From Ross Cado, FFE Owner and Driver
On Monday evening, I made my first start in the Real Sim Racing Full Throttle Cup Series since November 2018. This time piloting the #50 Fast Forward Esports Ford Mustang, I performed at a level much better than I had anticipated, given the notoriously tough competition level of this series. Just this past winter, I participated in the B-car level Icebreaker Winter Series, but earned only six top-10 finishes and zero top-5 finishes in the seasons’ ten races. I wound up eighth in the standings at the conclusion of the season, and my highest finish in all ten races had been only sixth. So, that serves as a testament to the difficultly that Real Sim Racing presents to me.
Broadcast link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BoJ7WKRld9Q&t=4513s
![](http://fastforwardesports.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/RSRMich_start.png)
As far as RSR’s Full Throttle Cup Series goes, in my time competing in this series from 2016 to 2018, my highest ever finish was a third place at Darlington Raceway. So, making my return with such short notice and with full awareness of the heightened level of competition at this series’ employ, I did not expect to perform at the level that I did. However, from the drop of the green flag I was aggressive with gaining track position early. An early caution on lap 12 presented the decision of whether to save a set of tires for later, or to change them after twelve laps of racing. I elected to change tires in order to have the speed that comes with fresh rubber, thus planning on pitting later than the drivers who stayed out.
![](http://fastforwardesports.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/RSRMich_lap12-1500x663.png)
As the race progressed onward, I found myself securely in the top-10 and executing improved prudence with green flag pit stops. I made my pit stop on lap 51, with thirty laps remaining in the race. Pit road entry under green flag conditions tends to be easier for me when I pit behind several cars, because it allows me to use other cars as a metric by which to modulate my own entry, most notably with the brake pedal input. My pit road entry was nearly flawless, as I gained some distance on the cars pitting in front of me. My pit stop was without incident, and I was down and away in a flash.
![](http://fastforwardesports.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/RSRMich_pitstop.png)
Following my pit stop, the strategy had me slotted in 8th in the running order behind the #12 car. We worked together and, along with the #1 car, joined the leaders. I also ran my fastest lap on lap 56, just five laps after I made my pit stop. We stayed green until the yellow flag came out on lap 67, which totally did away with tire strategy.
![](http://fastforwardesports.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/RSRMich_hardracing-1500x693.png)
Another nicely executed pit stop placed me in 5th place for the lap 71 restart. The yellow flag was unfurled the very next lap, however, following an incident involving the #27 car. Then, after the quick caution had concluded, I found myself restarting on lap 76 in the 4th position.
![](http://fastforwardesports.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/RSRMich_27wreck.png)
From there, it was a downright brawl to the end, with me racing hard with the #9, #90, #40, and #44 for the win. I had barely made it up to 3rd place, when as we sailed off into turn 3 on the penultimate lap, the #44 car nudged me and got me slightly out of shape. This caused a loss of momentum that lingered for the remainder of the corner and allowed the #8 and #88 to make their way to my inside.
![](http://fastforwardesports.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/RSRMich_2togo-1500x489.png)
As we screamed toward the finished line on the last lap, I was certain that I had lost more positions than I actually had, in fact. I crossed the line in 6th place.
![](http://fastforwardesports.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/RSRMich_finish-1500x642.png)
I am content with the level of skill and prowess that I showcased in my return to RSR. Hopefully, more impressive finishes will follow for the #50 Mustang.