Racing Report Archives 2005
Mikey Wins
Fall Classic at Sugar Hill Speedway
Mikey Wins
Coke 100 @ Sugar Hill Speedway
Monday Night 8/22/05
This would be the last race of the Monday night series of races and the deciding race for the Monday night championship. Mikey was having a tough night in practice, but when it came time for the heat (qualifying race) Mikey seemed to be himself again. Mikey finished the heat race in 1st place. Mikey was excited to get the feature race started from the pole position. Mikey led most of the race, but the #16 and #4 cars were catching him pretty quick while the #61 was falling to the back of the pack after getting into the dirt. Mikey had the lead when they came to the white flag for the last lap, he cut down low going into turn one which caused him to get a little loose and lose a little speed coming out of turn two. The #16 and the #4 both took their chance and went by Mikey. Mikey was able to get it straightened out and keep moving to at least hang onto a third place finish for the night. Although Mikey finished third for the night, he clinched the Monday night Championship by a mere 4 point lead. Mikey would like to say thank you to all his sponsors as none of this would be possible without their help. So don't forget to click on the sponsor link to the left to see who Mikey's sponsors are and stop in to see them, let them know that Mikey sent you! Mikey's next race will be Saturday night 8/27/05 at Sugar HIll Speedway in Weare, NH. Hope to see you there! Check back again soon, we hope to have the photos updated.
Sunday 8/21/05
Mikey wins race #9 at Pomfret Speedway and clinches the 2005 Championship for the Tiger Sprint A's
Saturday 8/6/05
This was another busy weekend for Mikey. Mikey started out Saturday August 6th at Pinnacle Raceway in Chicopee, MA for a rain make up race. Mikey hopped in the car ready to see how well it would go after it had been repaired from his wreck Monday night August 1st. It seems the car was fine after having been welded by the manufacturer Wade Gagner of Wild Thing Karts. Mikey went out for the heat (qualifying race) and worked hard to get from the back of the pack to the front. he made it to the front and lead the race rather quickly and on the last two laps pulled away from the second place car to win the heat race and get the pole position for the feature! Mikey went out for the feature race knowing that he would have to work hard to stay in the front of the pack and he did. He lost the lead a few times when getting tangled with another car twice. Mikey got back up to the front of the pack, but unfortunately fell back again. He was able to grab a second place finish by only inches at the start/finish line. www.mikey
Sunday August 7, 2005 Mikey's 9th birthday
On Sunday, we packed the trailer and headed to Pomfret, CT where the third Wild Thing Karts All Star Race would be held. Mikey gave himself the best birthday present ever by winning not only the heat race but also the feature race against the driver he thought could not be beat (D.J. Lynch). There was fun had by all who attended the race with a barbecue put on by Wade & Sandi Gagner of Wild Thing Karts. Thank you to the Gagner family for the fun filled day!
Monday July 18, 2005
With a storm on its way, the race program got underway rather quickly. Mikey went out for practice and he was really happy with how he ran, so he and his dad decided to sit the other practice out for the day. The driver meeting was short and sweet so we could get the heat races started. Mikey ran a great heat race and finished in the first spot. Thenthe rain shower came before all the divisions completed their heat races. As soon as the showers stopped, the efforts to dry the track were underway so the race staff could at least get the heat races completed to call it a complete race. The last three divisions finished their heat races just before the showers started again and everything was cancelled for the night. This was good news for Mikey giving him his 3 rd Monday night series win.
Mikey’s next race will be Saturday July 23 rd at Sugar Hill Speedway in Weare, NH. We hope to see you there. Photos will be updated on the web site soon, keep checking back!
Sunday July 17, 2005
Mikey ran a great practice, but when it came time for the heat race Mikey’s motor only allowed him to get one lap in before it ceased. Mikey’s dad/crew chief changed the motor in time to get him out for the feature race of the day. Mikey ran a good race, but it just wasn’t his day as he came home with a 5 th place trophy for the day.
