my race day at seekonk open wheel wednesday

Right when we showed up, I learned that the track was very slippery and that was something new to me. I started off in the first practice driving the car in too deep and spinning out. From that moment on, I started backing up my corner and adapting to a hot, slippery surface. In round two of practice, I needed to learn how to bump start the car because the battery had died and would not start up (shouldn't have left the fan on). After the car got going, I quickly went back to the progress from practice one. Near the end of the practice, I gave everyone a scare. I hit the bump going into turn 3, and it sent me spinning. I went to save the car, but it suddenly turned right towards the wall. Luckily, I got the car slowed down and stopped before it made contact with the wall.
After practice was concluded we had a long break until the heat races and feature races. I went and found the announcer to hand him my press release for this race. To start off, he remembered who I was, and the last time we raced at Seekonk was about two months ago. When I started talking to him about the press release he stated "Hey this is the same press release on Facebook. I've already read this." I thought it was cool to hear the announcer has already read my press release before I hand it to him at the track. After I was invited to be in the autograph session the track was holding. It was very cool to meet the fans that come to watch us race. Meeting with the fans

In the heat race, I started in 9th position out of 11. Right as the green flag was thrown, I Started turning laps and making sure the car would make the feature in one piece. I was still in 9th place when a caution came out for a single-car spin. I restarted in 8th position. I did not stay there long. I quickly moved up to 5th spot where I stayed to finish the heat race in. I was extremely happy about how the heat race went.

In the feature race, I started 19th out of 21. Right as the green flag was thrown, I started battling for position. The first few laps it was between four of us but a few laps in, I found myself battling with 10 cars. I kept my head-on straight and paid attention to make sure I won't get in a wreck but still move up to position. During lap 12 when I was battling for the position, I started hearing the car break up. I looked down and saw the car was at 250 degrees. I decided to pull the car off to save the engine to make sure I can race the rest of the season. Later we found out the overheating problem was caused by an air pocket in the engine.

When I was talking to my Dad about the car and how it handled, I had a surprise guess come to my trailer. It was Mark Taylor a friend who let me drive his 750 sprint car. It was very cool to see Mark. Before the conclusion of the night, we wrapped up a sponsor deal with Mark that was based on how well I did on my report card for school. It was cool to see my hard work in school help out in racing. I have to Thank Taylor's energy for coming on board.

When I look back at this race, it was a great learning opportunity for me. I learned how to back up my corner, and learn how to read a track better if it's slippery or has a lot of grip. I also learned how to battle with many cars without touching anyone. I was four wide at one point and never touched anyone. I believe when you learn how to battle with multiple cars at once and not touch you have really done good. This also reflects that people in my division have respect for me to run me clean. I believe that can go a long way, and I've been trying to build that respect from the beginning.

I have to Thank my sponsors. They are Thredz Unlimited, Taylor Energy, Robert Rund, West Street Autobody, and Andrews Towing and Recovery. Without their support, I couldn't be racing every weekend. I also have to give a big thank you to my family for helping out and making this happen.

Please come back often as I will be writing one to two times a week to keep everyone up to speed on my progress throughout the year.

My Press release for seekonk speedway race

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Derek Robbie
Derek@derekrobbie.com
508-966-4053

