Hulme Battles Emotions For Grand Nationals Win
press release
Ryley Hulme set a goal at the beginning of his 2010 season: to win the Brian Stewart Racing Karting Championship race at Shannonville, and bring home his mother a Grand National Bear. Fighting hard all season, he entered the weeklong event, a little shaken after the loss of his mother just one week prior to the race. Knowing she would have wanted him to continue racing, regardless of the situation, he used the loss as inspiration to complete his goal.
Racing in the Cadet class, Ryley knew it wouldn’t be easy, as the competition for this year’s race was very high. Heading out for qualifying, he posted a time of 57.804 seconds, and was awarded the pole-position for this blistering lap.
After taking the green flag in the pre-final, Hulme rocketed to the lead, but was chased the entire ten lap heat. Racing his own race, and posting consistently fast lap times, he took the victory and secured the pole-position for the final.
Sitting on the grid for the final, Both Ryley and his stepfather Chris were ready for whatever would be thrown at them. “I know Ryley is focused, it’s actually me I’m a little more concerned about,” commented Ryley’s stepfather Chris just before the race.
Getting another great start, Hulme grabbed the lead into turn one. Leading lap one and two, but he would surrender the lead on lap three, falling down to third place. Trading positions throughout the top three, he returned to the lead on nine and never looked back. Drag racing to the finish line, Ryley took the victory by 0.064 seconds, or less than a nosecone!
“It feels really good to win this race for my mom,” smiled Ryley at the trophy presentations. “I knew she was watching over me all day, I wish she could have been here to see it, but she is in a better place now.”
Hulme will now continue his 2010 championship chase at the Waterloo Regional Kart Club. Currently leading the Cadet class point championship, he will be back in action this weekend at Flamboro Speedway.