Saturday July 16, 2005
Mikey raced in the Wild Thing Karts All Star Series at Sugar Hill Speedway in Weare, NH and came home with a second place finish for that series. While he was there, he also raced in his regular tiger sprint points series event. Mikey was running very well and right up there with the leaders until a four car drafting train came and hung him out to dry with only a few laps remaining. Mikey got tangled on the last lap with another car and unfortunately ended his day with a ninth place finish. Mikey was disappointed as anyone would be, but he says “that’s racing” and “we’ll get them next Saturday”
July 11th Mikey makes it 3 in a row with a 1st Place finish at Pinnacle Raceway.
Saturday July 9th Mikey takes 1st at Pinnacle Raceway in the morning and Sugarhill Speedway at Night.
Monday 6/20/05
Mikey got off the bus, hopped in the car and met his crew chief (dad) at Pinnacle Raceway in Chicopee, MA. Mikey was happy to see that car owner F.T. Schook was able to make it to the race track. This would be the first of seven Monday night races at Pinnacle Raceway. Mikey was very excited to get started because he remembered that last year he did very well with the Monday night series of races. Mikey started the heat (qualifying) race in the 4th spot and he quickly took over the lead. Mikey didn't run away with it, though. He traded the lead with the #16 of Dylan Kopec and #61 of Matt Bergstrom of few times. The #16 came to the checkered flag first, but unfortunately he received a black flag which gave Mikey the win for the heat race. Mikey was happy to have the pole position for the feature race, but he would rather have gotten it without the #16 getting a black flag in the heat race.
Mikey started the feature race on the pole. They got the green flag and he was off to a great start getting a lead by a few car lengths. The #16 may have had to start at the back, but he and the #61 were up front knocking on Mikey's back door rather quickly. It was a very exciting race with the #16 and #61 getting out in front as it appeared Mikey was losing his focus and missing his driving line. A caution came out when the #88X of Michael Mathieu spun in turn three. This was a great time for Mikey to re-gain his focus and give it his all. The green flag flew with Mikey in the 3rd position, Mikey and the #61 passed the #16 in turn three and pulled away from the pack. Mikey stayed on the #61's tail just waiting for his chance. Mikey decided to go for it in turn three and gets the lead with only five laps to go. The #61 tries a few times to pass him but just doesn't seem to have enough to get by him and Mikey comes home with his FIRST Pinnacle Raceway win in his tiger sprint career. Mikey is off to a great season, he now has a win at each track that he competes at and he is the first tiger sprint driver to get a win @ each of the three local tracks within one season. Thank you to all our 2005 sponsors.
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Mikey was well rested to get going on Sunday when he received a phone call about 6:30 a.m. from car owner F.T. Schook letting him know that he would be unable to make it to the racetrack due to unforeseen circumstances. After a quick discussion, we decided to go anyway. We packed up Mikey's #29 car and got to Pomfret as quick as possible, so Mikey and his dad could change the set up from Sugar Hill Speedway to Pomfret. There was much discussion on the way to the track while reading set up notes. We arrived at Pomfret and Mikey got to work on his car right away with his dad/crew chief. The work was completed just before the driver meeting. We had all decided that we would be happy to just finish the race and get points today since this car hadn't run at this track at all this year. Mikey was determined to just have fun and earn some points. We were all excited to find out the set up seemed to work very well when Mikey came in second place for the heat (qualifying) race. The feature race was pretty exciting battling back and forth a little bit with the #88 of Michael Mathieu.
Saturday 6/18/05
The morning started with the Wild Thing Karts All Star race at Pinnacle Raceway in Chicopee, MA. Mikey was lucky enough to have a preferred starting spot by finishing last season in the second position for the points race at two separate tracks. Mikey and one other preferred starter had to pick numbers to see who would get the pole position for the heat race. Mikey ran a good hard race and completed the heat race in the 3rd position. Mikey started the feature race on the inside of row two just behind the #12 of DJ Lynch (last year's champion). Mikey ran a great race in which he had the lead for a little while, but unfortunately got into the dirt a bit and fell back to the 5th position where he would finish the race. Mikey and his crew then packed up and headed for Sugar Hill Speedway in Weare, NH.
