This past week was the AMA Pro Grand National short track double header held in Daytona, Florida. Last year was my first time at this track and I didn't make the program the 1st day and didn't transfer from the semi the second day. With the results from last year, I just wanted to make the main and get a few points for the championship run.

Day one during practice I felt very comfortable. The bike was set up great and we only made a couple gearing changes. I ended up qualifying sixth overall and was pretty happy with that because it put me on the front row start in the heat. In the heat race I rode around in fourth the whole race and stayed there. The track got really rough with huge ruts and I just took it easy and finished with a fourth place. For the main event I would be lined up on the inside of the second row. I got a horrible start and ended up getting shuffled back wards. The track was falling apart with huge ruts coming out of the turns and my bike just wasn't set up for that bad of a track. I rode around in fourteenth place the whole race and was just happy to finish without crashing.

On day two during practice I felt comfortable again. We didn't make any changes during all the qualifying sessions and I ended up qualifying ninth overall. This would give me a front row start for the heat race again. There was rumors that they were not going to tear up the track again so it would hopefully be smooth all the way around that night. In the heat race I tried to rail the outside of turn one but that didn't work out. I got shuffled all the way back to seventh. I couldn't get the bike to hook up at all up high and ended up getting passed coming out of turn four because I sat there spinning. My eighth place in the heat meant I had to go to the semi. In the semi I just barely missed the hole shot and was in second the whole race, battling for first. The bike was working a little bit better down low so I was looking forward to the main, but had to start on the third row. In the main I rode around in last place for about four or five laps. Then I found a fast line and started to get hooked up and made a pass just about every lap. I made my way all the way up to sixth but ran out of time before I could advance any farther. I was really happy with that and got some decent points.

Overall for Daytona in 2013 I am happy with the way things went. I made the main both days and got some valuable points. After missing five races last year, I already have several more points than this time last year, I am ninth overall so the championship dream is looking good. I also feel like I started to figure out Daytona in the second day main which makes me feel more confident for the next time I go there.

I'd really like to thank my sponsors: Weirbach Racing, KDM Forrest Products/Michael King, General Engineering, Barnett, Spectro, DynoJet, K&N, Saddlemen, Motorcycle Superstore, Works Connection, White lightning Retrievers, PMP Sprockets, Motion Pro, Spider Grips, Evans Coolant, Cheney Engineering, G2 Ergonomics, All Balls Racing, Firecoat Custom Powderworks, CP Pistons and Carrillo Rods, Web Cams, Foudree's Graphics, Sunoco, Pro Wheel, Southland Racing/Race Tech, Supertrapp , TNT Honda, Regina Chain, Factory Backing, Hinson, Pit Posse, Jet-Hot, Bell Helmets, Cosmetic Graphics, ProFactoryHoses.com , Engine Ice, Rekluse, and Chicken Hawk Racing, my Mom and Dad, Jason Saito, Mach 1.