Race Recap
Sometimes race day isn't measured by where you finish. Sometimes it's measured by everything it takes to get there.
On Saturday, Raccio Racing headed to Bear Ridge Speedway in Bradford, Vermont for Anthony's second race in a dirt midget, and it turned into a day the team won't soon forget.
Practice didn't go as planned. Shortly after taking the track, the car lost power, ending the session with zero practice laps and the team's first trip back to the pits in front of the Bear Ridge tow truck. As it turned out, it wouldn't be the last.
Qualifying showed promise, but near the end the power issues returned. Once again, the Bear Ridge tow truck was there to get the car back to the pits while the crew went to work diagnosing the problem. After tracking down loose battery cables and replacing a blown fuse, the car was ready for the feature.
That's when the day started to turn around.
Anthony drove with confidence and determination, continuing to build on everything he's learned in just two dirt midget races. The car ran smoothly, his confidence grew throughout the race, and he brought home an 11th-place finish, knocking on the door of the top ten.
The Great GoPro Rescue 📹😂
Every race weekend seems to have a story beyond what happens on the track, and Bear Ridge certainly delivered.
Raccio Racing has several GoPros, but the one riding along with Anthony on Saturday has become the team's favorite. It's captured countless laps, memorable moments, and many of the videos you've watched over the past two seasons. So when it decided to depart the race car without permission for a closer look at Bear Ridge, giving up on it was never an option.
As you can imagine, a GoPro tumbling around on a dirt track doesn't usually have a happy ending. The team assumed it would either never be seen again or eventually be found as a handful of expensive little pieces scattered around the racing surface.
During a delay caused by an incident elsewhere at the speedway, the search began. Eyes were glued to the dirt, scanning the track for what everyone expected would be the remains of the missing camera.
That's when Bear Ridge flagger Butch noticed the search and asked, "What are you looking for?"
After hearing that the GoPro had come off during qualifying, Butch immediately radioed the two tow truck drivers—who, by this point in the evening, had already gotten to know the Raccio Racing team pretty well.
The tow truck crew drove onto the track to help search for the missing camera......and they found it! Even better? After plugging it in and expecting the worst, the GoPro powered right up as if nothing had happened.
It's safe to say Butch has earned himself a fresh batch of homemade cookies the next time Raccio Racing visits Bear Ridge Speedway.
Racing Is About More Than Results
Power issues.
A flying GoPro.
More rides in front of the tow truck than the team had planned.
None of those became disappointments.
They became opportunities to stay focused, work together, persevere, and refuse to give up.
Every member of the team kept working through each challenge, but none of it would have been possible without the incredible support of Ray Miller and the entire Ray Miller Racing team. Their knowledge, encouragement, and willingness to help have meant the world to Anthony and everyone at Raccio Racing. We're also incredibly grateful to everyone at Bear Ridge Speedway—especially Butch and the tow truck crew—for going above and beyond throughout the day.
The smile on Anthony's face climbing out of the car, teammates congratulating him on a strong run, and seeing mentor Ray Miller smiling with pride made every challenge throughout the day worthwhile. Those are the moments that remind us why we love this sport.
Racing isn't always measured by trophies. Sometimes it's measured by determination, teamwork, friendships, and the memories made along the way.
Looking Ahead
Next stop: Loudon, New Hampshire!
This August, Raccio Racing will compete in the Dirt Duel during NASCAR weekend—the team's first visit to New Hampshire Motor Speedway and Anthony's first opportunity to race dirt there.
The team can't wait for another new adventure, another chance to learn, and another opportunity to continue building on this incredible season. We hope to see you there!