PETERSEN MEDIA: With California weather hindering his sprint car plans, Blake Carrick took advantage of a last minute opportunity to compete in a micro during the 6th Annual Turnpike Challenge in Oklahoma as he piloted Rick and Kristy McDougal owned entry.
“I have really thankful for the opportunity to get some races in last minute,” Blake Carrick said. “We had some good speed, but also had a little bad luck but we had some fun for sure.”
Kicking the busy week off on Thursday night at Creek County Speedway in Sapulpa, OK, Carrick would line up on the front row of his heat race and proceed to pick up the win in convincing fashion.
Finding himself on the front row of the feature event, the Lincoln, CA product would flex his muscle as he jumped out to the early lead and looked to be in control. Out in front, Carrick would endure a little bad luck as a problem with a fuel line would see him forfeit the lead as his night came to an early end.
Traveling to Oklahoma City for a twin billing at I-44 Riverside Speedway on Friday and Saturday night, Friday would see Carrick compete in both the Outlaw Class and the ‘A’ class during Friday’s program.
In ‘A’ Class action on this night, Carrick would open the night up with a fourth place finish in his heat race after lining up third, and a mix up would actually keep him from competing in the feature event.
Outlaw Class action saw the youngster go from fifth to fourth in his heat race, and just narrowly miss one of the two transfer positions out of the ‘B’ as he would end his night with a third place finish in the semi.
Returning to I-44 on Saturday, Carrick would again do double duty as he would be in action with the Outlaw class, and would also shed the win and run non wing as well.
Non wing heat race action would see Carrick advance from sixth to fourth, but it would not be enough to transfer him directly into the feature event. Making a stop in the ‘B’, he would take care of business as a third place finish put him 15th on the starting grid.
As the non-wing feature moved along, Carrick would make up some ground but would soon develop a tire rub. Holding on as long as he could, Carrick would think better than to continue to push the issue and pulled his machine back into the pit area rather than take a gamble.
Outlaw Class action would be tough on this night as the Californian finished sixth in his heat race before ending his night with a with a seventh place finish in the “B” on a surface that was tough to make up ground on.
Sunday night the scene shifted to Port City Raceway in Tulsa, OK where the extremely busy four days of action would come to a close.
Competing solely in the Outlaw Class, Carrick would get off to a good start on this night as he advanced two positions in his heat race by way of his seventh to fifth effort.
Winning the ‘B’, Carrick moved on into the feature event where he would have his work cut out for himself coming from the 18th starting position.
With the surface proving to be tough to make up ground on, not a tough of passing was made throughout the duration of the race. Looking to end the up and down week on a positive, Carrick would get what he could on this night as he capped his Turnpike Challenge with an 18th place result.
“It was a lot of run getting out to Oklahoma and making a ton of laps,” Carrick said. “Hopefully the weather at home gets better and we can get back to racing consistently out there. Thanks to everyone who made this trip possible.”
Blake Carrick would like to thank CVC, Cemex, Interstate Oil, Conti, Harris and Sloan, Emerald, Timberworks Construction, and Arai for their continued support.
ON TAP: Blake is scheduledto compete Friday night in Chico, CA and on Saturday in Placerville, CA.
2019 BY THE NUMBERS: Starts-2, Wins-0, Top 5’s-1, Top 10’s-1
STAY CONNECTED: Stay up to speed with Blake Carrick by following him on Twitter @Blake_Carrick21 or @CarrickMotorsp1.
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