KJ Motorsports Update #34 Race #59

10/30/14

We were at Atomic this past weekend, Thursday-Saturday for the Open Wheel Championship. We set 2nd fast time, but KC Burdette blew us out of the water with a lap time of ½ second faster. They inverted the top 4 in each heat race, which started us 4th in the 2nd heat. The fastest 10 cars that qualified thru their heat were guaranteed a spot in the dash. So I knew all we had to do was finish in the top 4 of our heat. Jess Hartman took the early lead from the outside front row and Tim Tribby moved up into 2nd and we followed in 3rd. The groove was strictly on the top and that is where Jess ran and Tim ran just high enough that we could not pass him on the outside. So I worked the middle and never was able to make a pass. About mid-way, Tim looped it in front of me and I had nowhere to go and hit him in the left rear. It tore up our front end up, but we were able to continue and Tim was as well. The caution was coming out for some other cars that had spun prior to Tim looping. So by us finishing 3rd, we were locked in the dash. As we assessed the damage, we found that we bent the right front frame horn down which had our steering in a bind. So Chad and I took the car to Nourse body shop, where good friend Sean Schobelock put it on the frame rack and we got it straightened out in no time. Sean also had a piece of aluminum and I was able to build a new nose. The dash was on Saturday and the starting order was determined by pill draw. New race fans Alexis and Allie Jenkins drew our pill for us and got us #5. We had made a set up change to try something and it didn’t work out and we finished 7th in the dash, starting us 7th in the feature. We made another set up change and I made a decision to run the bottom. It worked out well, for no one else was running there, LOL. We were able to pass our way to 4th and I took the opportunity to go to the high side and it seemed to overheat my right rear tire and we faded back to a 6th place finish. I was disappointed not to run better at Atomic, but I just didn’t have the car dialed in. A big thanks goes out to Sean, Stacy and Kalvin (aka George) for their hospitality and giving me a place to stay.

This week, I want to give a shout out to Michael Gibson of Gibby’s Dirt Track Racing Nation OH/WV and Sean Weekley of Weekley Electric. We were lucky enough to win the points title and were named the King of Gibby’s Dirt Track Racing Nation points. Sean Weekley puts up the point monies and Gibby does all the leg work and promoting. Also supporting the point fund is DJ Directional Services, Buckeye Custom Apparel, Lias Tire by Tye Twarog, Bryan Casey Racing, Tri County Overhead Door, DTR Updates, Tom and Pam Lemon, Zach Yost Racing Photography, C&S Racing Photo, Isner Racing Engines, Racers in Christ, Diamond Refinishing& Restoration, and McHugh Dealership. Also need to thank all of the tracks that participated as well. It was an honor for Gibby to come to the shop and present us with our awards. Also want to say thanks to Tom & Pam Lemon, Mike & Angie Haught, Bill & Karen Locke, Lisa & Maddy Cooper for coming out and joining us for the presentation. Also a BIG THANKS to Tim, Danny& Chad for all of their hard work this season. This Championship is theirs as well, cause if they are not there doing what they do, we couldn’t have won it.

Our next race will be at Atomic Speedway on Nov. 8th for the Dan Reno Memorial $2,222 to win. So we hope to see you there!

Remember, to make this work, support those that support us!

K-Graphics, Hall’s Auto Repair, 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, Racers Edge Supplements, Phantom Racing Gear, Hypercoils, Tom & Pam Lemon, Carr Auto Glass, OVDTR.com, Billy Joe & Wanda Hammett, Bill & Patty Welch (RIP), 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, Gibby’s Dirt Track Racing Nation and Weekley Electric

KJ Motorsports Update #33 Race #58

10/19/14

This past weekend was the Dirt Track World Championship at Portsmouth Raceway Park where they had 84 modifieds and 89 late models. Our weekend started off on Thursday night, where we were challenged with a rough race track due to rains on Wednesday night and Thursday morning. We set 4th fastest time in our group to start us on the outside pole of heat #4 beside Evan Taylor. Evan got the early lead and we fell to 4th. We passed our way back to 2nd and Evan got into a lap car and had to go pit side. We took over the lead and held on until the last lap. I caught a rut and it threw the car up the track and Joey Kramer was able to get by us. But this locked us into the show, starting us 10th. We were supposed to run our feature on Saturday night, but Mother Nature thought differently. So we had to race on Sunday afternoon in the day time. History has proven, that most day time races I don’t fare to well. I feel like this race proves that I have more work to do on daytime races. We started 10th and were passed by a few cars and we passed a few cars and we also had a few drop out. But in the end, we finished 7th and although I am pleased we survived and we didn’t tear anything up and we had some stiff competition, I’m not happy about not advancing further up than we did. But I don’t run Portsmouth Raceway Park but once a year and I just don’t seem to have a good handle on the set up I need there. But it is a really nice facility and a lot of good people running it.

