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Atoka Raceway Park

May 7, 2016 - Atoka Raceway Park (ARP), Brighton, Tenn.

 

After two rain-outs, we finally got to do some racing! We practiced the night before and after a few small changes, the karts were back in winning form. When we rolled out for the first practice on Saturday, we were close but required a little tweaking.

 

While at the track practicing, the boys got their 2015 Championship trophies: Elliott was the 2015 Atoka Raceway Park Stock Light Champion. Franklin was the 2015 Atoka Raceway Park Stock Super Heavy Champion.

 

Heat races:

Elliott rolled onto the track in Stock Light for his heat race in the second starting spot. Whent he green dropped, Elliott followed the leader, Mitchell Bridges, for a few laps and then pulled under him as they traversed down the backstrech to take the lead with Jeffrey West latched onto his bumper. Elliott led for a few laps until he slipped up in turn two and West got by. West won the heat race with Elliott finishing second and Bridges in third.


Franklin went out next in Stock Heavy and started on the pole with Drew Layton and Baker Hillard following. On the start, Franklin pulled out a bit of a lead and held it to the checkers to win the heat race.

 

Feature races:

Elliott took the green flag behind West and when the green flag dropped, Elliott popped West in the rear bumper for a couple of laps. The track had gotten dry due to sun, heat, wind and low humidity so it was slick. Elliott hadn't raced under those conditions and was charging the turn pretty hard. He should have gotten off the gas sooner than normal and allow the kart to roll into the turn and then get back on the gas. Instead, he was driving deep into the corner and running into the back of the karts in front of him. A little more experience helps that. After a few laps, Bridges got by Elliott and went after West. That was how they finished - West, Bridges, and Elliott.

 

Franklin's race was not as exciting. When the green flag dropped, he took the lead over Layton and Hillard and held it until a brief caution slowed the race but Franklin maintained the top spot until the checkers fell.

 

After the races were over, Bridges dropped by our pit to give Elliott some advice on driving. We put Elliott on the track for some testing and he changed his driving style and knocked off 0.4 seconds off of his lap times. Now, we're ready for the next race!

 

We're headed back to ARP on May 14th for the Stock Heavy 40-lap Survivor Race. Franklin has won four of the last five Survivor Races he's competed in (the other was a second place finish) and it's his favorite race. Elliott is ready and rearing to go in Stock Light after learning the new driving style.

 

Stay tuned!

Franklin with his 2015 Stock Super Heavy Championship trophy.

Elliott with his 2015 Stock Light Championship trophy.

Elliott's battle-scarred Phantom Triton Jr.

Franklin in Victory Lane after winning the Stock Heavy feature race.

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