Road Atlanta Race Weekend Recap
Road Atlanta was always going to be a tough challenge for us. The last time Austin was at this track, he was just 14 years old, taking part in the Skip Barber Racing School. We came into this weekend with no budget to test, no past race data to lean on, and no experience here with Roxie. On a fast and unforgiving circuit like Road Atlanta, that’s far from ideal.
Day 1 – Arrival
We left Lindsay, Ontario, after work Tuesday evening and began the 16-hour drive south to Braselton, Georgia. The trip was smooth, and we rolled into the track right on time for load-in on Wednesday morning. Jeremy, Austin, and I got set up while waiting for the rest of the crew. We ended the day with a quiet dinner in the beautiful old section of Braselton, grateful for a calm start.. Nothing like being the smallest team in the paddoc
Day 2 – Practice
With no setup data, Friday was always going to be a day of trial and error.
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Practice 1: It was clear Austin was fighting the car. The ride height was too low, causing the car to bottom out dangerously, so we cut the session short.
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Practice 2: Adjustments helped, but the car was still dragging in places. Again, we had to stop early to protect both Austin and Roxie.
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Later Sessions: After major changes to alignment, gearing, and ride height, Austin reported improvement, but the lap times still left us well behind the leaders he normally battles with. Progress was made, but not enough.
- Recap Video
Day 3 – Qualifying & Race 1
Qualifying was a struggle. Austin pushed hard but could only manage 13th in class, 22nd overall—far off his usual pace. What worried me more was his body language. Normally the racetrack is where his anxiety fades, but this time it seemed to weigh heavier. Austin admitted he feared this could be his last race weekend ever, with the uncertainty surrounding our sponsorship for 2026.
I reminded him to focus on what he could control: doing his best in the car and enjoying every moment.
In Race 1, the unfamiliar sight of Austin near the back of the field was tough. The race itself was messy—cautions, crashes, endless laps behind the pace car. Still, Austin stayed composed and salvaged 8th in class, 15th overall. The team worked late into the night prepping Roxie for another early start.
Day 4- Races 2 & 3
Saturday began with a ray of hope. A fellow Radical driver approached offering financial support to Austin to finish the season and potentially compete in the World Finals. You could see weight lift off Austin immediately, just a bit of hope made all the difference—it was like watching his old self return.
In Race 2, he looked like Austin again. Aggressive, confident, charging through the field. But disaster struck. Going flat-out through Turn 1, faster than he had all weekend, the rear bottomed out, and Austin couldn’t save it. He hit the outside wall hard, destroying the right-rear of Roxie.
Thankfully, Austin walked away unhurt—that’s what mattered most. Remarkably, this was his first crash in eight years of racing cars. The outpouring of support from other teams was humbling: offers of parts, crew, even backup cars. That sense of community meant the world to us.
Unfortunately, the damage was far too severe to repair before Race 3. With no choice, we packed up early. The long drive home felt even longer this time. Roxie’s damage is significant, likely $30,000–$50,000, and we’re still waiting on a long-delayed final payment from our departing sponsor—a blow that makes things even harder.
and as if the weekend hadn’t thrown enough at us, while loading our trailer, a golf cart from another series lost control and smashed into the passenger side of our hauler. I just stood there, shaking my head, wondering, what else could possibly go wrong?
Final Thoughts
It wasn’t the weekend we wanted—far from it. But Austin’s resilience, even in the face of setbacks, and the kindness shown by so many in the paddock, remind us why we keep pushing forward. The road ahead is uncertain, but one thing remains clear: Austin has the heart of a racer, and this story is far from over. The final race of the season is 5 wks away, I am going to do my best to make sure Austin is on the grid. If you are able to help, we could sure use it.
