Cody Johnson Racing

Rotax R Max East Regional Race week of July 19th Ocala, Fl.

The Rotax R-Max East Regional held at Ocala Grand Prix is the second step for toward the United States Rotax Max Grand National on September 22-23 at the Briggs & Stratton Motorplex at Road America. The Champ Car Rotax Kart Challenge (CCRKC) will host the East Grand Regional at the Ocala Gran Prix in Ocala, FL Wednesday, July 19 through Saturday, July 22.

I had Cody's race motor rebuilt for this race which turned out to be a BIG mistake so close to the race date. We spent three days practicing or trying to practice on the new motor the week of the race, we had a bearing fail, balance gear issue's and the clutch come undone 5 times. Mind you this is on a motor we just had rebuilt. Never again will I have a motor built that close to a race date or by a motor builder who does not have a spotless rep for doing quality work.

To add to the motor frustration we had the frame on his Margay 1.4 crack and we had to switch to his Rookie kart 1.6 which we had very little time on. We had to learn to turn the kart very quickly, in less than two practice sessions actually.


*Qualifying 7/19/ 06 - With the new motor on the 1.6 Margay Cody went out to qualify and we fully expected a top 10 effort. With only 5 lap's on the track the clutch came lose again this for the 5th time in three days and Cody's qualifying effort was over. Very hard way to head into the pre heats to be held the next day starting from 23rd spot, back of the pack. That would be it for the new motor even after we had the clutch repaired by SSC East I just didn't trust it so we switch to Cody's practice motor.

*7/20/06 - Heat #1 - With 24 karts taking the track Cody got tangled up in one of the first turns leaving his side pod hanging; he got to complete 6 laps of 12 before being black flagged coming in 18th.

Heat #2 - Starting in 18th place of 24 Cody worked his way up to finish in 11th place with a best lap of 37.661; the kart on pole turned in a best lap of 37.506 so we where not far off.

Heat #3 - Starting in 11th place of 24 Cody finished 12th place with a best lap of 37.264, pole sitter best lap was 37.210.

*7/21/06 - Pre Final - Starting in 16th place of 24 Cody worked his way thru the field up to 9th place with what was a great show. In 23 laps he passed more karts than anyone else on the track, he put on a great show of his driving skills. This would have given us a starting spot of 9th for the final but we where DQ'ed for being 2 pounds under weight, our bad luck continued.

*Final - Starting dead last in 24th spot Cody worked his way up to ten place by lap 23 when he got tangled up with another kart losing 4 positions to finish all thirty laps in 14th place. What a show he put on once again never letting the disappointment of being 2 pounds under weight get him down he went about his business working his way thru a very competitive field. To finish 14th against the best drivers on the East Coast with a practice motor in his first full year of racing karts is a great accomplishment, I'm very proud of him.

For one reason or another we had to start at the back of the pack in every event and Cody never let it get him down, he went out and worked his way up thru the field every time. What a great effort he put forth; he really impressed everyone watching, his smooth driving caught the attention of a lot of folks.