King of Kings Shootout

February 6-7, 2016 - King of Kings Shootout, Martin, Tenn.

Franklin was the only member of Ashe Racing to compete this weekend. He entered Stock Super Heavy on both days and Champ Heavy on Sunday. How did it go? Read on...

• February 5, 2016, 9:15pm - Franklin went out for one round of practice and the kart was pretty good. Tires were just a little off where we wanted them to be but we made a change to free the kart at corner exit. Packing it up for the night and get ready for the real stuff tomorrow. Finally, we're racing in 2016!

• February 6, 2016, 2:30pm - Franklin qualified just 0.208 seconds off of the pole to start seventh. We're in the race! We're going to make a chassis change and get ready for for feature race.

• February 6, 2016, 7:00pm. Franklin started seventh and fought a push from the start. He rode in seventh for the first seven laps until being passed and then smacked a hay bale dragging it onto the track bringing out a caution. They lined up with Franklin in eighth and the green flew. Franklin looked smooth until the kart in front of him got loose and blew out the rear gear. Pieces of the gear hit him in the hand (he's fine) and he washed up the track dropping to twelfth. With just a few laps left he managed to work up to tenth when the checkers dropped. Good run, learned a little for tomorrow's race, and we'll try again in TWO classes in the morning.

• February 7, 2016, 11am - We're back at it this morning. Practice is done and Franklin was pretty good in both practices. The champ kart is hooked up and considering we've never raced it before this weekend, we're really happy with the way it's handling. Qualifying is about to start. Franklin is in Clone Super Heavy and Champ Heavy classes today. Hoping for two good runs!

• February 7, 2016, 1:00pm - Clone Super Heavy qualifying is done and Franklin is starting fifth. Time to get the champ ready for qualifying.

• February 7, 2016, 4:15pm - Franklin started in the fifth position and rode there for three laps until another racer behind him decided to run through him - again. This was the same driver we had the same rough driving issues with last night. The kart jumped Franklin's left rear tire and the guy spun into the hay bales and the caution came out. The officials put the guy back in his spot - UNBELIEVABLE! - right on Franklin's back bumper. On the restart, going into turn one, the kart starting behind him shoved Franklin into the turn and up the track sending Franklin straight to the rear. We've never raced with the guy before so we had no beef with him - obviously he's just a dirty driver. Apparently, when Franklin was initially wheel-hopped, the other kart broke the seat and actually hit Franklin in the helmet with the nose of his kart. With the seat broken, the kart wouldn't handle properly and our race was over again for the second year in a row by other drivers and rough driving. Franklin eventually finished tenth. We still have a Champ Heavy race to go...

• February 7, 2016, 6pm - Franklin started third in Champ Heavy but the kart wasn't quite right and he dropped to fourth and rode there until the end of the race. Big thanks to Randy Boulton for letting Franklin drive the champ kart. The kart was a 2004 Warlock Champ (the only one ever built to our knowledge) that had never been on scales so we had zero data to draw from - a fourth place finish was more than we expected.

  Overall, we entered three classes and made all three races with qualifying efforts of 7th, 5th, and 3rd. Our finishes were, respectively, 9th, 10th, and 4th.

  Our teammate, Tucker Boulton, made all four races he qualified for and had a good showing with some great heads up driving! His best finish was sixth. We had a great time racing with the Boulton Motorsports team and thank you, Melanie, for feeding us each day.

  Thanks to Geoff at Tomar Clutches for the gears we needed for our clutches - which performed flawlessly, as usual.

  Thanks to Matt at Palmetto Speed Shop for the tech assisitance on our tire program.

  Finally, the biggest thanks to mom and wife, Amanda, for putting up with the many hours in the garage, the house smelling like tire prep and the rediculous amount of money we spent to drive in circles for a few minutes this weekend. Thanks for understanding - we love you!

  It's a tough race and an accomplishment just to make the field. There were many drivers who entered multiple classes and didn't make the race in any of them and that's frustrating - we've been there. The 2016 King of Kings Shoootout is in the books and we had fun - which is what it's all about. Now, it's time to bring our new bodies to Rowell's Collision Center for some fresh paint and get ready for the Atoka Raceway Park season opener! You ready to paint, Dennis!?