Despite the Rain, PCMS gets First Points Race in 2022

After a perfect day on Saturday, June 4, for the test and tune session after the car show, the rain moved in overnight and had some wondering if the points racing on Sunday, June 5, would take place.

"We have a new sweeper/vacuum truck at the track. This was the first test for it, and I think it passed," said newly appointed track manager Shane Carnahan. "We had standing water on the track when we got here this morning. We got it dried, cleaned, and ready for racing by 11 a.m."

With a small delay at the start and a couple of delays throughout the day, a full day of racing was enjoyed by the 50 cars that stuck it out.

"We may be missing a few cars that didn't make it, or didn't stick around due to the weather," said PCMS President Dan Stout. "But it is really good to have our Canadian friends back racing with us."

That sentiment was repeated many times throughout the day.

The big win of the day went to Malta's own Titus Carnahan. Making his racing debut in a Junior Dragster, the soon-to-be third-grader beat out the other two Junior Dragsters to take the title in his first bracket.

Carnahan won the championship round right off the line when his opponent had a red light.

"How about that!" exclaimed a very proud Grandpa John Carnahan. "It's pretty sweet to get a win your first time out."

"I'm really proud of him," said Grandpa and fellow racer Rick Starkey. "He puts a lot of work into it."

Grandpa John was in victory lane to hand Titus his trophy and give him a hug. Then the whole family got in on the pictures. Everyone but Dad, Shane Carnahan, who was still in charge of the races on the track. He made it back a short time later to give Titus a hug and get some pictures taken with the champ.

When asked how it felt to win his first time out, Titus answered, "It's pretty cool." Asked if there was anything else he would like to say, he said "No."

Shane said, "Usually we can't get him to stop talking, now he decides to be shy."

Amanda, Titus's mom said, "I thought I would be a nervous wreck. But this went a lot better than wrestling. I think Titus just gets me so worked up in wrestling. Today was a really good day."

It is easy to say that for the Carnahan's and extended family, race day in Malta is a family reunion.

In the Sportsman Class, Bobbie Jo Wilkins took home the trophy. She was beat off the line in the championship race, but her opponent broke out, giving her the win.

In the Pro Class, Randy Neset from Tioga, North Dakota, took home the trophy. He won his championship race at the line when his opponent left .066 seconds too early. Even though Neset broke out, the red light happened first, giving him the win on his first-ever trip to Malta.

"We will chalk this one up to beginners luck," said Neset. "But I will definitely be back here. I like it, it's a really good track and well run."

The race of the day came in the championship race for the Super Pro Class. In a clean race from start to finish, Wayne Solberg from Richland, MT, won it on the line. Which is saying something when his opponent had a reaction time of .0099 seconds! Solberg's reaction time of .0068 seconds was the difference in this, the last race of the weekend.

"I'm really happy we were able to get the races in," said track manager Shane Carnahan. "Getting the schedule together before the season was tough, I didn't want to have to reschedule this weekend. I think we had some really good racing."

The next race weekend in Malta will be on July 16-17, for two days of MDRA points racing.