J2 Racing season preparations have been underway for the past couple of months to get ready for the 2006 kart racing season. We've got a lot going on, here's the scoop.

Over the past years, Jeff Jr. has had a blast racing at Palmyra Speedway. But he's said he enjoy's racing 2-cycle karts at the "big track" at East Lansing (ELKT) and that's where some of the best in the area race. Last year, Jeff won a race at ELKT and finished 4th in points! In '06, Jeff will race full-time in 2 classes at ELKT while competing full-time in the regional series, the Great Lakes Sprint Series. We're also scheduled to compete at 2 National races (Indiana and Wisconsin). Depending on results, (and budget) we'll travel to Daytona, Florida in December over the Christmas break to compete with the best in the country at Daytona International Speedway. How many 9 yr. olds get a chance to compete at Daytona? We're going to give it a shot!

Our racing schedule should be posted on www.Bedfordsports.com in the near future. If interested in an electronic version or hard-copy, let me know and I'll send one your way. Although J2 Racing won't be a regular at Palmyra this year, we are still hoping to support the track. Look for an announcement in the next several weeks. We're going to miss running there, but who knows, we still may show up for a one-off (we still have our old 4-cycle kart). Dad's even thinking about getting in it just for fun!

Speaking of equipment, in past years, Jeff Jr. has been able to win with older, used equipment. But this year, to give Jeff the best chance for success (especially at the bigger events), J2 Racing has invested in new equipment for '06. For the first time ever, Jeff will have '06 karts and fresh motors to start the season! In addition, our sponsors from last year have pledged continued support (THANKS!) and we have a few new businesses interested in helping out. Meanwhile, Adam Lawrence has been helping with season preparations in the garage and will also help us at the track during the season when he can. Lawrence Design Studios has pitched in to get Jeff his first drivers suit! AND, Moses Construction has helped in more ways than I can express. With good equipment and continued support, it has the makings of a solid foundation to build a successful season. Jeff Jr. is anxious to get started! But it'll be a few weeks before the season actually starts - the first race weekend is at East Lansing, April 21-23.

As always, we continue to look for support, particularly from businesses in the Bedford Twp. area who may be interested in advertising on www.Bedfordsports.com If anyone has a lead, please pass it on to me! In the meantime, thanks for everyone's help. We'd like to recognize our sponsors who are helping Jeff Jr. stay on track:

Just in time, The Mannik and Smith Group, Inc. has come aboard to support J2 Racing with sponsorship when it was needed the most!.This is a REAL boost to help finish the '06 season! Mannik and Smith is well known throughout Ohio and Michigan for providing civil engineering, surveying and environmental consulting expertise for private, commercial and municipal development. For more information, visit www.manniksmithgroup.com Thanks to everyone at Mannik and Smith for all their well wishes, help and support as Jeff Jr. hopes to bring the 2006 racing season to a successful conclusion next month!

J2 Racing would also like to extend our appreciation to ALL of sponsors, friends and fellow competitors by inviting you to our 1st Annual Sponsorship Appreciation Chili Cook-off hosted by J. Moses Construction on Saturday, September 30. Details will be forthcoming over the next week, BUT expect a fun-filled evening with food, drink, prizes and live entertainment.

2006 season...

4-23-06
ELKT Points Race #1

With spring break, we made it a 3 day weekend at ELKT to get ready for racing on Sunday. We arrived at the track for practice on Friday and, thanks to everyone at Margay, we took delivery of our new '06 Margay chassis at the track that same afternoon.... We now have 2 - '06 Margays to work with for the season in both Yamaha and HPV Jr. Sportsman classes....

Jeff Jr. had lots of track time Friday and Saturday and was running competitive times for early in the season and adjusting to new equipment. We were really looking forward to racing on Sunday but just after the drivers meeting, it started to sprinkle. The sprinkle turned to a steady drizzle and racing was canceled. Nevertheless, Jeff Jr. still had some fun and took the time to test the new '06 with the hpv engine in the rain. Regional and National races run regardless the weather so it was time well spent.

Next weekend, we'll be at New Castle, Indiana for the first regional (Great Lakes Sprint Series) race of the year.

Thank to everyone for their support - last week to get raffle tickets for turn 3 Indy 500 tickets! And special thanks to Adam Lawrence who made the 3 day weekend trip to help us get 2 karts ready to start the season...

