NOLA - TSRS Race 1
This year at NOLA Motorsports Park in the Texas Sprint Racing Series, Sally competed regionally in the Lo206 Senior class for the second year in a row. The race weekend composed of 4 practice sessions on Friday, a qualifying and heat race on Saturday, and a second heat race and main event on Sunday.
Sally and her mechanic, Jake Deangelis, wait on the grid for the first heat race on Saturday.
After driving 8 hours from their home town, Victoria, Texas, the crew arrived to the track at 9 pm to set up shop for the long weekend ahead.
Friday
On Friday, Sally got to drive with some of the best four stroke drivers in the country. With only 4 practice sessions, she prioritized learning and observing the lines of the drivers around her. After tuning the kart to the grip level of the track, Sally ended the day off in P2 out of 25 for official practice.
“Throughout the first few sessions, I had decent pace, but the kart still wasn’t as hooked up as it usually is. After discussing with my mechanic, we decided to move the rear up and to the middle in order to increase grip. Then in the next session, I was second fastest and honestly felt really relieved that I found the pace to be competitive for Saturday.”
Saturday
In qualifying, Sally made plans with a driver from her home track in order to get a good draft on the +2 mile track. Together, they were P2 & P3 in practice. However, unfortunately for both of them, their plans fell through and they were both left without a draft. As draft is extremely important at NOLA, Sally ended up P13.
Due to the TSRS race schedule not being progressive (meaning your qualifying results dictate where you start both heat races), Sally was going to start in P13.
In heat race 1, Sally experienced the worst crash in her entire racing career. In the first few seconds of the race, Sally found herself going 3-wide into turn 1. In the middle of two karts, one closing in and Sally tracking out, her front right tire caught onto the front left tire of Mikey Bowlin. This caused her to propel and spin 3 times in air with bad case of whiplash.
(Below is the link to the Kart Chaser video clip of the 206 Senior Heat 1 race)
After a very scary racing incident, Sally continued to drive 4 laps before her father/driving coach, Robby Mott, pulled her into the scales.
“I barely remember what happened. All I remember is impact, my head getting jerked back, and then seeing white spots as the pack drove away from me. I didn’t cry because of the pain, I cried because I didn’t have a chance at finishing up front.”
After the crash, she ended the race with a DNF (did not finish) and was checked by the EMT. Fortunately, her neck was the only thing that was causing signifiant pain, so she decided to race the main event the next day.
Sunday
In the second heat, Sally lost the draft of the front runners and finished P12. Then in the final, starting P19 (with her P12 and DNF combined), she passed six drivers and finished the weekend in P13. Although they weren’t the best results, Sally came home with a new sponsor and a new experience that she’ll never forget.
“Even though what I experienced on track wasn’t amazing, I still learned so much and had a ton of fun. Everyone was so supportive and kind. People I didn’t even know came to check on me, and it felt like a real family. I can’t wait for next year!”
March 27, 2022
