This past Saturday was a little different than my normal routine. Instead of spending all day at the garage working on the car we had a special appearance in Sandy Creek NY for the Boy Scout’s Longhouse Council Camporee. Spending time with the Boy Scouts is also fun for me. They have also been great supporters of DeMetro Racing and I tried to visit them whenever the opportunity arises. I was a little nervous because there was going to be 2,500 kids at the event. Once I got there it all changed to excitement as the kids lined up for pictures with me and the car. It was an amazing feeling to see the kids be excited about spending time with me. I want to thank Troop 244 for feeding us a true Boy Scout meal consisting of sandwiches and trail mix. It was also nice to talk to some strong supporters of natural gas about the benefits of natural gas as a clean energy source. Finally I would like to thank Scott Armstrong for inviting us to the event. I had such a great time and I hope I can do be at the next Longhouse Council Camporee.

This coming weekend we have a jam packed race and event schedule. Do not forget to visit us at NYSEG Stadium in Binghamton on Friday night for some baseball as the Binghamton Mets play the Portland Sea Dogs at 7:05pm. Then on Saturday it is time to take the Friends of Natural Gas NY 15d to Five Mile Point Speedway to take on southern NY’s best. DeMetro Racing will be wrapping up the weekend racing at Skyline Raceway in Cortland, NY on Sunday. Come out and show your support on this fun and action packed weekend.

On Wednesday night I packed my bags for trip to Pittsburgh, PA for the Super Cup Stock Series race at Motordrome Speedway. Unfortunately Mother Nature had other plans for me this weekend. Just before leaving for the trip I was told the race was cancelled due to the weather. It was time to come up with a plan b. Coming off a top five finish last week I decided to race at Thunder Mountain Raceway Park on Friday. Mother Nature once again changed our plans because the race was cancelled due to rain.

After two rain outs we decided to wait until Sunday and head to Utica Rome Speedway. This time it wasn’t rain but the cold that would give us a hard time. We decided to battle the cold and race anyway. In my heat race I started in the 6^th position. I kept my position for most of the race but the car was loose and I was passed by two cars near the end of the race finishing 7^th.  We made a few adjustments before the feature hoping to make the car a little tighter. Due to the cold the track was really slick once the feature rolled around. I started the feature in 23^rd place. I gained some track position but with the track being so slick in turns one and two it was tough to pass. I battled my way up to a 19^th place finish.

Mother Nature wasn’t on our side this weekend. We will spend all of this week working out the kinks and you can see us at Utica Rome Speedway on Sunday. I am also excited because I will be spending some time with the Boy Scouts in Sandy Creek on Saturday. I think the Boy Scouts are a great organization and I’m always willing to spend time with them.

One of the best things about driving for Friends of Natural Gas NY is I get to race across NY state. This weekend I traveled down to Thunder Mountain Raceway Park in Center Lisle, NY.

Thunder Mountain was an exciting place to race on Friday night. During hot laps I could tell we were in good shape for the night because the car felt fast and was smooth coming out of the corners. Going into the heats I was on the pole and ready to rock.

I had a great jump on the start and grabbed the lead. I was able to keep the lead for two laps before getting passed by former track champion Kevin Jordan. I spent the rest of the race in second place until the last lap. I hit a rut that built up throughout the race and was forced to slow down in order to avoid hitting the wall. I got the car back under control and finished fourth.

After running really well in the heat, I was stoked for the feature, where I was starting in seventh place. As soon as the green flag dropped, I was able to pass two cars to take over fifth place. From there I battled with two other drivers for most of the race but remained in fifth for the finish.

Coming off my first top five finish of the year I am excited for this week. I will be heading down to Pittsburgh to race in a Super Cup Series car. Super Cup Series is an asphalt series that races at tracks across the Midwest. I believe racing a stock car will be an amazing experience. Make sure to follow me on Twitter for live updates from the race, and I hope to see everyone at the track soon.

For more information check out on the Super Cup Series website at http://supercupstockcarseries.com

This past weekend marked the beginning of the 2013 race season. I was excited to hop in the Friend of Natural Gas NY 15d car and hit the clay. The team arrived at the track early and eager. This was our first time out with the new car, racing in our new class. It was also a ROC series race.

Hot laps were smooth but the car needed more gear. We made the adjustments and were ready for the heat races. Starting on the outside of row one felt great, surrounded by tough competitors and former champions. We got the green flag and we were off.

In the first lap, the car got loose, I spun out and was hit by an over-zealous racer. The DeMetro Race Team patched it up in the pit and got me back on the track. I was down a lap but able to finish the heat.  After the heat, the team was better able to assess the damage – a bent birdcage. Everyone pulled together, working as fast as we could, but we couldn’t get it together in time for the consi. I was out for the night.

It was a pretty disappointing way to end the night, but I got to watch some good racing from the stands with some loyal fans. Even on the worst days, the fans and the excitement at the track keep me going.

Thunder Mountain on Friday and back to Utica Rome on Sunday. Come out and join the fun this weekend!

Recently I made another trip to Dover, NC for the Race 101 program. This experience has allowed me to grow in so many ways. I am not only developing as a driver but am also building relationships with drivers from across the USA and Canada.

During this weekend we learned about the important role that shocks play on a race car. Being a dirt driver understanding shocks is a vital part of being competitive.  Making sure you have the right compression and rebound is the key to having competitive shocks. The correct compression and rebound allows the driver to have increased control of the car through the corners. After learning about shocks we changed gears and focused on interviews. Being able to interview well is an essential part of promoting yourself and your marketing partners. An interview allows fans to make a personal connection to you and you can make a lasting impression.

After class we decided to go out and have some fun. We all carpooled over to Motorplex in Mooresville, NC for some go kart racing. When we got there we found out that we were not the only drivers there. A few NASCAR regulars decided to have some fun also. I finished 6^th out of 22^nd which I feel good about since it was my first time there. The lessons I am learning at Race 101 are ones that I will carry throughout my career and I cannot express how grateful I am to have this opportunity.

Since I started racing I have been blessed to meet many great people.  This past weekend I was able to spend some time with my friends from Cub Scout Pack Fifty One. Pack Fifty One is based in Floyd, NY. The Cub Scouts is an amazing organization that builds kids character while teaching them practical life skills.

I was bummed when I couldn’t make their Pine Derby event last month due to my visit to NC. Luckily, DeMetro Racing was still represented in the derby with a home built replica of the 15d car. Since I missed the derby I jumped on the opportunity to speak to them at their Blue and Gold banquet event.

At the Blue and Gold event I talked to them about what it is like to follow your dreams and what it takes to achieve your goals. I told them that with hard work and dedication anything is possible.  By joining the Cub Scouts these kids are already on the right path to learn the skills they need to succeed in life.

I want to thank the Cub Scouts for welcoming me into their pack, and I can’t wait spend more time with them

Race Fans, I would like to thank you for checking out my brand new blog! Last season I was lucky enough to race in the sportsman division across NY State while informing people on the benefits of natural gas in NY. Partnering with something that you truly believe will create jobs and save NY State farms is a blessing. Thanks to Friends of Natural Gas NY I was able to live my dream of becoming a race car driver.

After a successful 2012 season it is now time to focus on 2013. This year, I will be making a shift from racing a crate sportsman car to traveling across NY and PA racing an open sportsman car. This will further expand exposure for me and our racing marketing partners.