Race report – Casey Sims at Outlaw Series West – Round 3 and 4

Blythe, CA – The inaugural 2022 Outlaw Series West season is complete, and I am happy to report that I brought home the SXS Pro Stock Class championship title!

My team and I headed to Blythe, CA on Friday afternoon and arrived at Shorty’s Sports Park that evening. I got checked in at registration and ran my car through tech. Then we closed up our pit for the night and headed to the hotel.

I arrived back at the track early on Saturday morning to run the site lap, as I was unable to make it to practice the day before. I got a good feel for the track. Then, I checked my tire pressure and fueled my car. I was ready to go! My class was race number 11 in the line-up and when it was time, I went to the start line for moto 1. There was a random draw for start order, and I had the last pick of six cars. I lined up after the rest of the cars in my class and then the green flag flew!

We all took off! I was in P4 off the start as we headed out onto the course. I stayed on the car in front of me and was able to make a quick pass in the first lap, moving me to P3. I held my position for two laps with P4 on my bumper, but then made a mistake and was passed moving me back to P4. I stayed on the gas, putting tons of pressure on the car in front of me, and then during lap 5, I was able to make a pass again moving me back to P3. I maintained P3 for two laps, and then was able to make another pass during lap 7, moving me to P2. I chased down the leader for 5 more laps but couldn’t get it done. After 12 laps, I crossed the finish line in 2nd place on two wheels with P3 on my bumper! It was one of the fastest and most competitive races I have ever been in.

After going through the race line-up again, it was time to head to the start line for moto 2. Because I finished in 2nd place during moto 1, I had second pick in the line-up. I picked a different spot on the line and felt better about my start position. The green flag flew, and we took off! I was in P3 off the start and hit the gas heading out onto the course. I maintained my P3 spot for the first four laps of the race. We were all one second apart as we raced through the track. I was able to make a pass during lap 5, moving me to P2. Then it was time to chase down the leader and there was no room for error. During lap 7, I made a mistake and was passed moving me back to P3. I wasn’t giving up and stayed on the car in front of me. I was able to make a pass back in lap 8, moving me back to P2. Then in lap 9, I made another pass moving me into P1! I stayed focused as I raced through the final two laps and crossed the finish line in 1st place! I was stoked!

The 2nd and 1st place moto finishes netted me and overall 1st place for the day! This result also meant I finished in 1st place for the season and earned the SXS Pro Stock Class Championship title! It was the best feeling to end the 2022 season on such a high note!