Bluegrass Bash 3/29/08

Update #3

Race: Bluegrass Bash3/29/08
Track: Western Kentucky Speedway
By: Kenny Johnson, 30 March 2008

After getting back from Florida and assessing the damage to the car, Hassy decided to build a new car. It was down to the wire for us to finish it to go to the Bluegrass Bash, which paid $6,000 to win. The race format was that they would have an open practice session on Friday night and Saturday they would go right into qualifying. We opted to leave Friday evening and miss hot laps. Now with having a brand new car we kind of second guessed our decision, but after we qualified, we felt confident that we had the car right. We were 3^rd fast in our group and start 3^rd in the heat. We took over 2^nd place and started chasing down the leader, which was Dave Hess Jr. His crew was telling him to stay high, which of course was my line. In the end Dave held onto the win and we finished 2^nd. This would start us 16^th in the 40 lap feature. The track was rough so we knew we would have to race smart and avoid cautions. I slowly worked my way around cars. From 16^th to around 7^th or so was the toughest to pass. But once we got to 7^th they got easier. We passed Dave Hess Jr. for 3^rd and Denny Schwartz and Kevin Weaver was 1^st & 2^nd. Now during all of this our car was overheating and I was spending a lot of time watching my gages. I was pressuring the 2^nd place car and was just about to pass him when I spun out off of turn 4. I restarted the car and the temperature gage increased and under caution I could not get it to go back down, so I pulled to the infield for a 13^th place finish. I was aggravated at myself for spinning out and also concerned as to why I am fighting heating problems. But all in all I was very pleased with the new car and feel we will be very competitive this year.

I need to thank Tod Buckhalter and all of the guys at Hassy Chassis that put this car together. Also need to thank Tim Cooper and Jason Canepari for working hard this week to finish the car up. Dad made the road trip this weekend and has now gotten the racing fever for 2008.

At this time I have no plans for this coming weekend. I will have to see what this week brings and what I find with our overheating problem

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

Thanks again for your support,

KJ