Derek Robbie excited for his second race of the season at Seekonk Speedway during Open Wheel Wednesday
15-year-old phenom looking for another solid race July 20th
BELLINGHAM, MA- Derek Robbie will make his second start at Seekonk Speedway on Wednesday when the family-owned team travels to Seekonk Speedway in Seekonk, Massachusetts. Wednesday will be his 5th Pro Four Modified of New England Series race. The 15-year-old from Bellingham, Massachusetts, drives the family owned DDR Motorsports #27 Limited Pro Four Modified.
Last time Robbie was at Seekonk he did not finish the heat race due to mechanical issues, but he hopes to finish it this Wednesday. In the feature Robbie started scratch on the field in 23rd place and slowly moved up through the field. With 5 to go Derek spun the car battling for 7th position but quickly got control of the car and didn't lose his position. Robbie completed the race in the 7th place position.
"I'm hoping to continue to my steady progress and keep on learning" said Robbie. Derek is excited to come back to Seekonk speedway where he showed the best finish of the season with a 7th place finish.
This season is Robbie's 8th year racing with DDR-Motorsports. He began his career racing Quarter midgets and later a 270 sprint car before getting behind the wheel of the modified.
In Robbie's last race he debuted at Stafford Motor Speedway during the Extreme Tuesday event. Though the final run down does not display the results everyone hoped for, the team deemed it a good day. During practice Derek quickly adapted to the ultra fast Stafford Speedway. In the heat race Robbie was scheduled to start 5th, but the 86 car moved to the rear before the green and Derek slid up to the 3rd starting position. On the start, Derek encountered shifting problems. He quickly rebounded and brought up the back of the pack in 8th. Derek remained calmed and quietly started moving forward. At the conclusion of the heat race he found his way in to 4th place.
Next up the feature, where Robbie would start 17th. Derek would not stay there long were he quickly moving up through the field. The first 3 laps saw him get to 14th when he saw two cars begin to spin in front of him. Quick action allowed Derek to miss them to claimed the 12th position. On the restart Robbie garnered 10th and stayed there for awhile running at the back of the lead pack. This until he over drover the corner and lost control of the car and spun. After regaining control of the car he began the long assault to run the field down. When Robbie was making a pass for the 15th spot he got together with the 75 and spun again. This time the caution came out. He would restart 15th and move to 12th when the throttle cable broke and ended his day. Robbie hopes to rebound from the disappointing finish at Stafford and get the top 5 he has been chasing all year.
With the race at Stafford showing a DNF in the record book Robbie keeps his rookie points lead, and increased his margin to second place. Derek also moved into the top 10 in overall drivers points with his finish that evening.
Derek Robbie has several sponsors on board this year helping him. They are Thredz Unlimited, Andrews Towing, Robert Rund, Fleet Safety, and West Street Auto Body, 24 Carat Websites, and Mark Taylor Energy. To learn more about Derek Robbie you can visit DerekRobbie.com or contact Derek at Derek@derekrobbie.com
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my stafford motor speedway debut

My Stafford motor speedway debut was pretty good. In first practice the car was fast but a tick tight, but was mostly me getting use to the track. The next round of practice we threw on new tires and the car was fast, and tight in the middle went away, which I was very happy about. The third round of practice we weren't expecting but we put the old tires on and ran laps to get me use to running on the track. In this practice I also followed cars to get use to being in traffic.

In the heat race I started 5Th but before the green was thrown the 83 car starting third went to the back and I moved into third starting position. at the start I shifted it into Fourth and the carb did not clear about because late to find when we get back to the garage, one of the ears was cracked and letting air into the carb. After I finally got it cleared out and settled into 7Th, I ran the cars down. I got into 4Th and was on 3Rd's bumper as we were running 1st and 2Nd down, but we ran out of time and I finished 4Th. after the race I talked to the crew chief(my dad) and we talked about how to clear the carb out so it doesn't happen again.

On to the feature were I started 17Th out of 19 cars. once again on this start the carb was not cleared but I got it cleared faster and stayed with the pack. a few laps in to the race I picked off a few cars to be in 14Th when two cars in front of me got in a wreck and the caution came out. I restarted 12Th and picked two cars off to get into 10th on the outside. I ran in the back of the pack with the faster unlimited cars, till I ran out of talent and spun the car out. No caution came out because I got the car going. I ran in 15Th place for awhile and when I was going for 14Th position i got in a tangle with him and spun out to bring the caution out. I restarted 18Th. Right away in 5 laps I moved up to 10 position till the caution came out. with 6 to go i was restarting 9. When I hit the gas pedal the car jumped, then died. After figuring the problem out I sow the throttle cable broke and I pulled in. I'm just glad it didn't stick wide open. I finished in 14Th position, but keep the rookie points lead. The car was fast and had something for the faster unlimited cars, as my car is the limited motor(stock).

The really good news was the announcers were talking about me all night. It was cool to impress a announcer that announces for several big race tracks in new England. The other big guy i impress was Ben Dodge. He is a huge race promoter in the new England area and its hard to catch his eye, and i did. All he kept saying was wow that kid is only 15. I was really happy about that and hope to meet Ben some day.

I have to thank my sponsors and crew for the help they do. My sponsors are thredz unlimited, andrews towing and recovery, west street auto body, Robert Rund and fleet saftey. The crew members i have to thank is my dad, my mom, my sisters, cam mcdermott, Dan meservy SR, Jamie pina, and Dan Meservy.

To learn more about me visit DerekRobbie.com or email me at Derek@derekrobbie.com. You can also find more about my division the pro four modifieds of new england at pro4mods.com