On a personal note, our engine builder for our 4-cycle program, Sherm Kimple (Michigan Muscle), had an accident at home and is in the hospital with serious 3rd degree burns. We wish him a speedy recovery. Our thoughts and prayers go out for him........

4-29-06
WKA Regional
Saturday, April 29, Jeff Myers Jr. won his first WKA Regional race IN THE RAIN at New Castle, Indiana - which is located just outside of Indianapolis, Indiana. For those who remember Danny Sullivan's "spin and win" in the Indy 500 in the mid '80's, Jeff had a similar ride on the rain-slicked track. Jeff was right on the tail of the 1st place kart when he locked the brakes, did a 360^ spin, and re-gained control losing little ground..... not giving up and having a fast Margay kart, he moved past the top 2 karts over the next laps and held on for an emotional win on his Dad's 45th birthday!

With the win, Jeff now leads the regional points chase in the Yamaha Jr. Sportsman class of the Great Lakes Sprint Series. Sunday, Jeff finished 5th in the HPV Jr. Sportsman class.

For race details: click here

5-7-06
After a big WKA regional win - it was time for Jeff Jr. to back it up at the club racing level at ELKT....... J2 Racing was at East Lansing last weekend for points race #2......

Results were good for both HPV and Yamaha Jr. Sportsman classes!.... 2 heat race wins, 2 poles, a feature 2nd and a feature win!.... Jeff Jr. won the Yamaha Jr. Sportsman class going away and was clicking off some very impressive lap times for early in the season! In the HPV class, after starting on pole, Jeff led for most of the race but finished 2nd to Kyle Noonan who got his first feature win - (way to go guys!).... Another great weekend of racing!

Thanks to everyone for the support/help.... It takes a total team effort to win. Special thanks to Adam Lawrence who drove up after work Saturday to help in the pits.

5-21-06
After a rainout last weekend at ELKT, Jeff Myers Jr. came back to East Lansing Sunday, May 21, to score his 3rd consecutive win of the season in the Yamaha Jr. Sportsman class.... It wasn't easy, but Jeff held off Dalton Prime to score his 2nd win of the season at ELKT and 3rd in 3 races dating back to the WKA regional's at New Castle, Indiana!

Overall, Jeff had 1 heat race win, 1 pole, a feature win and led 8 of 10 laps in the HPV Jr. Sportsman class all with Margay chassis.... The kid is on a roll!

On Memorial Day weekend, J2 Racing returns to South Bend for the 2nd race in the GLSS series where Jeff Jr. is leading the points in the Yamaha Jr. sportsman class... Stay tuned to www.Bedfordsports.com for the latest updates and pics..... Thanks to Silver Bullet Racing Engines, Margay, and Carlisle Racing School for all the help!

5-27 & 5-28 2006
Memorial Day weekend means racing - and it's the same for kart racing as J2 Racing visited South Bend, Indiana for the 2nd race in the WKA regional series, the Great Lakes Sprint Series (GLSS). Jeff was FAST all weekend and won his first WKA regional pole in Yamaha Jr. Sportsman (11 karts) and started the heat race on the pole.... BUT a broken throttle cable ended his run WHILE IN THE LEAD (heartbreak!)... He'd have to start 11th in the feature.... On the feature start, he passed 2 karts but one rookie driver sent Jeff spinning putting him dead last again and giving the entire field another 1 sec.... Nevertheless, Jeff ran 6 karts down and finished 4th!!... Nice come-back after a lot of bad luck..... Although he didn't win, Jeff certainly caught everyone's attention and we're looking forward to returning to South Bend for the WKA nationals in July..... Jeff continues to lead the GLSS points in Yamaha Jr. Sportsman.

Sunday in HPV class, after being VERY fast in the morning - fast enough for pole, Jeff could only manage 6th after the heat index turned up..... In the first heat Jeff got up to 4th after a GREAT start but slipped back to 6th - We still hadn't adjusted to the track conditions.... (Dad had work to do!)... In the feature race we started 6th again BUT Jeff was as fast as the leaders.... We ended up 4th when the race was red flagged after 10 laps due to a wreck.... The first 4 karts were all in a row and Jeff was poised to challenge for the podium but it wasn't meant to be.... Jeff is 4th place in GLSS points in HPV Jr. Sportsman.

