Back on the Kramer: Mid‑Ohio Talent Cup Weekend Recap

Getting Back in the Groove at Mid‑Ohio

It had been a little while since the last round at Road America, and I couldn’t wait to get back on the Kramer. There’s just something about Mid‑Ohio—tight corners, elevation changes, and the flow of the track—that always makes it one of my favorites on the calendar. With fresh energy and a tuned-up machine, we rolled in ready to go for the Talent Cup series weekend.

Practice Session: Off to a Strong Start

Practice 1 gave us a solid foundation. We logged a 1:37.931—just six‑tenths off the session's fastest time. The best part? It felt like there was still plenty of time left in both the bike and myself. That session had us running close to last year’s race pace, which was a great mental boost. Everything felt tight and responsive, setting the tone for a promising weekend.

Qualifying 1: Mechanical Hiccups and Recovery

Heading into Q1, we made a few strategic changes. The updated gearing was meant to give us better drive off the corners without sacrificing top-end power. But mid‑lap, the quickshifter unexpectedly came apart, forcing us to pit early. After about 10 minutes of scrambling, we installed a new unit—but it started cutting the engine randomly, robbing me of consistency.

Still, I shaved nearly half a second off my practice time. Unfortunately, the rest of the field improved even more, and I ended up 8th. Not ideal, but solidly in the middle of Row 3 and still right in the mix.

Qualifying 2: A Strategic Decision

Heavy overnight rain left the track soaked for Q2. Since the forecast for race day was dry, going out on a wet track didn’t make sense—we had to manage our limited tire stickers carefully. So we sat the session out, watched the live broadcast, and saw Sam Drane push through the wet solo. His time was a full 18 seconds off Q1 pace, confirming we made the right call.

Race 1: Setup Tweaks and a Tight Battle

We reversed some gearing changes for Race 1, aiming for more top-end speed into Turn 5. That meant new shift points across the track, letting us stay in the power longer before braking. Suspension tweaks were also made to minimize chatter from the back straight’s exit.

The race itself was a blast. I was locked in a constant battle with Sam and Ella—trading positions and pushing each other every lap. I made it up to 4th by lap 9, but Sam slipped past me on the back straight and Ella beat me to the line. I crossed in 6th—just six tenths behind the race winner, Alessandro. It was the closest Talent Cup finish of the year so far!

Race Day 2: Slicks, Strategy, and Mid-Pack Mayhem

Another rainstorm rolled through before morning warm‑up, soaking the track again. With only two fresh tire stickers left, using them on rain tires wasn’t an option. So once again, we watched the session from the pits. One funny moment—commentators mistook Rossi Garcia for Hank Vossburg, even though Hank was sitting right next to me watching the broadcast!

When Race 2 rolled around, the track had dried enough to go out on slicks. Lap 1 saw Hank and Bodie rocket ahead while the rest of us—Alessandro, Kody, Rossi, Sam, and myself—battled intensely for 3rd. The order changed constantly, and every lap had multiple passes. On lap 9, Rossi crashed going into Turn 2, though I didn’t even realize it at the time. I was locked in, chasing down Alessandro and trying to regain 3rd after Kody had passed me. Unfortunately, Rossi’s crash brought out the red flag and I didn’t get to fight the last half of the lap.

Ultimately, I finished 5th at the checkered flag, just a few bike lengths off the podium.

Final Results and Reflections

Overall, Mid‑Ohio was packed with learnings. From gear ratios to suspension tweaks, and making strategic calls based on weather and tire limitations, every part of the weekend helped me and the team grow. I’m proud of how we kept fighting through every challenge and can’t wait for the next round.