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THE MOTOPLAYGROUND RACE
at Ponca City
CARTER HALPAIN >> 1
Coming into Loretta Lynn’s this year, Carter Halpain was a major threat to win the A class titles, Horizon Award, and walk away hopefully with a professional contract. However, due to unforeseen circumstances, he was forced to not compete, and resulting pulled out of the event. It was an utter disaster, and truly upset- ting for the Halpain camp, as they’d work so hard all year, and been such a heavy favorite for a valiant run. Since then, however, they’ve worked to get back on track, planning to hit as many of the largest races as possible, seeking and chasing the strongest competi- tion; and that all could be found here, at the 2018 MotoPlayground Race, at Ponca City Raceway. With a lineup consisting of Munoz, Mumford, Harlan, and Merrett, Halpain knew he would have his work cut out for him. But he trusted his training regimen, and the pure speed he possessed; he was ready to lay it all on the line for moto number one. A rock solid technique, engage, and jump, had him power driving his machine off the line, taking no prisoners and the lead for lap one. Harlan, sitting second would try to match the Texas native to the best of his ability. With the familiar number seventeen on the Yamaha soaring out front, he was beginning to truly gap some of the best in the business. And don’t get us wrong, his outright speed was phenomenal; but it was the consistency in which he churned, lap after lap after lap, never deviating by more than second or so from his highest point. This, ladies and gentleman, is what it takes to win champi- onships at the highest level. And after leading every lap, Halpain took what he rightfully deserved. For the second moto, it was fellow Texan Zane Merrett who was the first to lead the field around, with Halpain sec- ond, and Munoz third. As Merrett would lead, Halpain would truly press the issue, at times, less than a tenth of a second off of the KTM pilot. He would hound him, until lap five; it was here, that Merrett would break, and Halpain would take the lead. Munoz would then follow suit, but it would be Carter’s world shorlty ther- after. Setting his fastest lap on lap seven, (attesting
to his stamina), he would be grateful as ever with the victory, as he crossed the line. The champion of the glass would then walk to the podium, stoked as can be on the title he had just claimed.
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