Mikey was focused and ready to go when we arrived at Sugar Hill Speedway. He geared up and headed out for the 1st practice. Mikey and his crew chief (dad) decided they didn't want to change the car because it was running great. Unfortunately we would never find out how great it was running because good ol' mother nature wouldn't let us. The race was rained out Saturday evening which only meant that Mikey could get home and to bed earlier to prepare for Sunday's race in Pomfret, CT.
Mikey's 1st win at Sugar Hill Speedway
Mikey started Saturday June 11th off @ Pinnacle Raceway in Chicopee, MA. It was a very hazy, hot and humid day, but Mikey donned his fire suit and he was ready to go for the day. Mikey started on the pole position in the F.T. Schook Motorsports #2 car for the qualifying race, but unfortunately couldn’t hold off the #16 of Dylan Kopec, so Mikey finished in 2nd place. Mikey started the feature race with great confidence to beat the #16 but unfortunately he seemed to have some handling problems with his car. Mikey had fallen back to 4th position when he was pushed into the dirt coming out of turn two. This brought the caution out and Mikey had to re-start in the back of the pack. With only a few laps to go Mikey got himself right back up to finish in the 4th position. Mikey wasn’t excited about his finish, but he was glad his car handled well enough to finish the race and give him a top five finish. Mikey and his crew quickly packed up and headed north to Sugar Hill Speedway in Weare, NH.
Arriving @ Sugar Hill Speedway a little early, Mikey had plenty of time to sit back relax and have some lunch. Mikey was joined by F.T. Schook (car owner #2) along with his regular crew and car owners of the #29 car. After Mikey took his #29 car out for practice, he came into the pit area and told his crew chief (Dad) that the car was great, don’t change anything. Mikey started the heat (qualifying) race in the 4th position and after two laps he was in the lead. Mikey’s lead was overtaken with only a few laps to go by the #8 of Kyle Poodiack, but there was no giving up. With only 1 lap to go, Mikey quickly passed the #8 back. The # 8 came down low coming out of turn four headed for the finish line as they were side by side Mikey came home with the victory by only inches for the qualifying race.
Starting from the pole position for the feature race, Mikey quickly pulled away from the pack with a lead of about 4 or 5 car lengths. It didn’t take long before the #22 of Kayla Cazares, the #8 and the #99 of Jonathan Lemay drafted together to catch him. The #22 went by Mikey with the #8 right behind her, but Mikey was quick to re-act and tucked in right behind the #8. Mikey stayed there for a few laps, but decided he really wanted that second spot. He tried several times to coming out of turn four to go low and get by the #8 but he had to back off a little when the #8 got into him a little bit. After a few more laps, Mikey decided to try again and was able to take the 2nd spot from the #8. Mikey was right where he wanted to be. Mikey passed the #22 coming out of turn two with only two laps to go. Mikey started getting quite a lead while the #8 and #22 were battling it out for the second spot. Mikey had quite a lead when the white flag flew, so did a caution flag due to the #8 and #22 getting together coming out of turn two. The race would then finish with a green, white checkered. Mikey re-started in the first spot with the #99 right behind him. Due to bringing out the caution flag, the #22 and #8 had re-started at the back of the field. Mikey was so excited in his car, you could even see it from the grand stand. Mikey finally got the win he has been working so hard for. Mikey has come close many times before at SHS but until then, just couldn’t get that elusive win. Mikey drove to the scale and just couldn’t wait to get to victory lane for photos. Many photos were taken and they will soon be on the web site, be sure to log on to see them. The big white spot on the wing of his car is a reflective decal that we soon found out doesn’t photograph well. The decal is a replica of the patch worn by the Huntington police department. Mikey got this great decal from his friend and chief of police in his home town of Huntington, MA. Thank you Chief Garriepy and of course all our sponsors for your support, without you Mikey’s racing would not be possible.
Race update 6/4/05 & 6/5/05
Memorial Weekend at SHS
Race update 5/21/05
What a way to start the 2005 Season!
