The Fort Custer Stampede is the second race of the CPS (Championship Point Series) and I was looking to build on my 2nd place finish from the first race. The weather all week was looking great for race day and for once the predictions were correct and it was a beautiful day. We piled the whole family in the van and headed out for our long day of racing. The race started right on time and I was pretty happy that I was able to get the holeshot. I told myself that if anybody passed that I was going stay with them. About halfway through the first lap I got passed and was able to hold on for a while, but lost ground in the twisty stuff. I was able to regain the ground on the flat sections, but couldn’t keep up when the trail tightened up. I got passed again towards the end of the first lap and the story was the same as I was not able to maintain the same pace in the tight portions. The second lap was pretty uneventful until the end when I was caught and passed by a guy in a yellow jersey. I was determined to stick this time and was able to regain the position after a big hill and long flat. The third and final lap was very exciting as yellow jersey guy and a long train were constantly in site behind me. Everytime I looked back they seemed to be closer. I felt like prey being hunted. The last couple miles of the trail is pretty fast and I just hammered as hard as I could until the end. One guy did pass me towards the end, but he told me he was in a different group. We worked together a little and with his help I was able to hold on and take 3rd place by 4 seconds. I believe Terry Sensiba was the guy that helped me out and I need to make a point to introduce myself and thank him at the next race.  The day ended with my son taking 3rd in the 10 and under catagory and he maintained about 15mph the last mile in an effort to catch 2nd place.  He ended up 11 seconds behind, but I so proud and impressed with his relentless pursuit at the end.  All in all, a great day of racing.

Dan K