Update #15 Race #23, #24, #25 & #26

KJ Motorsports
Update #15
Race #23, #24, #25 & #26

By Kenny Johnson
18 Jul 2011

Sorry for the delay in getting the updates out, I got a little behind. July 8th we were supposed to go to Skyline, but Mother Nature had different plans and Skyline cancelled. So we headed to one of our favorites, Brad McCown’s Jackson County Speedway. They had 15 cars and we were to start 5th, but the 3rd place car requested the tail, so we started 3rd. we went on to win the heat and Coop drew us #2 on the redraw alongside Travis Dickson. Travis took the lead off of turn two, but we passed him in turn 3 and 4 and went on to get win #9. Track was awesome and they are improving every week.

Tim and I stayed at Sean Schobelock’s house Friday night and got up Saturday to wash the car before going to Coughlin’s to display the car. Sean, Staci and Toby kept us up all night around the camp fire, and then Sean had us up at the crack of dawn working on our car. We took the car to Coughlin’s and had a good time there. Then we went to Rooster’s to eat with several fans from KC Speedway. After that it was off to the races at KC Speedway. We started 4th in our heat race and finished 2nd to start us 5th in the feature. Unfortunately we didn’t get to make it a lap. Got caught up in a spin and tore the entire right side off including the roof and a brand new right rear tire. So back to the sheet metal work yet again! Thanks to Sean & Staci for their hospitality and to Toby for pit crewing for us!

Friday July 15th we went to Skyline and started 4th in the heat race, took the early lead but got passed by Ricky Venham on the last lap to finish 2nd. Started 5th in the feature and ran 6th the first part of the race and wound up finishing 11th. I tried a different set up and I think it was proven not to be tried ever again!

Saturday we went back to I-77 to try and get the win that eluded us the last time we were there. We started the night off good by drawing pill #2 to start us on the pole of heat #1. We won the heat and started on the pole of the feature beside Ricky Venham. We went on to get the win over Ricky Venham for win #10 of the year. Although we have had some disappointing nights, we can’t complain about our season thus far.

This weekend will be at Skyline on Friday and I am undecided on where we will be going on Saturday. Keep watch on Facebook and Tim will keep everyone posted once we make our decision. We hope to see you there!

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

Thanks again for your support, KJ

Update #14 Race #20, #21 & #22

KJ Motorsports
Update #14
Race #20, #21 & #22

By Kenny Johnson
06 Jul 2011

Friday we went to Skyline and I drew pill #25 to start us 5th in the het race. We won heat #2 to start us on the outside pole along side Vince Conrad. We took the early lead and I was running the middle of the track. The next thing I know, here came Andy Bond on the highside and took the lead. I shot to the Highside as well and that line was quicker. Andy and I was nose to tail and unless he bobbled, there was no way I was going to pass him. With about 6 to go there was a caution and I dove low and tried to pass Andy, but after 3 or 4 laps he started inching away. I went back to the top to try and chase him down and overheated my right rear. JP Roberts passed me on the last lap to give us a 3rd place finish. The track was pretty nice all night long, with multiple grooves.

Saturday we went to Ohio Valley and drew pill #10 to start us on the outside pole of heat #2. We went on to win the heat, but the pill redraw put us starting 7th in the feature. We went on to get the win, but I only had to pass 2 cars to do it, for the others seem to take themselves out. Hate to see that, but we’ll take win #8!

Sunday we went back to I-77. We qualified a 14.10 to give us fast time. Started on the pole of the heat and won it to start us on the pole of the feature along side Vince Conrad. Vince took the early lead, but we eventually passed him and worked our way into lap traffic. My rear brakes had faded for I was running the cushion and was driving it in hard and using a lot of brake. So when it came time to maneuver in lap traffic, I couldn’t get the car turned. Vince passed me back in lap traffic. Once I got by the lap traffic, I went back to the high side and chased Vince back down. As I came off of turn 2 I got a heck of a run. Got up along side Vince down the back chute and just before we got into turn 3, I ended up in the wall, tearing up quite a bit of stuff. We limped it across the line to a 6th place finish. Have quite a bit of work done, but still have more to do to finish it.

We will be ready for the weekend. This weekend will be at Skyline on Friday and KC Speedway on Saturday. We hope to see you there!

