Kim Hayashi

Not only did both JASON CARNE$ and BUBBA HARRIS defend their No.1 Pro titles, but KIM HAYASHI topped off the Tulsa event by nabbing her first Grands Victory in the Pro Women ranks.

For the past four years, Kim Hayashi has experienced nothing but bad luck when visiting Tulsa. She’s had a first-main monkey on her back that she thought would never hop off – always crashing in the first or second main. Always in contention, yet always falling (literally) a little short (also, literally). But this year was completely different for the 6 year veteran of Team Redline. Lil' Kim wasn’t high enough in points to even be considered a title-contender, and Las Vegas bookies would likely have put her down as a 8-to1 longshot. Amazingly though, the lack of pressure in chasing down a No.1 plate, backed up by some hardcore pre-Grands training with her new coach in Santa Barbara, made for a dramatic difference in Kim’s racing. She felt free. She felt super strong. She felt relaxed. And most importantly, she was HAVING FUN.

In the first main, the 4’ 10” wonder-girl took a very close 2nd place, and was smiling ear-to-ear in the Redline pits because she’d just broken her “first-main” crash-streak.

“I felt like just pulling over in the rhythm section and raising my arms in victory, because that was the furthest I’d ever gotten in an ABA Grands first main,” she joked afterwards.

The next two mains, Kim was back in true form and took both wins – showing off her amazing strength (down the first straight), her incredible jumping skills (on the second straightaway), and her superior riding skills (on the third straightaway rhythm section).

In the end, the Grands win was hers.

Surprisingly, Arielle Martin was back in the pack after a first main pile-up, and even more shocking, Alise Post was pushing hard to just podium. Until they announced the winner of the Cup, half of the crowd, it seemed, thought that Kim might’ve taken the title – including Kim herself.

She rode up to the scoring table and asked where the victory put her in the overall standings.

And you could tell by her face what the answer was...22 POINTS.

That was the amount that Lil’ Kim lost The Championship to … and the new No.1 Pro Girl in the ABA went to Rookie Pro of the Year Alise Post. At 15, Alise is the youngest girl to ever get the title, as well as being the first girl to ever own Silver Cups in all three female classifications (Girl, Gilr Cruiser and now Girl Pro.) As it went, if Kim had won the Friday ROC, or even finished one place better any time during the season – she would’ve finally taken the one title that continues to elude her.

Without question, Minnesota’s "Beast" is going to have to contend with a more confident Kim Hayashi next year, who has (at least for now) erased the “Krashin’” moniker from her nickname, and now knows what it takes to win the Greatest Race on Earth.