AUSTIN REED BRINGS HOME A 3RD AND A 4TH PLACE FINISH AT POMONA
COTO DE CAZA, California -- Austin Reed, driver of the #514 Ringers Gloves, RBP, Headblade.com, Approved Memory, Pimphats.com, JDA Hose and Fittings, Modified Kart drove the wheels off his Toyota Tundra truck in the very hot temperatures Saturday and Sunday in Pomona, CA.
Austin took to the very technically challenging track late Friday night for 5 laps of qualifying. With no practice, the drivers rolled their trucks onto the track for what is called practice and qualifying. In lining up to go out Austin was towards the back of the pack and he decided that was the best place for him to get some room to get a clean run. Rick Johnson (RJ) went over the track with Austin on the radio so he knew what to expect. Austin went out and qualified 6th out of 19 trucks. Seven of his competitors had a bigger 450 motor, compared to his 250, as CORR had grandfathered them into the class for the year. Only a few of them out-ran Austin during qualifying. Austin commented afterwards, “There was about 150 yards of the track that was run on asphalt and that was really tricky to get the truck to hook up. The Fox Shox that Todd, from Fox, dialed in for us were just perfect as they were a big part of how well we got our truck set up for the diverse conditions.”
Saturday, Austin had a decent start and immediately showed he has what it takes to compete at this level of racing. He made some great aggressive, yet clean moves to move him up into fourth place. Half way through the race after coming through the big up hill sweeper that launched the trucks into the whoop de doo's Austin just about lost it as a truck got by him. RJ got Austin to calm back down and start working on getting his spots back while helping him dodge some serious crashes in front and around him. By the end of the race he finished in 3rd place, his first podium finish in the popular CORR closed circuit off road series.
Sunday's starting positions were based upon finishing positions from Saturday’s main event. This had Austin in the third position. As the race got underway, Austin got into the first corner staying in third then lost a few spots coming onto the asphalt. He ran most of the race hunting for a better line around the track with RJ keeping him focused on going after the front runners. After the dust had settled he ended up in a solid 4th place finish. Austin shared “Rick Johnson gave me some tips, I would rather not share, about how to get through certain parts of the race track that only someone with his background would know. Having him on the radio helped me build my confidence and trust in what I am doing as a driver. Two races in one weekend with two top five finishes is a way cool start for me and I could not be happier.”
Rick's thirteen year old daughter, Kassidy Johnson, in her greatShowers.com, Twisted Sister Toyota Tundra started her first CORR race in Austin's JR. 2 kart and brought home two solid tenth place finishes in her main events. Kassidy made some great moves to makes passes and avoid trouble. Even as she got spun out hard in Saturday’s main she kept it on all fours and salvaged a tenth place.
Trophy Karts are smaller versions of the Trophy Trucks. The new Elite/Modified Kart has a KX250F 38HP Kawasaki 4 stroke motor, Chromoly Cage, thicker tubing than standard TK, 4wheel Disc brakes, Steering Rack, Rear Sway Bar, 22" Tires, 10" Wheels, 5 spd Sequential Transmission, 4 Gallon Fuel Cell, 300M Rear Axle, 4 Link Rear Suspension, 2 Bros. Racing Pipe, and will do 80 mph. The JR. 2 Modified kart has a Subaru 15 horsepower sealed spec motor with has a top speed of about 50 mph.
Austin and Kassidy's Karts are prepared by DeJong Off-Road in Temecula, CA and is a teammate to Mitchell DeJong. Austin Reed a 14 year old 8th grader attends Norris Middle School in Bakersfield, CA and is the son of Dave Reed, former NASCAR championship car owner in the Southwest Series. For more information please check out Austin's web site www.austinreedracing.com and http://www.corracing.com/ or contact Dave Reed dreed@approvedmemory.com
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