RAPPORT DE COURSE – CASEY SIMS – GBC STADIUM SERIES RONDE 3

17 avril, 2021 – Devore, CA – I finally landed back on the podium at the GBC Stadium Series round 3!

My team and I headed up to Glen Helen Raceway last Saturday morning. When I arrived at the track, I got my car unloaded and ran through tech. Then I went to registration to sign up. I ended up entering in both the Production 1000 and Stock 1000 classes. This series has a two moto format, so I was going to get some great seat time and make the most out of the day!

Shortly after registration, I headed to the track to qualify for start position in the Production class. I ran 4 solid laps and qualified 2nd. I was stoked with my start position, especially because I was racing in my stock car. Then, I went out to qualify for the stock class, ran 4 great laps, and qualified 1st! I headed back to my pit, fueled my car, and went right back to the track to line up because race 1 was the Production 1000 class.

We lined up and headed out on to the track following the pace car for one lap, and as we came around the last corner, the pace car exited and the green flag dropped! I was in P2 as we rounded corner 1, but quickly made a pass on the inside of corner 2 moving me to P1. I was running through the course and doing well holding my lead, but then one of my competitors rolled causing the caution flag to come out. We all bunched back up as we rounded the course under caution and when the green flag flew again, the racer in P2 was able to get around me. I stayed on the gas, but wasn’t able to pass him back and finished the race in P2.

After exiting the course, I went right back to the start line as the Stock 1000 class was race number 5. I watched the races in between and then jumped back in my car to line up. We followed the pace car for one lap, and when the flag flew we took off! The Stock 1000 and the Turbo 1000 classes were racing at the same time, so there were two Turbo cars ahead of me. During lap 1, I was running in P1 in my class, and was able to make a pass on one of the Turbo cars in front of me! There was another Turbo that I tried to chase down but couldn’t get around him before the checkers. I was stoked to finish in 1st in the Stock 1000 class!

There were only 8 races total in the day, so I headed right back to the staging area to line up for moto 2, race 1 again. When it was time, we lined up and followed the pace car out. Then the flag flew and the Production 1000 class took off! I was in P2 off of the start and hit the gas to chase down the leader. I did everything I could to catch him and make a pass, but in the end I crossed the finish line in 2nd place. I was very happy with my finish and stoked to bring home an overall 2nd place for the day in the Production 1000 class!

I went right back to the staging area and waited just a short time before heading back out on to the track for moto 2, race 5 again. I was lined up next the P1 turbo car as we followed the pace car out. The green flag flew and we took off! I was in P2 physically off the start behind the turbo car (but P1 in my class). In turn 2, I was able to make a pass on the inside of the P1 turbo car moving me into P1 overall. I was able to stay in the lead with the rest of the pack putting pressure behind me for the entire race. I stayed focused and crossed the finish line in 1st place, bringing home 1st place for the day in the Stock 1000 class!

Two podiums in one day felt pretty awesome! I am going to carry this momentum to the next GBC race on May 8th!

Thanks so much to all of these amazing companies and people that support my program: Polaris RZR, GBC Motorsports, Benchmark Performance, Candle Motorsports, Method Race Wheels, Crow Enterprizes, Elka Suspension, Super ATV, Roll Design, Energy Coil Racing, Factory UTV, Baja Designs, PRP Seats, Rugged Radios, Maxima Racing Oils, Tireblocks, JAMAR Performance, Race Team Sites, Crown Performance Products, Got Sand Performance, Oceanside Driveline, HOK9, Vision Canopy, Perrault Motorsports, Dirt Rider Designs, and my parents who make this possible for me! Thanks to GBC and Glen Helen Raceway for putting on the series! You can check out the Sims188 Racing team on Instagram @csims188, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/csims188/, or on my website at www.sims188racing.com.