The Brickyard in 2012!

Well I just got the news and it looks like Tyler "Thunderfoot" Hagan will get the chance to race at the most famous race track in the world in 2012.  If all goes well Tyler will actually get to cross the yard of bricks at the hallowed ground of The Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 2012.

The IZOD IndyCar Series is looking to embrace the grassroots of racing, that being the sport of karting, and find their future starts.  They're doing that by finding ways to help young kids take the steps necessary to become race car drivers and they've partnered with Mazda to develop a ladder system that will allow kids as young 5 years old to have a pathway that will ultimately take them to the IZOD IndyCar Series.  As part of that process they're going to host, what we hope is an annual event, the first ever kart race on the hallowed grounds of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.  

 Tyler will just be entering into the Tag 60 Class and if my estimations are correct this race will take place on the weekend of his 9th Birthday.  He's been racing since he was 5 years old and as silly as this sounds he won the "Power Wheels Championship" which believe it or not was actually a lot of work for us to win.  He then moved on to the Kid Kart Class, where we've been for the past two years with a 3rd place finish in season one and what looks to be a 2nd place finish in season number two if all goes well in our final race next month.  

Now it's time to take the next step up and move to the Tag 60 Class in 2012 and if all goes well we'll be at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway the weekend of Tyler's 9th Birthday for the first ever go kart race at the "Brickyard"...

Turkey In Tulsa...

Yep, it looks like it will be Turkey in Tulsa for us this year.  We're taking our first "Racing" road trip as a family in November for the ABA BMX Grand National Race.  Tyler just recently moved up to Intermediate in BMX and it looks like we're headed to our very first Grand National event this season.  So the title of this post is appropriate as we'll be eating "Turkey in Tulsa" this year.

Tyler has been racing BMX for just over a year now and he's having a blast with the sport!  We typically let him practice after the races are over and if he could put headlights on his Haro he'd be out there well after they turn off the lights!  

Shortly after Tyler first started racing he was invited to joint the Bike Stop team which was a big thrill and a real honor as well.  Tyler wears his Bike Stop Jersey with great pride and he's really looking forward to finishing out the season this year at his very first Grand National Race.

When we first started racing BMX we had no idea it would lead to "Racing Road Trips" but we're all looking forward to the opportunity to take a trip we wouldn't have otherwise taken.  So this November it's "Turkey in Tulsa" for the Hagan Racing Team. 

I took a look at some photos of the track from years past and it's HUGE!!!  The Quick Trip Expo Center in Tulsa is one of the World's largest clearspan buildings!  It's 448,000 square feet of racing!  Take a look at this track photo from a few years ago.

So as we get close to Thanksgiving this season we'll be packing the truck full of the racing gear and headed out on our very first "Racing Road Trip" as Tyler "Thunderfoot" Hagan goes up against all the other 8 year old Intermediates in the Country.