6-4-06
East Lansing. Results:

Yamaha Jr. Sportsman

Heat #1: 2nd
Heat #2: 1st
Feature: 1st (3rd in a row at ELKT!!)

HPV Jr. Sportsman

Heat #1: 1st
Heat #2: 1st
Feature: 1st

Another awesome day at ELKT for Jeff Jr. - although official points standings haven't been posted, it appears Jeff Jr. is leading the points in both Jr. Sportsman classes at ELKT.

J2 Racing REALLY appreciates all the kind words, interest and support from our friends, family and competitors alike. Jeff Jr. has really started the '06 season on fire and with some luck and hard work, we hope our good fortune continues. We can't do it alone and we thank all of our sponsors and supporters for the help!

We're back in action at ELKT for the next 3 weeks before a 4th of July break.

June 17-18
Michigan State Championships at East Lansing

Jeff had to work hard to stay ahead of the competition in Yamaha Jr. Sportsman on Saturday. With the competition being close, it makes it more difficult to pass so being on pole is everything. Despite good finishes in the heat races, Jeff started outside pole for the feature. At the green flag, Jeff hung it all out and made a move on the outside in the high speed turn 1 corner and made it stick. He got the lead and never looked back winning his first state championship.

Yamaha Jr. Sportsman
Results:

Heat 1: 2nd
Heat 2: 1st
Feature: 1st

Sunday, in the HPV Jr. Sportsman class Dad worked hard in the pits by making several tire and chassis adjustments. Jeff responded well on the track to each change and won his 2nd state championship in 2 days.

HPV Jr. Sportsman
Results:

Heat 1: 3rd
Heat 2: 1st
Feature: 1st

July 15-16th
It's been an extremely hectic few weeks for J2 Racing. Although we had a 2 week break, in the time off, we added an associate sponsor, G.B. Warnke and Associates, AND we were interviewed by the local media, Bedford Now. Then it was back to club racing at East Lansing where Jeff Jr. finished 2nd in Yamaha Jr. Sportsman and then saved it all for a daring last lap, last corner pass to take the win in HPV Jr. Sportsman. Jeff remains the points leader in both classes.

This past weekend, we made the trek back to South Bend, Indiana for the WKA Grand National Manufacturer's Cup Race. This was Jeff Jr.'s first taste of a 2 cycle National race. He joined a field of nearly 600 karts with some of the most famous names in motorsports racing including a former Indy Car racer, the sons of a few Indy Car racers and the best kart racers in the entire country. In Jeff Jr.'s classes alone, there were 40 entries in Yamaha Jr. Sportsman and 26 entries in HPV Jr. Sportsman. The kids that Jeff Jr. competed against are the best in the country coming from as far away as California. Here's how he did.

Friday was a practice day and just plain miserable as rained washed out most of the practice. With a clear forecast for the weekend, not too many racers were willing to go out in the wet. We did get a few sessions in late in the day but not as much as we would've liked. But, since we were on pole here in May, we remained optimistic for Saturday and Sunday.

Saturday was in Jeff's strongest class, Yamaha Jr. Sportsman. Unfortunately for us, the track conditions were very different from May and we found ourselves struggling to find speed - this wasn't going to be an easy day for us. Jeff qualified 25th out of 40. The top 24 automatically qualify for the 30 kart field. Jeff would have to race his way into the field by finishing in one of the 6 remaining transfer spots. Jeff started on pole for the 8 lap consi race - led the first few laps but slipped back to 3rd where he finished - we still made the race and would start 28th in the pre-final. We continued to make set-up progress and finished 21st which is where Jeff would make his start. In the 20 lap final, Jeff Sr. made set-up changes and Jeff Jr. drove a smart race, got up to 15th at one point but finished 16th placing him solidly in the top 20 in the country! We had hoped for better - maybe too much - but came away feeling good.

Sunday was HPV Jr. Sportsman and now that we had a handle on the hot track conditions, again we were optimistic. The morning warm-up Jeff was as quick as he'd ever been but in qualifying could only manage 22nd. In the pre-final, Jeff made contact with a kart that was spinning ahead of him and bent the front spindle - the race was red flagged but there was that could be done about it - Jeff still managed to turn some quick laps but the kart handled so poorly he spun and finished in the back. The final wasn't much better. Although Jeff Sr. got the kart back together - the heat index made carb adjustments difficult and the engine seemed off. Jeff Jr. indicated the kart still didn't handle the best and he struggled to a 21st finishing position.

