Wow what a busy past week I have had. I have raced in Lima Ohio, DuQuion Illinois, and Frederick Maryland since I have last spoken with everyone. My long week first started of in Lima Ohio with the pro sport invitational. I won my heat race and had a great starting spot in the main on the pole. When the light went green I pretty much just sat there and was about 7th going into turn one. The track conditions were wet and deep as they had just prepped the track before the start of the race. I worked my way up to about 4th and stayed there for a while until the last lap when I made the pass for 3rd. I was having a hard time getting the necessary drive I need off of the turn to get me down the straightway to make the pass. All in all it was a great night and I was happy for the opportunity that the crew at the Lima National gave me. The next morning when I woke up I was in DuQuion Illinois getting ready for the start of the Black Cat Gold Grand Nationals. Our first race was on the mile. Every year I have had great success on the mile and I was looking to do the same. I won my heat race and sat on the pole for the main. I got off the line in about 4th and made my way up to first by the end of the first lap. Unfortunately with the drafting that takes place there Carver was able to close my 6 bike lengths down and make the pass early. I followed right on his tail trying to hold off for the last lap pass across the finish line. The whole race was going as plan until coming across the finish line I waited to late to pull out and lost the race from what Carver said a spoke. The next two days were TT's. I knew that they were going to be my weak point as I have been struggling heavily on them this year on my new bikes. I made both main events and was able to salvage a 12th in the main on the first day after a first turn crash and an 8th in the main of the second day.  The next day was group 1 half mile. I was real excited because it was finally a day off of the TTs and a track that I and Carver are both equally good at. In the heat race I got off the line in 4th and worked my way past Bickerington and Carver to be right on the leader on the last lap of a 4 lap heat. I tried to make a last lap move going into 3 but his roost just about through me off the bike and I had to cross the line in 2nd.  For the start of the main I was real excited because everything seemed to be going my way all day. I got off the line in 2nd behind Kevin Vance and made the pass on lap 2 to take the lead. After that I stretched out a straightway lead and cruised on to the win. The next two days it got rained out so it caused us to have a double header on Saturday. Saturday morning again was a half mile but this time for group 2. I won my heat race but didn't have a fast time as Carver had just nudged me on time to sit on the pole. For the start of the main Carver started on the bottom so I switched it up a little bit and started up high on the hard packed surface. I got the hole shot in the main and rode smart in order to stay on the grove to win the second day half mile main event.  After sitting around for a while we started the short track program. The track was very small and it was a second gear only track. I got off the line in the heat race in last as I got pinched going into turn one. The track was very hard to pass and everyone was running about equal time so I was only able to salvage a fifth out of the heat race which wasn't enough to make the main. In the semi I started fifth and I picked the outside because that was pretty much the only place left on the front row. I ran it into turn one with the hole shot and got pushed off of the track by two other guys below. I re-gathered my self and was able to get up to third place and position myself right on second place rider on the last lap but did not transfer to the main as they only took two. I wasn't happy because that gave Carver the hot shot series lead with 20 points and left me in second place leaving the week at DuQuion. With the rain earlier in the week they had to schedule one of the events for Sunday, but we already had another national to attend in Frederick Maryland so we could not finish out the Black Cat Series but I left there in second place and I believe  I finished 4th with leaving early.  At Frederick the track was different from anything else we have ever ridden. The one straightway was up hill while the other was down hill. I won my scratch heat and heat race and sat on the pole for the main event. I was excited for the main because this was the only time me and Carver were going up against each other all day since we had separate heats. Carver got the hole shot and I followed him for half of the race. I was trying to pass him up high and down low but I just couldn't get the run on him down the straightway. Finally I got frustrated and ran it into 3 harder then he did on the inside and made a clean pass to finish the last half of the race in the lead.  I had a lot of ups and down this past week but I was glad to end the week on top and to go out of the series only 16 points down now with one race to go in September. I really just got to say thanks to all of my sponsors, family, and friends who helped out this week. I had a blast and I know it wouldn't have been possible without them. I also have to say thanks to Mike Gutteridge for all of his support at the nationals as well.  Below are two links to online editions of newspapers I have been in since I have arrived home. Also if you live in the Baltimore Area I will be on the WJZ Morning Show Live from Timonium Fairgrounds next Wednesday July 23rd so check it out. Until then stay cool and enjoy the summer!

http://articles.lancasteronline.com/local/4/224227

http://www.fredericknewspost.com/sections/sports/display.htm?StoryID=77204