It started off by getting pummeled on the softball field on Friday morning. You probably have heard that we have a big softball game in a couple of days in Reading to raise money for the Drag Racing Association for Women. I am on the team led by Gary Scelzi called the Superchargers. We practiced before qualifying on Friday in Brainerd. We played a scrimmage game against Antron Brown’s team of drivers and pretty much got our butts kicked. Our team looked like the bad news bears.

It was a lot of fun though. I’m really looking forward to the game this Thursday. I have faith in us. We all got together again on Saturday evening after qualifying to get some more practice. I think we did better. Maybe we just aren’t morning people. Friday morning practice didn’t work out so well. Thankfully our game is in the evening this week. Hopefully we worked off some of the rust and we won’t get our butts kicked again.

On Sunday raceday, I got my butt kicked by Steve Torrence and the Vis Viva team. I really wanted to beat Steve because I have never beat him before and I think this is the third time I’ve raced him. We raced each other in top alcohol dragster in 2005. I remember my team was having a terrific weekend. We qualified number two at the biggest race of the year, The Mac Tools US Nationals. Then we advanced all the way to the final. Torrence, the number one qualifier, drove around me and got the win light in the final to take home the Wally. It was a real heartbreaker to come so close to winning Indy. Later in the season, at my final race in top alcohol dragster, he ended my day in the second round. Steve then went on to win the championship that year. It’s cool that we both are having success in top fuel now, but drivers never forget that kind of stuff. I thought it was definitely my turn to beat him.

Although our trip to Brainerd didn’t go the way I wanted, I definitely can’t complain. Any weekend that I can spend playing softball with a bunch of NHRA drivers and then drive a top fuel car, is not bad. Also, I know that for my KB Racing team, we come back stronger after we struggle. The weekend in Minnesota will just make us better.

The weekend was better because my Grandpa and my brother, Austin, were there. My Grandpa drove the transporter for Clint Thompson’s Alcohol Funny Car Team from Klamath Falls, OR to Brainerd. He brought Austin with him. The two of them stayed with the Thompson’s all weekend and helped out on his team. Grandpa and Austin discovered the Zoo, went there every night of the weekend, and apparently had a great time. Grandpa then went to Montana for a divisional race with the team. I wish them a lot of luck this weekend.

Austin came with me after the race. We went to the batting cages near the track on Sunday. I need to get in some more practice before the game. Plus it was nice smacking the ball after a tough weekend. Then we went out to dinner at Famous Dave’s barbeque with my KB Racing teamtates.

Austin flew back to Michigan with me on Monday. We will spend a couple days back here and then Thursday, we fly to Pennsylvania for the softball game and race. I’m so excited to be able spend some time with my brother. In the last couple of years, I’ve missed a lot of his stuff like his eighth grade graduation and his football and baseball games. But now it’s cool that he likes to go to my races. It’s also cool that he’s helping me prepare for the softball game this weekend. I need a few pointers. Austin keeps turning the channel on my Olympic watching to see the Little League World Series so I’ve picked up a few pointers from watching that too. Tonight we are going to go see the Detroit Tigers play, so maybe I can pick up a few things there and get some inspiration.

 I’ll check back again soon.