By: Fast Time Media
8/1/23… Burlington, Washington: Friday & Saturday Night, Ryan Rocha would make his second trip to Skagit Speedway for the Summer Nationals. The 16 year old driver impressed in his second visit to the track, as he made the feature both nights.
Ryan kicked the weekend off with qualifying on Friday Night. He was the 32nd of 45 cars to hit the track & times in 23rd quickest. That started him on the pole of his heat race. He would jump the start & get penalized. Then tapped the wall & blew out his Jacob’s latter, before coming home in 6th in the heat race. He went to the B-main where he started 2nd & finished 3rd, making the feature.
That lined Ryan up on the inside of row twelve in the 23rd spot. Starting deep, Ryan would do a good job during the feature. Despite struggling getting adjusted to the track, Ryan would move his way forward. He ended up finishing 20th, going plus three on the feature.
“Jumped the start at the heat and had to go back. Then tapped the wall and blew out Jacobs’s latter. Went to B main and able to advance to main. Had a decent run just struggled with the curb in turn Two.”
On Saturday, Ryan lined up in the 5th spot for his heat race. He needed to get into the top-4 to make the feature. Ryan did just that, getting into the 3rd spot, finishing the heat race there & locking into the Saturday feature.
Locked into the feature, Ryan rolled off from the inside of row seven in the 13th spot. Still trying to get adjusted to a new track, Ryan was able to run a solid race. He ended up falling backwards, but was able to bring home a 17th place finish.
“Came in on Saturday and finished the heat in transfer position. Still battling the curb, we wanted a better finish but glad to have made the main. Learned a lot about the track during the week there and am looking forward to going back.”
It was an impressive weekend for Ryan & his team during their second visit to Skagit Speedway. Things didn’t go perfectly, but Ryan looked really good & continues to improve this season!
Ryan’s 2022 stats: 18 events, 14 features, 0 wins, 0 top-5’s, 1 top-10’s.
Ryan would like to thank his sponsors; K&M AG, R&R Farms, Fagundes Auto Body, Van De Pol Petroleum, Myers Well Drilling Inc., Spy Graphics, Brasil Hay, Davis Motorsports, Valley Oxygen, Aardema Group, Twin Ridge Genetics, Mesa Alta Transportation Inc., Tiner Hirst Enterprise, Don Otts Racing Engines, Davis Farms, Champlin Farms, Hoosier Tire, Simpson Racing Products, Daval Building Maintenance, Bob’s Gun Shop, Scotty Martin, Wendi Rocha, Megan Rocha, and Kaylie Rocha.
Next Race: TBA