11/10/2019
Joel Rayborne
2019 Oval Nationals Comes to an End
And with that we call it a close to the 2019 24th Annual Oval Nationals at Perris Auto Speedway. This will be long.
May not have been the week we were hoping for, but it was another learning week and that is what we were looking for.
Wednesday and Thursday were not too bad as we learned what the new car wanted to make me comfortable. However, during Thursday night's B-Main the fuel pump started leaking and drenched my right leg and it was time to call it a night so I pulled into the pits. After changing fuel pumps we fought the next two days to get the #12B Jim Blakesley Racing sprint car to run properly. Ovals may not be the race to shake down a new car but it is a great way to get 4 nights of testing in. Even with some of the problems we had we showed speed and hope and that was the plan. Well plan A was to hopefully making an A-Main, but learning with the best in the country was the main plan.
Thank you everyone who was there for the autograph session to show your support for our team. I enjoy meeting fans, signing autographs, and introducing them to our marketing partners.
The Oval Nationals are no small event. It takes more then most will ever know. There are so many people to thank for getting us there, helping us out, and just being there for support.
Thank you Tobey Sampson for continuing to help our team while even being 1500 miles away. There is not many people who would do what you do so that a kid with a dream can go chase it.
Thank you to Jimmy May for helping get the car completed for Oval Nationals. Thank you to Steve Hix for all the support and being a great pit neighbor for the week. Thank you to Clyde for checking in every session to help make sure we had the new car going in the right direction. Thank you Robbie Allen who has helped us get this car together for watching us and offering the help. Thank you to Bill Rose for coming over after our disastrous heat race on Friday knowing something was wrong with the car. Bill jumped in while still in his firesuit and helped resquare the car in minutes right before our B-Main. He didnt stop there, he came by all day Saturday to check in and make sure all was good and offer help. Thank you Bill, Im grateful we have met you. Thank you to Jon Kairot for helping out with keeping the car looking so good. Thank you to my friend Rj Johnson for always helping me to get better and keeping us in a good mood by reminding us on Thursday night that we were already twice as good as we were last year. Thank you to Brody Roa, Brett Roa and all of Brody Roa Racing - BR Performance for always being there since I have started racing sprint cars. From advice to parts to a quick check in to make sure all is well, it is harder to find a better team as helpful. Thank you to our great friends Jay and Austin Ervine for coming out for two days and playing pit crew and showing how good competitors can become great friends.
A huge thank you to my grandparents Brooks and Karen Rayborne for coming all the way here with your travel trailer to give me a good night sleep and great dinners.
All my sponsors and supporters are what really make this dream happen. I have said it for years and this year proved it most true; I am the luckiest kid in the world to be able to climb in a sprint car and race a national event.
Jim Blakesley Racing. Jim is an amazing man who gives me this opportunity and even on bad evenings he finds positives.
A&J Racing, DJ Safety, Justice Brothers, Okie Race Cars, ROW Signs & Graphics, Jake Swanson Shock Technology, K&N Filters, Inland Machinery Moving.
Submitted By: Rodney Rayborne
