Edition 49, October 7th - 2009

Kenseth K.O.’s Rockford

When you have been around racing long enough, you will get to know generations of drivers including the Allisons, Earnhardts, Pettys, and now the Kenseths. I remember being in Daytona many years ago at a talk show hosted in a little restaurant along the St. John River. Several drivers were being interviewed by a local radio station that evening and the last driver on the agenda was a young skinny kid that would be driving the Kraft sponsored entry in the Busch race the following Saturday. We introduced ourselves as Wisconsin race fans and wished him good luck, and Matt shyly replied thanks. And now as I look at Ross, I am reliving that meeting so many years ago.

But this weekend was the short track championships at Rockford Speedway and this venue is the home track for so many Big 8 drivers including Ross Kenseth. Of course the weather was not going to cooperate, so the two-hour drive down in the wind and rain was concluded by a two-hour return to Wisconsin with no racing action, and all of the two day racing schedule was moved to Sunday. James Swan reported that the car had been wicked loose during practice, which they corrected by adjustments and now was “fast on the bottom”. We would return on Sunday with more clothes on to keep warm against the Illinois cold winds.

“We qualified thirteenth” said Swan when we arrived the next day. Hey, with 40 cars trying to fight their way into the feature, we would take the starting spot and not need to worry about heat or last chance races to get into the feature. We would collectively find a spot in the stands to watch the heat races and last chance race in our division. As usual James stood in the top row watching the other races trying to spot any team’s advantage in set up or which groove works the best. He is always trying to pick up track characteristics.

Nine drivers would transfer into the feature race from the heat and last chance races including a very fast group of drivers from Heat 1 including Troy Shear, Brady Liddle, and Michael Bilderback. This certainly would be an interesting race with these hot shoes racing towards the front from their 2 nd half starting positions. Kenseth and Wilberg would start on the front row. Wilberg, a seasoned veteran had already raced twice this day in previous race divisions.

We took our position on the inside of the seventh row next to the #19 entry. The green flag flew and we were under caution three times in a row on the first lap due to spins by three different entries. We picked up one spot to 12 th and racing resumed. Wilberg and Kenseth battled back in fourth for the lead and finally by lap 12 the Farm and Fleet Ford took the lead with #28 on his tail until lap 24 when a tire exploded and the blue #28 slammed hard into the turn two wall. His day was done, and we were scored 10 th in the field.

Racing resumed with Jarlsberg now hounding Ross and Ricky Bilderback not far behind. James was trying to find a hole on the inside to get around the Kalka car but best he could do was get almost even several times. While we raced on the inside we picked up momentum on the straights, but lost it on the corners. It was quite evident by half way in this 108 lap event that our car like many others was getting loose and James decided it would be prudent to race hard but not over drive the Chevy and risk a wreck. By now the field had narrowed to 20 cars due to attrition.

And when the checkers fell Ross Kenseth had dominated the race from the front row, in a car that he described as way too tight. Jarlsberg, R. Bilderback, Sargent, and Reynolds Jr. rounded out the top five on this very cold night. We raced hard and came home 10 th and gained a position in the point’s battle to 7 th position. Ross has virtually won the championship by leading second place Miller by 101 points with one race to go. He has had a dominant year.

Although we would have rather finished better at this race, we were all content. We had more than enough crew this week, the car came home in good shape, the car owner and sponsors are happy and we got to spend a day with good hard working people that we call our friends. Life is good!

So we move on to La Crosse one of our favorite places, as we won the last race of the evening in our Mid Am entry in 2008. With only 77 points separating the 4 th to the 9 th position in Big 8 points, several drivers are in a position to make big swings in final points standings for the season. We are ready to face the tough competition, race clean, and walk and away knowing we gave our best effort.

Stop and say hi at La Crosse, we love to talk racing.

RACING TO THE CHECKERS

Jim