In the fifth ice race of the season, the youngest drivers provided plenty of exciting action Sunday on Beluga Lake.

While Teddy Handley in car 88 and Brenden Fuson in car 23 jousted for first place lap after lap, Solstice Kraszeki in car 52 and Rhythm Beckett-Cook in car 5 had their own race going.

“The girls have been best friends for as long as they can remember so they had a fantastic time racing each other,” writes Becky Ravin, scorekeeper for the Homer Ice Racing association. “Rhythm was driving a stick shift for the first time and caught on really fast.”

Christopher Cudaback in car 51 is driving his uncle’s car and is leading in points in the kids’ class with 119. “His dad, Chris Cudaback, is a close second in the pitman stock front wheel division,” writes Ravin. Phil Celtic leads that division.
The ice association’s youngest racers have plenty of enthusiasm for the sport.

“Rhythm and Solstice are so excited about racing that they had their helmets on an hour before and were doing cartwheels and somersaults in the pits,” writes Ravin. “In fact, they and Brenden are hoping to have their own car out on the ice next year.”
The kids’ enthusiasm didn’t waiver even after a minor wreck out on the ice caused when Brenden slipped sideways in front of Teddy.

“It was enough to give both kids an adrenaline rush, but no damage,” writes Leah Handley.

The track was holding up well last week, despite getting a little wet toward the end of the day when a hole opened up between a couple of corners, writes Ravin.

The association is expecting to race again Sunday, weather permitting. Everyone is invited to come and watch.
“We have a lot of really good drivers and that makes for fun and exciting races, for both the racers and the spectators,” says Ravin.

Results after the March 24 races are: