Edition 26, July 29th - 2008

Home Cookin' Doesn't Help

The second race at Dells Raceway Park had been circled on our calendars for a long time. The team would be in front of several fans from the local area that work for or know someone from Hankscraft. We brought the team in early to be on the ground in front of a local store that sells malt beverages for meet and greet. We had a small, but enthusiastic crowd who lined up to sit in the car, get their picture taken with the car and team, and get a free t-shirt. Our co-sponsor Randy Winchel from DRM Inc. stayed with us all morning and his enthusiasm about being around the race team was invigorating to all of us.

A large Hankscraft and DRM group met at the track for the evening racing venue listed as “Duel in the Dells” which would be two 35 lap features. A large amount of Mid Am drivers entered this race to the increase in the purse, and Hankscraft was happy to be a co-sponsor of this event. It was good to see more of the drivers who we had missed, but I also heard that there was some driver apprehension due to the length of the night’s venue with no tire changes from the first to second race, so 70 laps on the same tires.

We went out in 8 th position to qualify and had a reasonable time of 14.746 which held until the #32 Nowak entry bested us with a 14.661. The number 10 and 5 cars each had good laps, but the #6 and #7 Shear brother entries would take top honors with a 14.634 and 14.499 respectively. The 14.499 set a track record for Mid Am cars and bested his previous fast time. Kyle would carry the American flag in the opening ceremony and we would start 10 th. Jeremy Spoonmore would start on the pole.

With only three laps in a spin by Nowak sent him to the pits for quick repair. By lap 6 the #47 Joosten entry had moved from its 5 th starting spot to first, and this reminded me of Kenny’s dominance in the last race I attended at Slinger during the nationals earlier in the month. Laps 9 and 10 more car spins by #13 and 6 cars. Joosten continued to dominate and our #97 was in 6 th, trying to figure a line to move up. With 12 laps to go we were fighting to hold on to 5 th and the #47 ran away from the rest of the top five who all finished in a group. We would finish 5ht in first duel, and start 10 th in the second duel.

The team changed shocks and lined up for the second race with Tim Schmitt on the pole. By the 4 th lap we had moved up to 5 th but the 47 entry was holding the 7 th position, and I thought here we go again. But on lap 20 the Joosten vehicle tangled with the number 3 and first appearance was that Kenny would now not be competitive in this race. First appearance was wrong and the #47 fought back and with five to go due to Nowak spin, it lined up 6 th. Schmitt continued to lead and took the checkers with Joosten edging us at the line for fifth. Kenny Joosten would win the overall duel at the Dells due to his finishing positions.

So we bid goodbye to our fellow employees and friends and headed for the pits to be with the team. Lot’s of kicking at stones in the pits and wondering what it will take to make our car more competitive. Owner Adam says this year is taking years off his life as he does not know how to make our car lay down in the corners, so we are going to do the following the next few weeks, NOTHING. Just leave the car alone, do not fix anything, just do the subtle things at the track that will help dial it in. We are in a solid second position within sight of first place Prietzel.

In a related story; my boss Mark Blume took away my lucky spark plug that I was carrying in my pocket so maybe that will help the team win.

Racing to the Checkers,
Jim