We had a major breakthrough when we won our first race in Topeka, Kansas this year. It was such an awesome day and it made us all hungrier for more wins. Then at the Fram Autolite Nationals in Sonoma, we advanced to the final round. Securing a spot in the Countdown was our number one priority going into this season and we did that at the Reading race. I was relieved when we locked in a spot in the top ten. We secured the number seven spot but more importantly we gave ourselves a chance to win the championship.

Now, two races into the countdown, we have moved up two places to the number five spot. We intend to continue improving our points position and land ourselves in the number one spot by the end of the season.

We have four races remaining: Memphis, Richmond, Las Vegas, and Pomona. I can’t help but wonder if these will be the last four races of my career. Our team needs to secure sponsor if we are going to run next year. We have been and we are working diligently to do just that. I’m hopeful that we will put something together. In the meantime, I’m going to enjoy every second. I’m thankful that I get to make a living doing what I love. There’s no place in the world I would rather be than in my top fuel dragster. I want to make eight runs in each of the next races. That’s the most we could possibly run. That will mean we have to a lot of winning and that’s the most fun part about this.

After our last race in Dallas, my KB Racing teammates took some time out for some much needed R & R. They got to do some shooting and fishing on a Texas ranch where Ben Marshall’s family lives. I got them to give me some photos of the fish they caught. I think they are bass. Chris (Beaker) and Mac caught the biggest fish. Everybody else caught smaller ones. They all threw them back. They did some trap shooting with shotguns too which they really seemed to like.

I also did some shooting this week. I flew to Memphis on Wednesday morning and went to the Memphis Sport Shooting Association for the 2nd Annual Robert Hight Semi-Celebrity Shootout. I wasn’t sure if I would like it because I had never used a shotgun before. I do have a little experience with a 9mm and an M-16 from when I did some target practice in Afghanistan earlier this year. Trap shooting with a shotgun was completely different. Robert Hight brought his own gun since he used to be a winning trap shooter. He was really good even though he hadn’t shot since the same event the year before.

At first, I couldn’t hit the targets at all. I had a couple of good teachers though. I really listened to them and they helped me out a lot. Once I learned to keep my form, quit thinking so much, focus, and let my hand-eye coordination do what it knows how to do, I did much better. By the end I was able to go five for five hitting the moving clay targets.

It really reminded me of racing. I do better if I don’t think too much, focus, and let my hand-eye coordination work. There’s just not time in racing to over think things. Trap shooting gave me some renewed inspiration and confidence.

I’m ready to come out shooting this weekend at the O’Reilly Midsouth Nationals. I want to move up in the points and this is the weekend to do it. I know we have a great race car. I have to stay positive and drive this weekend like I shot that gun on Wednesday: with confidence and focus.

I hope you will cheer for us. I will check back in about a month.

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