I am happy to report that one of my RS1’s is back up and running with a fresh new motor! We’ve been busy rebuilding after losing both motors in Mesquite, and we were able to get my stock car together in time to race at the Dirt Series, round 3 in Lake Elsinore, CA last weekend! I was stoked to get back in the driver’s seat and couldn’t wait to see how the car would do.
I decided to race in two classes, the Open 1000 class and the Unlimited class, even though I was racing in my stock car. We arrived at the track on Sunday morning, got checked in, and ran my car through tech. My classes raced later in the day, so after heading back to my pit, we finished up some last minute prep on my car.
The Open 1000 class was race 11 in the line-up for the day, and when it was time, I headed to the line for moto 1. The green flag flew and we took off! I got the hole shot and rounded the first turn! I hit the gas coming out of turn one and hit the step-up jump going up the hill. I came up a little short on my landing and my car landed hard and bucked in the air. I was able to save it and took off on to the course. I did not run in practice, so I had to learn the course on the first lap. I stayed out in front with P2 on my bumper. As I completed lap 1, I wasn’t confident enough to hit the step-up jump again so I slowed down and rolled over it. I continued to roll that jump each time, but I was able to maintain my lead for the duration of the race, and crossed the finish line in 1st place! It’s been a while since I’ve seen a checked flag and I was super happy!
The Unlimited class was race 16 in the line-up for the day, so after my Open 1000 race, I headed back to my pit to get some water and relax for a few minutes before heading back to the line for moto 1 in that class. After lining up, the flag flew and we all took off! I was in P2 off of the line as we headed on to the course. I was able to make a pass early in lap 1, taking over the lead. P2 was on my bumper and I knew if I wanted to put a cushion between us, I was going to have to take a few chances. Coming into lap 2, I hit the gas out of turn 1 to hit the step-up jump that I came up short on in moto 1 of the Open 1000 class race. I was able to get enough speed to fly over the jump and land it! I had learned what I needed to do, so with each lap, I was able to do that jump when my competitors weren’t. I gained a few seconds on them each time I did it. I stayed in the lead for the rest of the race and crossed the finish line in 1st place!
After going through the line-up again, it was time to line up for moto 2 in the Open 1000 class. The flag flew, and I got the hole shot as we rounded turn one! I hit the step-up jump and headed out on to the course. P2 was on my bumper again, but I stayed focused and on the gas. I was super comfortable on the course by this time, as I had completed two motos already. The course was awesome and I was having a great time driving through the turns and over the jumps. My car was handling perfect. I was able to stay in the lead and crossed the finish line in 1st place, taking home the 1st place overall spot for the day in the Open 1000 class!
I took a quick break back at my pit and got ready for moto 2 in the Unlimited class. We lined up, but had to wait to go because someone got hurt during the quad race before ours. I always get more nervous when I have to sit on the line and wait, but I took a deep breath and was able to calm my nerves. The quad racer had to be taken by ambulance, but we heard later that he was going to be ok. After the course was cleared, it was our time to go. The green flag flew, and we took off! I got the hole shot again, hit the gas, and took off onto the course! I was able to maintain my lead for the whole race and crossed the finish line in 1st place, taking home 1st place overall in the Unlimited class for the day!
It felt really good to be back in the car. Everything stayed together and the car ran flawlessly. I couldn’t have asked for a better race day!
We are waiting on the second motor to fix my production car and plan to get the cars ready to go for the next local race that comes our way. Because of COVID, race schedules are moving constantly, but I plan to race wherever I can throughout the summer before returning to WORCS in September.
Thanks so much to all of these amazing companies and people that support my program: Benchmark Performance, Candle Motorsports, Method Race Wheels, GBC Motorsports, Crow Enterprizes, Elka Suspension, Super ATV, Roll Design, Energy Coil Racing, Factory UTV, Baja Designs, Gates G-Force, PRP Seats, Rugged Radios, Maxima Racing Oils, Bikeman Performance, Tireblocks, JAMAR Performance, Race Team Sites, Crown Performance Products, Got Sand Performance, Oceanside Driveline, HOK9, Perrault Motorsports, Dirt Rider Designs, and my parents who make this possible for me! Thanks to Steve and the DIRT Series crew for putting on the race and Jeremy Reese (JBR Photography) for the amazing pictures! You can check out the Sims188 Racing team on Instagram @csims188, Facebook at www.facebook.com/csims188/, or on my NEW website at www.sims188racing.com!