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

Thanks again for your support, KJ

Update #13 Race #18 & #19

KJ Motorsports
Update #13
Race #18 & #19

By Kenny Johnson
26 Jun 2011

Friday we went to Skyline Speedway for the 3rd Annual Greg Schilling Memorial Race. This is not only a huge race for the modifieds in our area, but it has sentimental meaning for me, because Greg and I were good friends. 51 cars were on hand and we qualified 4th fastest in our group. The track was really slick right from the start and we started 4th in our heat and I spun it out. I went to the tail and pretty much could not advance any further. I could tell we were missing something and I just couldn’t get the car adjusted. We started the tail of the consi and advanced a few spots, but no where near enough to make the show. So we got our first DNQ for the year. We were able to raise some money for the Greg Schilling Memorial Fund and that was the most important thing for the night.

Saturday we went to I-77 for a $1,000 to win Road Warrior Tour race. They had 25 cars and we set fast time. RWT now inverts the top 4 in each heat race. So we started 4th in the heat and past Booger Garnes on the last lap for the win. That put us in the dash and drew the outside pole for that. We won the dash to start us on the pole of the feature. Vince Conrad took the early lead but we managed to sneak around him on the high side and we went on to get the win! That was win #7 on the year and hoping for more!

Next weekend will be a 3 day weekend for racing. Our tentative plans are Skyline on Friday, Ohio Valley on Saturday and I-77 on Sunday. We hope to see you there!

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

Thanks again for your support, KJ

Update #12 Race #16 & #17

KJ Motorsports
Update #12
Race #16 & #17

By Kenny Johnson
20 Jun 2011

I want to wish all of the dad’s out there, Happy Father’s Day. I got to spend most of the day with my dad. I also want to send condolences out to the McVey family for the loss of Pappy McVey. I will miss him!

Friday we went to Skyline and they had 25 cars. I drew pill #24 to start us 5th in the heat race. In hot laps the track was extremely slick and smooth. We made changes in the car to accommodate these conditions. Well after all of the hot laps & qualifying were over the turns rutted up and made for fast racing. We did not change the car back and it hindered us slightly but we got the heat race win. Feature time rolled around and we were starting 2nd along side of Andy Bond. Our car was working really well and we went on to get win #6 on the season.

Saturday we went to KC Speedway and they only had 16 cars, my pill draw skills have yet to prove themselves, for I drew #57 to start us 5th in the heat. We finished 2nd to Jeremy Berwanger and this would start us 3rd in the feature. Jeremy jumped out to the early lead and we got to 2nd but had nothing for Jeremy and had to settle for 2nd. Not a bad weekend, but not two wins like we’d like to have. But I’m not necessarily complaining!

This Friday is the 3rd Annual Greg Schilling Memorial at Skyline Speedway. If at all possible, I hope everyone can make it to this event. Not only is it a good race, but it’s also a fund raiser for the Greg Schilling Memorial Fund. Saturday we will be going to I-77 Speedway. We hope to see you there!

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

Thanks again for your support, KJ

Update #11 Race #14 & #15

KJ Motorsports
Update #11
Race #14 & #15

By Kenny Johnson
13 Jun 2011

To give everyone an update on Cassidy, she has improved by leaps and bounds this past week. We take her back to Cincinnati on Monday (the 13th) to get the Dr’s opinion. Thanks to everyone for your prayers and concerns.

Friday we went to Skyline and they had 25 cars. I drew pill #20 to start us 4th in the heat race. The track was pretty racey and we went on to win the heat. This started us 3rd in the feature. Jess Hartman was on the pole and Robbie Evans was on the outside pole. Jess took the early lead and we followed. We finally got under Jess off of turn 2 and we went on to get win #5 for the year.

Saturday we went to Muskingum County Speedway and they had 31 cars for $1,500 to win. I drew a pill #1, but what a waste of a pill draw for qualifying. We qualified 7th fastest to start us on the outside pole of the 3rd heat. We went on to get the heat win, but had to draw another pill and I drew pill #7 to start us 7th in the feature. We were running third until the last lap and we got passed and finished 4th. Now, I left out quite a few details with the track conditions, rain, and rain out features and so on. But the gist of it is we got home at 5:10 am Sunday morning.

This weekend, we plan to go to Skyline on Friday and to KC on Saturday. We hope to see you there!

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

Thanks again for your support, KJ