The inaugural 2022 Outlaw Series West season is complete, and I am happy to report that I brought home the SXS Pro Stock Class championship title!
My team and I headed to Blythe, CA on Friday afternoon and arrived at Shorty’s Sports Park that evening. I got checked in at registration and ran my car through tech. Then we closed up our pit for the night and headed to the hotel.
I arrived back at the track early on Saturday morning to run the site lap, as I was unable to make it to practice the day before. I got a good feel for the track. Then, I checked my tire pressure and fueled my car. I was ready to go! My class was race number 11 in the line-up and when it was time, I went to the start line for moto 1. There was a random draw for start order, and I had the last pick of six cars. I lined up after the rest of the cars in my class and then the green flag flew! We all took off! I was in P4 off the start as we headed out onto the course. I stayed on the car in front of me and was able to make a quick pass in the first lap, moving me to P3. I held my position for two laps with P4 on my bumper, but then made a mistake and was passed moving me back to P4. I stayed on the gas, putting tons of pressure on the car in front of me, and then during lap 5, I was able to make a pass again moving me back to P3. I maintained P3 for two laps, and then was able to make another pass during lap 7, moving me to P2. I chased down the leader for 5 more laps but couldn’t get it done. After 12 laps, I crossed the finish line in 2nd place on two wheels with P3 on my bumper! It was one of the fastest and most competitive races I have ever been in.
After going through the race line-up again, it was time to head to the start line for moto 2. Because I finished in 2nd place during moto 1, I had second pick in the line-up. I picked a different spot on the line and felt better about my start position. The green flag flew, and we took off! I was in P3 off the start and hit the gas heading out onto the course. I maintained my P3 spot for the first four laps of the race. We were all one second apart as we raced through the track. I was able to make a pass during lap 5, moving me to P2. Then it was time to chase down the leader and there was no room for error. During lap 7, I made a mistake and was passed moving me back to P3. I wasn’t giving up and stayed on the car in front of me. I was able to make a pass back in lap 8, moving me back to P2. Then in lap 9, I made another pass moving me into P1! I stayed focused as I raced through the final two laps and crossed the finish line in 1st place! I was stoked!
The 2nd and 1st place moto finishes netted me and overall 1st place for the day! This result also meant I finished in 1st place for the season and earned the SXS Pro Stock Class Championship title! It was the best feeling to end the 2022 season on such a high note!
Thanks so much to all of these amazing companies and people that support my program: GBC Tires, Elka Suspension, Benchmark Performance, Candle Motorsports, Method Race Wheels, Crow Safety Gear, Polaris RZR, Super ATV, Energy Coil Racing, PRP Seats, Rugged Radios, Maxima Racing Oils, Tireblocks, JAMAR Performance, Race Team Sites, Crown Performance Products, Got Sand Performance, Oceanside Driveline, Dirt Rider Designs, and my parents who make this possible for me! Thanks to Brian Adkison and the Outlaw Crew for putting on the series and Harlen Foley for the awesome pictures! You can check out the Sims188 Racing team on Instagram @csims_188, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/csims188/, or on my website at www.sims188racing.com.