This week, I want to give a shout out to Joe and Jeff Schilling for providing the camper for us to stay at the track. Tim Cooper and Danny Sweet for their efforts on working on the racecar. Also, Tom & Pam Lemon & the race teams of Seth Daniels, Mikey McPherson, John Burdette & Kevin Dulaney for providing a great time.

This weekend we will be at Atomic Speedway, Thursday thru Saturday for $5,000 to win. So we hope to see you there!

Remember, to make this work, support those that support us!
K-Graphics, Hall’s Auto Repair, 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, Racers Edge Supplements, Phantom Racing Gear, Hypercoils, Tom & Pam Lemon, Carr Auto Glass, OVDTR.com, Billy Joe & Wanda Hammett, Bill & Patty Welch (RIP), 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.

KJ Motorsports Update #32 Race #57

10/12/14

No racing this past Friday! Saturday we were supposed to go to Atomic Speedway again, but Mother Nature made other plans and Atomic was forced to cancel. So again, since they cancelled, we stayed close to home and went to Legendary Hilltop Speedway, where they had 27 modifieds. We set fast time and started on the pole of heat one beside Tyler Evans and we picked up the win. This started us on the pole of the feature beside Jimmy Fordyce. We took the lead early and were running the high side. As the race went on the high side of turn two was slickening up, so I dropped down to the middle. Anthony Kinkade made his way to 2nd and was on the bottom. He was able to show his nose on entry and thru the middle, but we had the momentum off the corner. But he seemed to be getting better and better. So with less than 5 to go I went to the bottom and with 2 to go Anthony buzzed around the outside and passed me. Anthony picked up the win and we got our 10th 2nd place
finish of the year.

We also got to drive the 53C, Steve Curtis owned late model. They had 33 late models and we got 9th fastest time, which was respectable for the field of cars that was there. We went out and started 3rd in the first heat behind Steve Lucas and Tyler Carpenter. We finished 3rd in the heat race to start us 9th in the feature. We ran 9th, but I pulled off for the engine was going flat. The car drove super, just wasn’t putting out any power to get us off the corners. . . Appreciate Steve, Roger and Bruce giving me an opportunity. 

This week, I need to give a shout out to everyone at Poske’s Performance Parts for all of their support this year and hope next season is as good as or better than this year. Also please continue to keep John McDaniel’s family and friends in your prayers. R.I.P.

This weekend we will be at Portsmouth Raceway Park for the Dirt Track World Championship, Thursday thru Saturday. So we hope to see you there!

Remember, to make this work, support those that support us!
K-Graphics, Hall’s Auto Repair, 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, Racers Edge Supplements, Phantom Racing Gear, Hypercoils, Tom & Pam Lemon, Carr Auto Glass, OVDTR.com, Billy Joe & Wanda Hammett, Bill & Patty Welch (RIP), 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.

KJ Motorsports Update #31 Race #56

10/5/14

No racing this past Friday! Saturday we were supposed to go to Atomic Speedway for the final points race to decide the track point’s championship. But Mother Nature made other plans and Atomic was forced to cancel. This gave the point’s title to Dave “Fireball” Pinkerton. Congrats to Dave and his team on the Championship! So since they cancelled, we stayed close to home and went to Legendary Hilltop Speedway, where they had 24 cars. We set fast time and started on the pole of heat one beside Darrin McDonald and we picked up the win. This started us on the pole of the feature beside Bill Pritchard Jr. We took the lead early and held on to pick up win #19 on the season. Car was flawless all night long. 

This week, I need to give a shout out to ALL OF MY SPONSORS for all of their support this year and hope next season is as good as or better than this year.

This weekend we will be at Atomic Speedway on Saturday driving the #88 of Mark Bailey’s. So we hope to see you there!

Remember, to make this work, support those that support us!
K-Graphics, Hall’s Auto Repair, 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, Racers Edge Supplements, Phantom Racing Gear, Hypercoils, Tom & Pam Lemon, Carr Auto Glass, OVDTR.com, Billy Joe & Wanda Hammett, Bill & Patty Welch (RIP), 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.

OVDTR — Covering Dirt Track Racing in Ohio & West VirginiaCovering Dirt Track Racing in Ohio & West Virginia

ovdtr.com