April 26 and 27, 2008 " Jacob McWhirter driving his Victory Racing karts for Championship Racing Performance returned to the track this weekend at the .7 mile Circleville Raceway Park. This was also the first race of the Great Lakes Sprint Series. Jake is attempting to improve on his 4th place series finish in the 2007 Cadet Junior Sportsman. He also made his debut in the Yamaha Junior Sportsman and HPV Junior Sportsman classes. Three different motors running on two different chassis made for a very busy weekend.
The weekend began with a full day of practice on Friday which included all three motors and both chassis. Jake continued to get quicker each session on the track.
The first qualifying attempt of Saturday was in the largest class of the weekend, Yamaha Junior Sportsman. Jake qualified in the 9th position. He maintained his position in the prefinal which allowed him to start the final from the ninth position.
In the Cadet Junior Sportsman qualifying session Jake suffered mechanical problems and was only able to get one qualifying lap which put him toward the back of the field. In the prefinal Jake was running quick laps and moving through the field when he threw a chain which put him at the back of the field for the final.
Starting from the ninth position in the Yamaha final Jake moved up one position during lap one and was running in the eighth position when another kart attempted a pass on the inside after the long backstretch. Unfortunately, Jake's number 7 was used as bumper and forced off the track. Jake was able to get the kart back on track, but the left side pod of the kart had been bent so badly that it was dragging on the ground and Jake correctly pulled the kart off track to avoid further damage which brought a promising day to premature end.
Saturday racing ended with the Cadet final and Jake starting at the back of the field. The day finished with Jake moving up to a respectable sixth place finish and running his fastest laps.
Sunday began with qualifying for the HPV Junior Sportsman and Jake qualifying 7th, less than 8/10ths off the leader. In the prefinal Jake moved up one position to start the final from the sixth spot. The final began with the anticipation of a solid finish only to end with Jake being brought off the track by the EMT followed by his wrecked kart. A local karter, participating in his first regional race, spun Jake after he was passed for position leaving Jake exposed to the trailing karts. Unfortunately, one of the karts could not avoid the spinning #7 and put a hard hit on the left side resulting in a bent axle and a deeply bruised leg. The karter who started it all was black flagged and called to the official's tower to discuss his driving decisions.
While the weekend results were not as we had hoped, Jake was not seriously injured, the kart can be repaired and Jake was very competitive in all his classes. Victory Racing remains very optimistic for the year.
Victory Racing wants to thank our sponsors " Championship Racing Performance, McWhirter & Associates, Markernet"XS Energy Drink, Tallmadge AutoZone, Spring Valley Equestrian Center, Seckinger Insurance Agency and Redmon Funeral Home. Please contact us at victory-racing@sbcglobal.net