PETERSEN MEDIA: Traveling to Hanford, CA on Friday night to resume action with the Sprint Car Challenge Tour, Tanner Carrick would make a late race mistake that ultimately brought his night to an end.
“We had pretty decent speed, in the feature I got up over the curb and was off the track, but the yellow never came out so I just headed back to the trailer,” Carrick said. “Saturday night we were a little better, but there was a medical emergency in the pits, and our race never got to run.”
A wild weekend of sorts in Hanford, CA got off to a tricky start on Friday night with the timing and scoring loop going down after hot laps. Rather than hand scoring all 38 cars, SCCT officials opted to use the Chili Bowl heat race/qualifier format on this night.
Drawing the second row for his heat race, Carrick would jump into second when the race came to life. Chasing after Corey Day, Carrick would hang on to second, and move his CVC/Cemex/Interstate Oil entry into a qualifier.
Finding himself back in the second row of his qualifier, Carrick would settle into the fourth position, where he would finish. When all of the qualifiers were completed, Carrick sat 9th in points, which put him in the fifth row for the 30-lap feature event.
As the feature came to life, Carrick would work inside the Top-10 as he would attack the slick Keller Auto Speedway surface that was presented to the field. Working the high side of the speedway, Carrick get tight on the cushion just after the race’s halfway point and it would send him off the racing surface.
Slowing outside of turns one and two, the yellow flag would never be displayed, and Carrick would be forced back to his pit area, ending his night.
Back in action with Kings of Thunder 360 Series on Saturday night, Carrick would time in third fastest in his qualifying flight.
Lining up second in his heat race, Carrick would finish second as he chased Kyle Hirst across the finish line. Slated to start 10th in the feature event, track officials would be forced to throw a red for a medical emergency in the pit area just prior to the race going green. After a several minute delay, the decision was made to cancel the race.
“A little bit of a disappointing weekend, but the speed was there and that has me feeling confident for Trophy Cup,’ Carrick said. “Thanks to everyone for their continued hard work and support.”
Tanner Carrick would like to thank CVC, Cemex, Interstate Oil, Conti, Harris and Sloan, Emerald, Timberworks Construction, Kaeding Performance, and Arai for their continued support.
BY THE NUMBERS: Starts: 55, Wins: 7, Top 5’s: 25, Top 10’s: 33
ON TAP: Carrick will take this week off before returning to action in two weeks for the Trophy Cup.
STAY CONNECTED: Stay up to speed with Tanner Carrick by following him on Twitter @Carrick_Tanner or @CarrickMotorsp1, and by clicking over to www.tannercarrick.com.