9/2 Jonnie and Daddy are getting ready for an exciting Saturday night race in Tampa this coming weekend. It is a double points night! Jonnie won the last one and we really need to win this won if we have any kind of chance at another championship. We are hoping that once we get his new car dialed we will be back in victory lane. In two weeks we will go on the road and race up at the Northern Georgia track. We plan on racing two classes, Light GX 160 and Heavy Honda. See Jonnie's 2008 Schedule page for the entire years schedule.
8/7 The whole family took the racing trip to Tampa this past weekend. Jonnie and Daddy spent all day Saturday at the track setting up Jonnie's new GT American quarter midget. Just as we got the base line set up in it the track closed. So we had no practice time in the new car. Sunday morning Jonnie was able to complete about 20 practice laps with his new ride and he said he would like to race it. The random draw for the heat race started Jonnie dead last. Jonnie made his was up to 5th in the heat race and we felt ready for the A Main. The A Main results put Jonnie in 7th place due to a spin out 20 feet before the start finish line because of a wreck ahead of him. Some of these kids need to stick with soccer because they definitely can't drive a freakin' race car!
8/1 Jon Beau Motorsports proudly announces the purchase of a new GT American race car! This brand new quarter midget features top of the line equipment, light weight parts, and a local GT American shop to support us with car set up. Jonnie's new 78" car is white with gray trim and will soon resemble the GM Goodwrench 29 car! Jonnie will keep the sacred #3 on his car as he finishes the season in the GX 160 class.
7/27 The #7 Hooters car turned some laps today at Little New Smyrna Speedway. Beau was back to continue his novice training. He didn't set any track records but we had no crashes and Beau had fun! Jonnie begins the second half of the season this coming Sunday at Tampa. During the summer we had a couple chances to run some Heavy GX160 fun races and Jonnie did well. We will finish the season in Light GX 160 and probably move up to the heavy series with the older boys next year. For now we have our sights set on Tampa where we must get a couple wins in soon if we are going to have any kind of chance wining the championship. This past week Jonnie received authorization from HOOSIER tiers to use their logo on his car, hauler, and website. Thanks Hoosier!
6/13 Jonnie ran his first Heavy GX 160 race on Friday night at New Smyrna. In the heavy class the car and driver combined must weigh 325 lbs.. It was just a fun night so we had no pressure just a good time. Jonnie finished 3rd with the help on the crew chief loosing about 10 lbs. off the total weight. Of course when we got to the scales they had to adjust the finishing order! We were just having some fun with the bigger boys.
6/4 We are getting ready for an exciting weekend of racing. This Friday night we will head to New Smyrna for a race and then it's a quick set up change on Saturday and on to Tampa for the last points race before the summer break. We were planning on taking a couple trips out of town to race but we are unsure if it will happen or not. Check Jonnie's Race Schedule page for the remaining 2008 schedule.
5/30 This past Saturday Jonnie took a test drive in a Bandolero race car at Orlando Speedworld. Jonnie enjoyed the different type of car and the extra 30 horse power! He was careful not to wreck the current Bandolero points leader's car. Thank you Critter Sail for the use of your car. See more about Bandolero racing at www.600racing.com
5/17 The Saturday night race in Tampa race started off good. There was an 11 car Light 160 field and Jonnie was starting in the 9th position. Jonnie had worked his way up to the 4th position when an over anxious, older, more experienced driver accidentally spun him out in turn 3. Unfortunately another car slammed into Jonnie's car and bent up the right side radius rods so he had to pit under caution. The other drive got the call and went to the back of the pack but once Jonnie goes into the pits he then must go to the rear also. We made the repairs before the A Main but only managed to get a 5th place finish. We have made great progress with our set up and expect another win real soon! We cheered ourselves up by attending the Duran Duran concert Sunday night! I think my little driver had a good time with Dad! Duran Duran still puts on a great show. www.duranduran.com
5/7 Our next race is in Tampa and it will be a night race. We are considering not racing at New Smyrna due to the fact that there are so many cars on Friday nights we have only completed one A Main in Light 160! It's not worth getting out of work early and spending a lot of money to race one race on a Friday night. We will run some races there and maybe even a couple different classes.
4/26 Overall we at least had fun on our trip to Georgia. We usually see some famous drivers at the big races and this weekend was no exception. We had the privilege to see Jeff Burton and his son Harrison at the track both Friday and Saturday. We probably failed to catch his eye as we took part in an early race crash which ended our day in 24th place. Jonnie was very upset but I explained to him that we will have days like this once in a while. At least we now have a great set up for the fall race!
4/20 We used the Saturday before the race to make some chassis changes while at the track practicing. The changes didn't seen to do what we hoped. We did manage to get the car loosened up some more but we still have an issue somewhere. The next race is a night race in Tampa and hopefully we will have time to check out some different gear ratios. As the points stand now Jonnie is just one point out of first place. Next week we head to North Georgia for the annual Apple Blossom.
4/13 Sunday's Tampa race took place during unusually cool 68 degree weather. Our assistant crew chief Paul Motsko and his wife Pat came by to check out the racing. Paul observed our racing and set up notes and was able to give us a good suggestion which we will apply next Sunday. This change and our strong motor and good driver should put us back in victory lane again soon! Thanks Paul.
4/4 Rain shortened the racing program Friday night and again we did not have a chance to run the main races. Jonnie heat finish was 7th. We will try again next Friday night and Sunday head to Tampa.
3/30 Beau managed just a few laps this past Sunday at novice practice before running his #7 Hooters car into the wall between turns 1 and 2. The EMT rushed over to check our young driver and after a few minutes cleared my little man of any significant injuries. Beau shed just a few tears and said his leg hurt from smashing into the steering wheel. Beau must step up his practice performance or run the risk of being released to Michael Waltrip's new Toyota team.
3/21 Friday night turned into Saturday morning when finally at 2 am the remaining three races were called off. There were 105 cars registered to race that night but with the wrecks and slow start to the night the races just couldn't be completed. There was about 15 cars in Jonnie's class and few rookies like Jonnie. Jonnie finished the heat race in fourth place so that put him in the B Main. The B Main started at about midnight and Jonnie looked great as he lead over half of the race! A few cars in a pack finally made there way up to him but he held on for another fourth place finish. This put Jonnie into the A Main which at the current pace would have started at about 2:15 am! The race was called and Jonnie gets fourth place points. It was a great night considering how he did in his first 160 race at this track and considering what a long day it was for this 8 year old who started his day at 7:30 am.
3/16 This past Sunday was the second points race at Tampa. This was the first of two double points dates in Tampa and we hoped we could continue to get faster. After a disappointing heat race the crew chief made a few changes and hoped for a good main race. With a little help from lady luck Jonnie was handed his first Light GX 160 win, 100 points, and a trophy for his finish!
2008 Light GX 160 Season Final Points Standings
Tampa Bay - 3 - 1 - 4 - 4 - 5 - 5 - 7 -
2007 Junior Honda Season
Mid Florida - 2 - 2 - 2 - 3 - 3 - 3 - 3 - 2 3rd
New Smyrna - 1 - 4 - 4 - 4 - 6 - 10 4th
Florida Cup Series - 4 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 2 - 4 - 10 - 3 4th
2006 Junior Honda Season
Mid Florida finishes - 2 - 2 - 2 - 1 - 1 - 1 - 2 - 2 - 1 - 2 1st
Tampa Bay finishes - 2- 2 - 2 - 2 - 2 - 2 - 2 - 1 - 2 - 2 - 2 - 1 1st
Florida Cup finishes - 1 - 1 - 4 - 5 - 4 - 2 - 3 1st
