May 14, 2010

What an exciting weekend of racing at both tracks,  Friday we unloaded the Rebel 105.9 late model at Kil-Kare Speedway to find out that they were going to shorten the race program to just a feature race.   The incoming rain was a real threat.   We had a good first practice and at that time we were the fastest car there thanks to the Estes racing fuel.    We also had a great set up the by the crew.    We chose not to practice and save our tires for the feature so we watched the second practice.  Oakley Asphalt car was able to take me off the fast time spot.  We went back out to try to pick up a half tenth then without warning the power steering line broke.  I killed the engine and tried to roll off the track.   We made quick work on fixing the line thanks to a competitor, Oakley Asphalt.  Yes, the very team that we competing against.   I was a little concerned in qualifying, because the left front tire got soaked with oil.  However, the GreenPro Landscaping Koehlke Component NASCAR Whelen Late Model #4 got hooked up and we pulled out a second place qualifying time. 


            In the feature they inverted to 5th position so I started 4^th, I missed my mark on the start and dropped to 6^th.  In a few laps, I was starting to get into some real tough racing with the #17 car.   Every time I started to pass on the straight away, I would run out of room.  I would have to back off or risk hitting the wall.  After my second attempt to pass him, I decided to pass him on the outside  in turn one or two and finish in the turn three,  I was able to make that pass and quickly catch up to the next  group of race cars.  It was a three way race with Gary Estes and Oakley Asphalt car.  Gary was in front by just a few feet and I was side by side and wheel to wheel for around six laps with the other car, what was awesome. 


            Finally, I was able to dive on the inside as the other two cars competed.  Someone got Gary loose and I was able to get the second place spot.   I set sail for the leader and realize my water tempeture was hotter than it should have been, probably because I was so close to the car in front not enough air was getting into the radiator, so I finished the race for a second place finish.


            Saturday, we headed to Spring Valley to the Motorcar Auto Body Shop.  We hooked up to the trailer and picked up the crew.  We were then off to Columbus.  It was a big temperature change from Saturday! 


            In our first practice, we were in the mid fourteen forties.   The second practice, Gary made some good adjustments to the car.  I was able to run low teens.   A few spectators said they clocked me close to the track record.  Unfortunately in qualifying, the best I could get was a 14.33.  This time put me in the 6^th fastest.  This put me on the inside for the start of the feature which was not the preferred line that night. I had to drop back in the field four positions before I could get an opening to get to the outside. I finally was able to start racing towards the front.   The 28 car spun out in turn one.  I finished 5^th.  I was not the finish I wanted put it was a good day at the track.


            Last week, we were rained out at Columbus on Saturday but as it turns out, it was a blessing as Tom and all the crew at Pisanello’s is now a new sponsor.  I love the bread sticks there! Yum! 
Thanks Sloan and the Crew
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ctqn25xDWe0

http://blog.jimmiejohnsonchevrolet.com/2010/04/sloan-henderson-has-her-eye-on-nascar.html

I realize we are short on rainfall for our area but does it have to always rain on Friday?  Once again, scattered showers came to town on Friday night!  Kil-Kare officials decided to brave the weather and try to get a race in.  It looked promising when we first arrived.  It looked like the rain was going to hold off.  We were able to get our practice in.  We then had our driver’s meeting-more on that later in the article.  We finally lined up to qualify.  A few cars qualified and then came the rain.  It was just enough rain to cause the track to be slick.  It finally stopped and they dried out the track.  At last, I got to qualify.  The track was very green.  However, the NASCAR Whelen GreenPro #4 was just fantastic!  I got fast time 14.51!!    And you guessed it!  The rain came, again!!  Kil-Kare officials called it a night.

                At the driver’s meeting at Kil-Kare, the track officials announced that Impact Racing Appareal had been declared below standards for SSA.  SSA tests all the racing suits etc. to meet safety standards.  Every piece of my equipment is Impact-my helmet, race suit, gloves-everything!  They told us that they highly suggested we replace all that equipment.  We have decided to just wait a little while to see if more information comes out concerning the safety of my equipment. If there someone that would want to help pay for it or part of it, the cost is around $1400.

                Saturday I got up and went to check the weather.  If it was 100% chance of rain, I was planning on going to the JS (prom at Dayton Christian) then have some friends over for a bonfire and cookout.  But it looked like I was going to get to race, I was excited because we were so fast Friday night at Kil- Kare.  We unloaded the GreenPro Landscaping late and it was good right out of the box.  To help clear up some confusion from last week, the first practice is about learning the track.   Just like the NASCAR teams, you can bring your best to the track just to find out the track conditions changed.  It is no different for us.  This process is called getting “dialed in” and that is what Gary is great at. 

                Practice went well at Columbus.   We fueled the car up with racing fuel from Estes Oil in Franklin.  We set out to qualify.  I was hoping to get the fast time again but could do it.   We did qualify in the top 4.   The top 4  put me on the pole.   I would like to thank Link Burgess, he calculated that I would start on the outside of row two after the seven car inversion.  Link is a World War II veteran and is 87 years old and so smart.   He has been on several championship teams over his 45 plus year in racing!   I went to Dad who writes down the lap times of my competitors so I can figure out how the start of the feature MAY be. Tonight it was perfect.    The outside pole car most likely would get around the pole car.  It would give me the opportunity to go for the lead early in the race.   I could then save my tires.  The rain came and it got called. 

                 We do not talk much about business but I still need an anchor partner.  I need two more co-sponsors if I’m going to have the resources to make NATIONAL NASCAR Whelen history this year. We know with God all things are possible but even David had three stones in his pouch when he went to do the impossible.

Thanks Sloan and Crew

 

Sloan Henderson Motorsports, LLC
"Today Is Tomorrow's History"
www.sloanhenderson.com
Phil 4:13

A 17-year-old from the Buckeye State is among 29 drivers vying this weekend for 10 Drive for Diversity racing seats available for 2010.
Sloan Henderson, an 11th grader from Franklin, Ohio, will participate in the five-day Drive for Diversity Combine presented by Sunoco which opened Friday in Mooresville, N.C. During the five days of Combine events, drivers toured sites in the Charlottes area, attend Saturday’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Lowe’s Motor Speedway and race Legends Cars at Concord (N.C.) Speedway. The group moves to Motor Mile Speedway in Radford, Va., for on-track evaluations Monday and Tuesday.

Read more from the NASCAR article....click here to read whole story!!