto make it faster. Reggioadvised me to was such a huge event and I was fastest at the apologize to Dennis - which I did. end of day one! The track was fantastic and definitely a new experience being on the limit oveRc:onI=IOenc:e and so close to the walls at every corner! In c:an BITe vou. C=::::::::::=~~ Qualifying championship leader pulled a Questionablemove and pulled across in front of me at the first corner. We stayed in Canada for Mosport - one of my favorite tracks. I was I could not avoid him and smashed into his rear wheel. I had to have a new again fastest in practice but missed the pole in a wet but drying session. nose and wing fitted but then the session was red flagged because of a Again I was the fastest car/driver combination and I got the lead early with separate Dempsey accident - I would start seventh. an outside pass into turn eight. I was in control when I caught a lapper at just the wrong time. I was slow onto the back straight and my teammate The car was good in the race and having passed Christodoulou for 4th, Richard Kent got a really good run on me. Having pulled off the outside of the engine cut out dropping me back to 9th. I caught the leaders again when turn 8 pass earlier, I went for it again. I was about half a car width too wide the engine had another hiccup on the back straight dropping me far back this time and got on the marbles. I went sailing off course through the grass, again. After reeling in the leaders again, Joel Miller made a mistake right in hit a massive bump and spun. I fell to third and started another charge. I set front of me, I dived Inside him at turn one for 5th place. Then I tried to go for fastest lap of the race but ran out of time and had to settle for 2nd place. It a little too much because I also tried to get 4th place at the same time with was all really coming together now but dad thought that I might have been an aggressive move on my team mate, Dennis Navarro (who was having his just a little too confident in trying to pull off a second 145 MPHoutside pass best race of the season). I was held up for so long by Dennis earlier in the race at turn eight. Reggio and I were really in synch now and this was another and I wanted to get to the leaders because I had the speed to win. We touched race that I should have won (in the last 6 days of official Star running, and it was all over. I was fastest in 5 of the 6 days). I thought it was another unfortunate event, but my dad thought it was an awesome lesson for me in again understanding the importance of adding patience to my arsenal.

PUTTlnCi IT aL.L.TOCieTHeR. <======I now had just a slim chance at winning the championship so I was going for the best results possible. I had never raced at RoadAtlanta but I had done so many laps on the track in video games! It was a truly awesome place. The • ~'OEJ weekend became a Daly/Dempsey battle and we Qualified first and second,

CAM.IfJ'l C"UG.. I well clear of the rest of the field. His car was faster than mine and after a flat r ::.=:::;;;;-:::-"';...... 1 I out mistake free run, I finished 2nd...... _•••• _.... I The season closed at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca - another impressive track that I had never raced on. In Qualifying I misjudged a turn in paint by a This precision unit is CNC-machined from 6061-T6 billet aluminum,anodized few inches and clipped a curb. That broke the front suspension pushrod which black, and features laser engraved graphics consumed most of the session getting it fixed. With three minutes to go in for improved durability. It also has a built-in Qualifying, I left the pit lane only to have the gearbox differential broke. I was level. Exac-Toe 2 can be used to accurately set back in the same situation I had started the season with, a broken gearbox in toe and camber. We also have new accessories Qualifyingand an eight row starting spot. The race was fantastic; I just wish it (spindle extenders and an extended bar) lasted longer! By the checkered flag I had gone from 15th to 4th with some of that can be used with any Exac-Toe to check the overtaking maneuvers making my dad wince. dynamic alignment with the chassis loaded. As I look back on the season, I learned an unbelievable amount. In 10 of the last 13 days of the season, I was either 1st or 2nd fastest each day. The ~ ~'OE'z ., Star Mazda championship presented by Goodyear was the most competitive • 1"""'--- it had been for many years. Third place in the championship ($50,000) was • :.-::~--:_.,~=-: . a nice reward, but I know that the lessons learned were worth even more. It --~-- was great to race against such a high level of competition because it caused me to learn at a Quicker pace to keep up with the experienced guys. My dad always tells me that you will never learn what not to do without ever doing it. Reflecting back I think I proved to my dad that I was ready for the Star Mazda www.odenl:halm.fg.com championship (barely!) even though I was just seventeen years old... mainly because of those talks with Reggio. Roll on next season and bring the lessons Odenthal Manufacturing, Inc. 132 E.Hanley Ave. Dalton Gardens, 10 83815 on again, thick and fast. ~ Phone 208·772-9763 • Fax 208-475-6588 (E-faxl • E-mailsale's@~,derlthalmf!~.coml

NATIONAL KART NEWS 800-942-0033 III1N".__ __ www .N_K_N_._C_o_M_--=O=EC::...;Z=D::..::D=9_-..::.;JAN:..=:...;2=D::...;:'-=..O--,