Photo Provided By: Todd MacMillan

After a hard week in Cascade and a week of recovery, I was feeling great. Coming into the Brentwood Grand Prix with a hard block of training, and a previous 6th place last year, I knew I was capable of a podium spot! I arrived to the race and saw the crowd. It was the same roaring, excited, spectacular crowd as last year. They were ready for a show and Team CashCall Mortgage was ready to give them one.

The team approached the line and the officials were ready to get it underway. The whistle blew and right away an attack came from a few riders. I was up front and realized it may work if they added a few riders. Turn three, I came from five back and ripped up the straight. I figured someone would follow but I was alone. I got in a tucked position and didn’t look back. It seemed the entire crowd was behind Team CashCall because every turn and straight there was someone yelling, ” Go CashCall!” It took me around three laps to attach to the break, but once I was there I was glued. We drove the break for a half an hour of the race until a group of 15 riders with the rest of Team CashCall Mortgage and others caught us. I was hurting but knew the next attack and selection of riders would be the move if it was going to stick. The counter attack came and it shattered the 19 riders into a group of 8-9. Team CashCall Mortgage wasn’t going to let it go without us though and 3 of our riders made the move including David Santos, Brian McCullough, and I. We began to pull as hard as possible to secure the gap and a few riders were just to tired to help. Brian McCullough being one of the smartest and strongest riders we have took the tired riders off the back of our group.

Photo Provided By: Todd MacMillan

It was now a group of 3. Eric Marcotte, Jason Baush, and myself looking to make it work. We put our heads down and ripped on the pedals as if we wanted them to come off. We had a gap but we weren’t gone yet. Ericand I drove the 3 man break for the next 30 minutes as Jason was hanging on by a limb. We were now shown thelap cards and I couldn’t believe what I was about to hear! “David Santos of CashCall Mortgage trying to bridge across to the breakaway”, the announcer shouted. This was the first time I looked over my shoulder allrace and as I did David approached the back and said, ” Let’s go!” David drove the break from a 20 second lead to around 38 seconds. The gap was holding but Dave wasn’t finished. He launched a solo attack with 2 lapsto go but Eric M. was just not ready to give up. He reeled in David but I was stuck to his wheel. The final lap came and it was going to be tough but I knew I could do it. I got on Davids wheel and said,” Take us home.” David unleashed a full 1/2 lap pull and got us to the finishing straight. We were headed towards the line but I was worried about the wind. Just as I got set up to sprint Eric had jumped and I stood up and ripped for my last chance. It was just a little too late and David and I collided a little in the sprint. Team CashCall Mortgage finished with our heads high after being able to accomplish the state championships jersey and David and I together on the podium.