Round 24 Kansas Lottery 300, Kansas

Round 24 took place at the very fast Kansas Motor Speedway.

As usual it seems I had a very good practice session, topping the timing sheets with a time of 33.557.

Qualifying didn't go so well as I could only manage a 33.695 which saw me on the 10th row in 19th place.

It didn't take long for me to move up the order in the race. I decided to stop for fuel under a caution period on lap 40.

Working my way back through the pack after my pit stop I hit too many cars and was given the black flag on lap 47.

With 43 laps still remaining I still had enough time to score some decent points. I carefully began to make my way back up through the pack.

My plan worked a treat as I not only avoided another black flack I also made it all way back to the front. I was very happy when the checkered flag finally flew.

I was up to 2nd in the standings 42 points behind.

My fastest lap of the race was a 33.681.

I led 54 of the 90 laps.

Round 23 Dover, Roadloans.com 200

The Monster Mile that is Dover played host to round 23 of the series.

As with recent rounds in practice I was fastest with a best time of 26.998.

Qualifying went well as I posted the fastest time and secured another pole position (27.030).

I kept the lead from pole for the majority of the early laps. On lap 23 a lapse of concentration almost made me spin out however I did manage to catch it and only dropped to 5th place.

I took advantage of a yellow on lap 30 to stop for fuel. Of course I restarted at the back of the pack so for the next 60 laps it was a case of catching up.

This track is a one mile oval so I was always in traffic and collisions were inevitable. It was no surprise when I received the black flag on lap 50 which of course sent me back to the tail end of the field.

There was still 40 laps to go so I wasn't out of it yet. I carefully began to move back up the field. I did manage to get to 2nd before the laps run out. A good finish in the end.

My best lap of the race was 26.899.

I led 22 of the 90 laps.

I was now 4th in the Championship standings 95 points behind the leader.

Round 22 - Richmond, Emerson Radio 250

The latest round of the championship took place on the high speed short track of Richmond.

I was glad to be quickest in practice with a time of 22.628 which was faster than the time I posted the first time I came here this season.

I was just as successful in qualifying, a time of 23.190 was good enough for pole position.

I stayed up front in the race until lap 35 when I stopped for fuel under a yellow.

I may my way through the pack until I received the dreaded black flag on lap 65.

With 48 laps remaining I was able to battle my way back to the front. 

Another win!

I was now 6th in the championship, 110 points behind the leader.

My fastest lap time was 22.400 my fastest of the weekend.

Round 21 - Auto Club (California) Camping World 300

Round 21 of the series took place at the Auto Club Speedway, previously Fontana in sunny California.

I was fastest in practice with a time 41.991 after my 10 laps.

In qualifying I was able to reproduce my form and duly qualified in pole with times of 42.083 and 41.991.

In the race I managed to be around the front until lap 34 when I stopped for fuel until the race's first caution period. All the remaining cars pitted under the green flag on lap 50.

So the question was could I hold onto the lead that stopping under the yellow had given me while the others were on fresher tyres?

Not to worry though as I managed to hold on and eventually win the race.

I led 54 of the 69 laps to earn 10 bonus points.

My best lap of the race was 41.955 which was faster than I qualified!

I was 6th in the standings, 150 points behind the leader (less than a race now).

Round 20 - Bristol Food City 250

The question as the cars rolled into Bristol was whether the recent upturn in my form would continue at Nascar's toughest short track.

With a lot of cars on track at one time setting a fast time in practice proved difficult but midway through the session I managed to set the fastest time (17.173).

In qualifying I managed to get pole position with a time of 16.652.

I was at the front of the field until lap 50 when I pitted for fuel and to repair damage sustained in a collision.

I slowly made my way back through the field to the point where with 10 laps to go I'd reached second place.

Going round turns 3 and 4 I was pushed into the pit lane by cars trying to overtake me. Any hope of a victory disappeared as I trundled down the pit lane.

When I came out of the pits I received a black flag and another pass through penalty for speeding the pit lane! How could things get any worse?

Well it did as almost immediately I received another black flag, this time for dangerous driving! After serving that it was no surprise that I finished last.

In the race I led 23 of the 108 laps. 

My fastest racing lap was 16.581 which was faster than both my practice and qualifying times.

I was now 6th in the championship 185 points behind the leader.

Round 19 Michigan International Raceway, Carfax 250

Michigan Super Speedway was home to round 19 of the series.

This high banked oval which boasts speeds of 153mph in the corners is one of Nascar's fastest tracks.

The race weekend started off with the mandatory 10 lap practice session. I was 5th with a time of 41.498.

Qualifying next and the question was could I get further up the grid? The answer was no as I could only manage 14th with times of 41.601 and 41.542.

The race turned out to be something special for me - no black flags. I managed to move up to 4th before pitting for fuel on lap 35, the others pitted on lap 43.

I made my way up to 2nd before there was a very late caution period. When the race restarted there was only 2 laps remaining.

I managed to make the pass for the lead on the very last lap of the race. A good race with a deserved win at he end.

I led 2 of the 56 laps. Another win and another giant step towards the championship.

My best time of the race was 41.486 my fastest of the race weekend.

I was now up to 5th in the standings.

Round 18 - Watkins Glen, Zippo 200

Round 18 of the series took place at the famous Watkins Glen circuit in New York state. This is the first round held on a road course.  

After a lucky finish at Indianapolis I wasn't sure what to expect from this race. The race weekend started brightly enough though when I set the fastest time in practice (1.20.062).

The 2 lap qualifying period went well to as I grabbed pole position (1.21.276).

The start of the race went well until I received a black flag penalty for passing under the yellow.

I pitted for fuel under the next yellow along with everyone else.

Starting 2nd at the restart I quickly took the lead and began to slowly eek out an advantage.

I managed to hold to the lead until a yellow caution period ended the race. A first win in a Nascar on a road course!

My fastest lap of the race was 1.28.356 which was slower than my best times in practice and qualifying.

I led 14 of the 39 laps which earned me 10 bonus points.

I was up to 6th in the standings 170 points behind the leader.

Round 17 - Indianapolis Raceway Park, Kroger 200

Round 17 of the series took place at O'Reilly Raceway Park in Indianapolis. The Nationwide cars do not race at the more famous motor speedway.

After a great finish at Chicago I wa expecting good things from this race. The race weekend started brightly enough when I set the fastest time in practise (22.438).

The 2 lap qualifying period went well to as I grabbed pole position (21.980).

The start of the race went well as I ran in the top 2 for the first 30 laps. I pitted under the yellow at lap 30 for fuel.

On the restart I forgot that you couldn't overtake until you passed the start/finish line and was rewarded with my first black flag of the race.

After serving that penalty I got another one for dangerous driving!

I decided to stop for fue on lap 50l. Immediately after coming out of the pits there was a yellow caution period which meant that under the 'lucky dog' rule I got back on the lead lap. This was a really break in the race for me as I managed to use the remaining laps to climb through the pack to finish on the podium in 3rd place.

My fastest lap of the race was 22.606 which was slower than my best times in practice and qualifying.

I led 30 of the 90 laps which earned me 5 bonus points.

I was 7th in the standings 205 points behind the leader.