BRISTOLVILLE, OH – Racers are an anxious bunch and the two week break on the WoO schedule had the #56 team looking at other options. Getting race experience is still an essential element of the team’s plan for 2009.
On Friday April 24, the King Motor Sports’ team decided to head to Lernerville Speedway, a track they have seen from time to time. They would be in full force as both Russ’ late model and the two big-block modified teams of Rex, Sr. and Cooter pulled out of their Bristolville garage.
Although Russ has raced at Lernerville several times in the modified, the only experience in a late model at this track was last year. They shook the ride down in hot laps and went out in the second heat starting third. Russ finished second to pole sitter Dave Hess. The redraw for the feature dropped the #56 back to a ninth starting spot for the feature. Once the green flag dropped, Russ quickly moved forward and was in fifth position by lap seven and into fourth on the thirteenth circuit. The track was rutting up and Russ picked up a flat and spun the following lap. Considering the track conditions and the fact this was not a WoO event, the team decided to call it a night.
The World of Outlaw’s Tour was set to roll into Chillicothe, Ohio’s K-C Raceway for a two day event on May 1 and 2. Heavy rains throughout the week forced an early cancellation of Friday’s schedule with the full event being moved to Saturday. However, it is May in Ohio and it was more of the same as additional rain and wet grounds prompted officials to cancel the event. They are looking at options to re-schedule later in the year.
Tri-City Speedway was hosting a ULMS Late Model event on May 3. Since K-C had cancelled, this was a logical choice to put in some seat time as the WoO Series will race at Tri-City over Labor Day weekend. As a change of pace, they decided to unload the back-up late model and Cooter would make his third appearance behind wheel of a late model.
Heat action saw Russ start third and finish second. The feature had him start mid-pack, tenth, of the twenty car field and he managed a seventh place finish. He was disappointed in his finish but there was not time to think about what could have been.
Cooter finished fifth in his heat and pulled off after six laps in the feature as they had accomplished the seat time they had set out for. It was a so-so night but the team managed a few laughs as it was discovered there were no plates when it was time to eat. Did you ever try eating chicken parm and pasta out of a cup? Just ask one of the crew about their experience.
Tuesday May 5 was a return to Lernerville for a WoO Tour race dubbed The Showdown at Sarver Town. Forty super late model teams pulled into the Western PA facility on a gloomy, overcast afternoon. There was rain heading that way but it was expected to stay south of the track.
The track was in great shape as the teams pulled onto the clay oval for hot laps and time trials. Russ timed in sixteenth which was his best WoO qualifying spot this year. Hopefully all of the hard work is beginning to pay off.
Russ started fourth in the fourth heat. Right from the green flag it was apparent he was intent on nailing down one of the transfer spots into the feature. He held off a strong charge from Lernerville stalwart, Dave Hess, to take the fourth spot and an automatic transfer spot into the feature.
It was good to be racing closer to home but it was even better to be locked into the feature. The evening was going well as Russ was the fastest qualifier of the six WoO Rookie of the Year candidates as well as being the only one to transfer out of his heat race.
Unfortunately the rains interrupted a positive evening of racing. A persistent drizzle twice stopped the second B-Main and eventually resulted in postponement of the night’s activities. The remaining events have been re-scheduled for June 25 the night before the two day Firecracker 100.
TV Time:
The SPEED TV crew interviewed Russ at Lernerville asking for his thoughts on the season thus far. I believe we will be hearing an announcement about the SPEED – WoO television schedule in the next week or so.
Up Next:
The next stop on the World of Outlaws Tour will take the King Motor Sports’ #56 to Indiana’s Lawrenceburg Speedway on Friday May16, followed by Lincoln Speedway in Illinois on Saturday. Additional races locally have not been decided on at this time.
Wrap Up:
King Bros Racing #56 team would like to thank their 2009 marketing partners A-1 Racing Products, King Bros Ready-Mix, and Keizer Aluminum Wheels.
For additional information or to inquire about motorsport’s marketing opportunities with King Bros Racing, please contact Sis King (330)727-0565. http://www.kingbrosracing.com/
Prepared by Joe Secka – JMS ProPhoto – www.jmsprophoto.com
