Bedford, PA
 
This track was super close to home so I was really excited to race here. We got there and the track was super rough and really wet. They finally got us in and I qualified in 24th. I am not usually a good qualifier but I was pleased with this result as I was finally on the front row for a GNC twins heat race. That was one of my goals for the weekend. The next was making the national. They shortened the program because of rain earlier in the day, so they would not be having semis. They would only be having heats today and they would take the top 5. I usually get awesome holeshots, well sure enough on this race, I didn't. I was in the first heat race and I must of stepped in some mud when I got off my bike for the national anthem. I got back on my bike and had a super slippery footpeg. I took two minutes to clean it, but I forgot to clean the bottom of my boot and had it all over there again going to the line. By this time, I was getting all flustered. I put my shield down and got my shield all muddy with no tear offs! What a mess. No practice start, everyone was waiting for me and of course I got a crummy holeshot and came off the line in 7th and stayed there til the finish. We learned a lot with the bike, but man this was probably one of the most disappointing races yet this year. I really thought I was a lock for the final. We left and headed for Lima, OH
 
Lima, OH
 
Well as if my confidence wasn't hurting enough, here we are at another cushion track. It's not that I don't like cushions, I just don't have the experience on them. I really want to just go to a track and practice. I feel like imp getting thrown in the deep end on these races now, because the only time I race them is at the nationals. I am learning alot, I just hope no one looses patience with me on them. Anyway, on this day, I actually felt half descent. Way better then Vernon. I qualified descent and lined up for the heat. Nothing eventful. I got a pretty good start from the back row. I was catching the lead pack by the end, but not close enough to do anything drastic. I had a pretty tough semi with Mees, Pearson, Schnabel, Beauluc, Gedeon, and some other awesome riders. In my semi, the track got real rough and everyone started riding the top. I was trying to stick to the bottom like I have been all day, but I was struggling real bad down there with traction. I ended up getting past by a rider or two and didn't make the final. Well, the bad news was I didn't make the final. Good news was, I felt better and better as the night went on.
 
Topeka, KS
 
After watching my sister race at the amateur nationals I loaded up with the Weidman family and headed to the national in Topeka. I was excited to race on a clay track again and was determined as ever. Although, I would be going alone to a twins 750 national. I didn't know what the heck to do with bike set-up or anything like that. I had set-up from Lima still on the motorcycle which was a bad deal, because this was a super small clay banked 1/2 mile. Not a super wide cushion 1/2 mile. I made as many changes as I knew how to (which wasn't many, haha) and lined up for qualifying. The bike wasn't handling for me worth a darn. I still managed to run 22nd in my last session which put me at 29th overall. I always seem to drop 10-15 spots from the first qualifying session to the second one which is good. I am finally learning the hang of this qualifying thing. Anyway, I felt pretty good with what I had and lined myself up for my heat. I had another stacked heat (what else is new) with Mees, Kopp, Halbert, Varnes, Schnabel, Wiles, etc. I was running in 5th when my bike started to miss and cut out. Wiles passed me and a few others. I went all the way back to last place by the end of the race. Something was wrong. Sure enough, I had a huge chunk of dirt in my carburetor. I quick cleaned that out with my helmet still on and lined up for my semi. I was on the outside back row and with only 2 riders transfering, I had my work cut out. I got an awesome start, but I could only manage to finish 6th by the finish. My lap times were better then most of the riders ahead of me, but I just couldnt find any real estate. I'm real excited to come back to Topeka in October with my whole team and have a much better finish.
 
Frederick, MD
 
Well, after the long ride from Topeka to Frederick and a good pep talk from my buddy Mike Hacker along the way, I was actually really excited for this cushion 1/2 mile. He said I just need to keep my focus on 100%. Put everything that has happened this year behind and keep on moving forward with the season and push as hard as I can. I actually felt really good all day in frederick. My lap times on the 750 and the 450 were top 3 all practice. I rode Shayna's suzuki. The 450 was lacking in horsepower but I was making up for it in the corners. In my 450 heat I had Robinson, Weidman, Schwarzenbacher and some others. I got 2nd in my 450 heat race. I felt pretty good, but I was getting smoked down the straight-aways. I lined up for my 750 race and had some problems with shifting and I finished in 3rd. I lined up for both finals on the front row. In the 450 main, I got a pretty crappy start actually and came off turn two in 4th place. My shield on my helmet must of not been snapped and my shield popped up down the straight-away. I got roosted pretty bad in my eyes and all over my face. I lost 2 spots right off the back and another spot a lap later. I ended up finishing 7th with a couple of riders right in front of me. Wow, not fun. After the race, my face was BLACK. I had peagravel all in my mouth, nose, etc. Bummer. I tried to clean my face some and I lined up for the 750 main next. I was real excited and felt real confident I could put it on the box. I got an OK start and came off turn two in fourth right behind third place. Soon enough, I relized that my left footpeg fell off around lap 2. I started looking down trying to find the darn thing, but no luck. On a cushion half mile, having a left foot peg is essential for corner exit and even straight-away speed. Well I was struggling around the track the whole race in 4th until my buddy Brandon Robinson passed me with 2 to go and I finished 5th. I mean, I wasn't happy at all but I felt awesome on the harley. We made a lot of good changes and I truly feel that if I could have both footpegs and race again right now, I think we could finish in the top 3. Besides some of the weird things that happened today, the important thing was I felt awesome and I finally feel that my confidence is starting to come back. I am still by no means happy with the results were putting up quite yet, but rome wasn't built in a day either. With only having 5 years of racing experience under my belt and racing some of the best in the world who some have been racing for 20-30+ years. Were doing ok. I couldnt do it without my dad and all of our sponsors. Your making the dream possible, now its up to me.
 
Our next race is July 12th in Grove City, OH