October 17:  Matthew was done before he starts as an engine failure kept him from racing at Hays and WaKeeney.  So we took the chance to get Jacob back on the track.  Jacob gave us some exciting racing at 81 Speedway.  He started off really strong winning his heat race.  Grandma Effie and I joked that we didn't feel the cold at all during the race, but afterwards we bundled up under blankets waited for his feature.  Uncle Rich and Grandpa Brandt had a few layers on as well.  Steve and Jacob strategized about the feature.  Jacob had the pole, but needed to get to the high side.  The outside pole was likely to have the advantage going in to turn one.

When feature time came, that is exactly what happened.  Jacob quickly moved up behind him in second and began working to try to figure out how to get around him to reclaim the line.  Jacob was definitely driving the best he had all year.  He was right on the leader when he tried a different line.  He lost a lot of ground, but quickly made it back up and was right back behind the leader.  It was exciting to watch.  You could tell this was going to be a great finish as he was either going to win or be side-by-side.  I don't even know how many laps were left when the leaders got into lap traffic.  One of the lap cars hit another lap car and before it was over put Jacob straight into the wall.  It was a really hard hit.  They went ahead and called the race. 

Jacob was fine.  He said he didn't feel a thing and didn't even have a bruise.  The car wasn't so lucky.  It is really messed up.  I put a quick pic on Facebook and will update our website today too.  Boys are working on the car now and just keep finding more wrong.  A guy we met a few weeks back said if you can't take disappointment, you shouldn't be racing.  Obviously, we can take it.  That has defined how our season has ended for sure. 

Time to move on and start the hard work to get two cars ready for next year.  2010 will be here before we know it.  If all goes as planned, we are going to have our best year yet ahead.  Yes, there will be disappointment for sure.  But with Matthew in his senior year of high school, there will also be a lot of fun and family time as he has some lofty goals for himself moving up to a new class.  Once we get a motor back in the Hobby Stock, Jacob is going to take her out and hot lap it.  Still undecided if he is ready to move to a new class.  Just a few months to figure a lot of things out.  I am already excited for the new season!  One day home and I want to go again already. 

~CBR Mom