BRISTOLVILLE, OH – When the hauler pulled out of the shop on May 15, they were scheduled to race five times in five different states over just a short nine day time span.
Rain curtailed the first night’s activity at Lawrenceburg Speedway in Indiana on Saturday May 16. With the pit area being saturated and more rain in the forecast, it was not a tough decision. Track promoter, Dave Rudisell, plans on talking to WoO officials about possibly scheduling a return later in the year.
Heading northwest to Lincoln Speedway in Illinois, the sun was shining and better track conditions were anticipated. Russ qualified twenty-eighth of the forty-three cars that were on hand. The field was again loaded with teams from other touring series as well as several strong independent races.
Slotted into the fourth heat, Russ both started and finished in the seventh position. With a sixth place start in the B-Main, transferring into the feature was within reach. Unfortunately Jordan Bland crashed into the outside wall and came back down the track into Russ’ rear quarter damaging the wheel, tire and suspension. With the strong field, none of the Rookie of the Year contenders was able to make the feature and Russ held onto the thirteenth spot in the WoO Points Championship race.
Friday May 26 was a trip to U.S. 36 Raceway in Cameron, MO. A smaller field of thirty cars was signed in for the night. The #56 late model qualified twenty-second but managed a sixth place finish in the heat race. This was good enough to gain an automatic transfer spot into the feature. Russ was the only ROY driver to transfer though his heat. He finished tenth after starting fourteenth in the main event. In addition to the Top 10 finish, he also took home the Rookie of the Race and WoO Bonus Bucks awards.
Mother Nature once again crept into the picture as more wet weather canceled the racing at 34 Raceway in Burlington, IA. “Everyone with the World of Outlaws Late Model Series was looking forward to running at one of the most beautiful tracks in the country,” said WoO LMS director Tim Christman. “Unfortunately, we just can’t seem to catch a break from Mother Nature lately. It’s a huge disappointment when we get rained out after waking up to a forecast that shows no rain expected.”
The team then turned north to Charter Raceway Park in Beaver Dam, WI for the last event of this portion of the WoO Late Model Series Tour.
Russ qualified twenty-fourth of the thirty-two racers in the Charter Raceway pits. He was unable to better his sixth starting spot in heat race action, also finishing sixth. Unfortunately, while looking for improvement in the B-Main, the engine expired on lap seven. The crew quickly pulled the back-up car out of the hauler and a provisional was used to enter the feature. After starting on the tail, Russ advanced to finish nineteenth.
Heading back home found Russ still thirteenth in the point’s race and second in the Rookie of the Year standings.
Up Next:
The King Motor Sports team will be heading east for the next series of race action. Thursday May 28 is scheduled for Delaware International Speedway in Delmar, DE. Hagerstown Speedway in Maryland and Tyler County Speedway in Middlebourne, WV are on the docket for Saturday and Sunday respectively.
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