Overall, we hoped for a better result in Yamaha but know that we'll need to be better prepared. Still, placing 16th out of a 40 kart field is nothing to complain about. All in all, it was good learning experience - and something to build upon should we decide to race on a national level again.

With 2 races still to go, Jeff Myers Jr. clinched 2 points championships last Sunday at East Lansing by winning the HPV Jr. Sportsman race and placing second in the Yamaha Jr. Sportsman race. The track titles will add to Jeff's 4 previous championships at nearby Palmyra Speedway. Only 9 years old, Jeff has been racing at East Lansing for 2 1/2 years. Last year, Jeff raced in 1 class at East Lansing and finished 4th in points.

East Lansing Kart Track is well known across the country as one of the premier facilities for kart racing hosting national and divisional races drawing some of the most talented kart racers in the area. In their younger days, Indy Car stars Sam Hornish and Danica Patrick once raced at East Lansing. Jeff will collect his winning trophies at the track banquet in January.

But the season's not over yet! With one race to go, Jeff holds a 10 point lead in a WKA Divisional series, the Great Lakes Sprint Series. The last GLSS race is September 23-24

Julie, 8; Jeff, 9; Kristy 11

Great news! Jeff made the newspaper again. The latest edition of the Monroe Journal has a nice story on Jeff's racing efforts along with a couple of nice pictures. The Monroe Journal is free and available at most newstands and Monroe County businesses - pick up a copy while you can. Or, stop by and see me - I just picked up a couple dozen!

The story highlighted Jeff's recent success at East Lansing and noted he is leading the points in a WKA Divisional series while noting more information can be found at www.bedfordsports.com. Just like the recent Bedford Now article, Jeff's name was listed AGAIN on the front page! Headline news - gotta love it!

GLSS Grand Finale
JUST NOW HOME.... yes, it's WAY late and it was a LONG weekend..... here's what happened....

Going into the weekend, Jeff held a 10 point lead in the GLSS / WKA divisionals in Yamaha Jr. Sportsman... Unfortunately, Jeff was unable to keep the lead... Saturday, rains forced everyone to go to rain tires... Jeff qualified 2nd and finished 2nd in the pre-final... But, in the final, Jeff got into the lead on the first lap, but spun after losing the lead 2 laps later... he was able to continue on but back in 7th place... Jeff chased down several karts and finished a VERY respectable 4th place finish... BUT, give credit where credit is due... Randel Potter won the race and by my unofficial math, won the points championship... Michael Fortner finished the race 2nd and it looks like he'll get 2nd place in points and Jeff will be 3rd.... My calculations are all unofficial BUT it looks like the 3 racers were separated by only 9 points!... I'll keep an eye on the website www.glsseries.com and let everyone know when official points are tallied.... still, a 3rd for us in divisional points is awesome!

Sunday was HPV Jr. Sportsman - new day, not our strong class - we could just have fun!.. and what fun we had!... Under dry track conditions, Jeff qualified 3rd... In the pre-final, rains came and forced everyone to the rain tires - Jeff jumped to the lead on the first turn and cruised to an easy victory.... Starting on pole for the final, the field was back to dry tires as the sun was out..... This turned out to be a race to remember as the lead was swapped back and forth between Jeff and Kyle Krump several times.... For the most part, Jeff held the lead through most of the race BUT the last 3-4 laps there was some fantastic racing by both boys as they dueled inches apart at AVEARGE lap speeds over 57 mph!... they saved the best for the last lap - the lead changed hand 3 times on the white flag lap.... jeff passed kyle into 1, kyle passed jeff into 8, jeff passed kyle for the win going into the last turn with 3rd place quickly closing-in on both karts.... great stuff and an unexpected win for us in HPV!!... with our recent 2nd at the last divisional race, it appears that Jeff will finish 3rd in point in HPV Jr. Sportsman as well... 2 podiums in a WKA series - what an great season!.. not bad for a 9-yr-old boy who has 3 more years in these 2 classes!.... and what a great way to close the season with an exciting win!.....