KJ MotorsportsUpdate #16Race #31, #32 & #33
By: Kenny Johnson
Date: 08-09-13
Friday, 7/26/13 we were at Skyline Speedway for the 5th Annual Greg Schilling Memorial Race. 52 cars were on hand to make up 6 heat races and 3 consolation race and the 30 lap feature. We were able to set fast time with a 13.91 to start on the pole alongside Jes Hartman. We took the lead going down the back chute, but wound up running 3rd by the time we got to the flagstand. I hadn’t changed the car at all after qualifying and I should have. We past our way back to 2nd to put us starting 7th in the feature. We made our way to 4th and raced Kevin Morehouse for several laps for 3rd. Finally made the pass and was following leader Anthony Kincaid and 2nd place Jeremy Berwanger. We were all 3 running the low groove when we started making our way into lap traffic. That’s when I hit the high side and passed both leaders off of turn two. But as we got down into turn 3 we came up on a lap car. I made a decision to check up and turn down under the lap car. We made contact and our car ramped into the air, but was able to keep going. The lap car wound up stopping in the infield causing a yellow. This put us back in 3rd for the restart. Green came out and again I went to the high side and passed for 2nd down the back chute and was alongside the leader at the flagstand, but yet another caution put us back in 3rd. On the next restart I knew Jeremy was going high, so I opted to go low and follow the leader. Jeremy would get the lead a lap later and I seemed to be struggling with the handling of our car from the impact with the lap car. We wound up 4th, with Jeremy Berwanger taking the win, Anthony Kincaid 2nd and Rick Aukland 3rd. All in all, was real happy with the race itself, crowd was huge and would call it a successful race. Also want to acknowledge that this night was also the Jack Shutts Memorial Race for the late models.
Saturday we went to Jackson County Speedway in Jackson, Oh for $1,000 to win. They had 19 cars and they went to pill draw due to potential weather concerns. This started us 5th in the heat and we got behind someone that made it difficult to pass and we finished 5th, starting us 13th in the feature. The car was really good, but was just a tough track to pass on. We made it to 7th and was still making progress when the checkered fell. Jenni Cook was in this weekend from Florida to race with us all weekend. It was her first time getting to see me race in person and was glad she made it up. She is a huge help promoting our racing team and I appreciate all she does.
Friday, 8/2/13 we went to Beckley Speedway, where we set 4th fastest time to start us on the outside pole of heat one. We went on to win the heat to start us on the pole of the feature beside Mike Duncan. Mike took the initial lead and we followed closely. We took the middle line, while he was on the high line. We could get our nose up to his door in the corners, but could not get in the gas exiting the corners for Mike had the preferred line. But then I made a mistake. Exiting turn 2 as he pulled by me, I picked the throttle up and the car went up the track and I just seemed to get sucked into the back chute wall. It caught the right front and the right rear. The right rear got the worse of it. It destroyed the right front wheel and tire, the right rear wheel and tire, both right side 4 bars, right rearend tube and axle, driveshaft, shifters, the “x” in the frame, front motor mount, right rear brake line, right rear shock. . . .do I need to go on. I’ll admit, I’ve had worse, but not in a long while. Damage was too much to fix in one day, so we did not race on Saturday. Roger Ledbetter and Roger Thompson both made their first trip with us and got to experience the agony of defeat.This week we plan to go to Legendary Hilltop Speedway on Friday and Saturday we will be at Ohio Valley Speedway. So, we hope to see ya there!
This week, I want to give a shout out to Jack Shutts. Jack had done many roles at the area racetracks, from flagman to scorer to announcer to pit steward to race director. I had known Jack since I was a youngster and had seen him and my dad argue with one another. But then again dad argued with many. . . LOL But Jack was a friend of the family for years and his family was also our friends. I respected Jack and his decisions that he made on and off the racetrack. I miss the big guy, but know he’s waiting to throw the checkered flag for me once again.
Thanks again for all of your support! Remember! To make this work, support those that support us! K-Graphics, Schilling Truss, JS Enterprises, Zemba Bros., Coughlincars.com, Steve Balderson Construction, Sheet Metal Local 33, Octane Race Products, Poske’s Performance Parts, Out-Pace Race Products, Hypercoils, T&L Consulting, Carr Auto Glass, OVDTR.com, Hall’s Auto Repair, Billy Joe & Wanda Hammett, Bill & Patty Welch, Keyser Mfg., Shaw Race Cars, TSM Enhanced, Bazell Race Fuels, Hoosier, Aero Wheels, Wrisco Aluminum, Lubeck Community Baptist Church, Iglesia Bautista Jehova Yireh, Willy’s Carburetor’s, KSE Pumps, KRC.
Thanks again for your support,
KJ
www.kjmotorsports.net
