My 2 cents on the 09 Schedule....

Hey all...I was talking to a friend about racing and the 09 schedule came up. Now, I know nobody at USAR really cares what I think (I dont mean that rudely either-they have other concerns when they make the schedule and thats ok by me) but here's what I think.

NORTH

Race 1-South Boston

Race 2-Lonesome Pine Raceway

Race 3-Mansfield Motorsports Park

Race 4-Salem Speedway

Race 5-Jennerstown Speedway

Race 6-Motor Mile Speedway

Race 7-Old Dominion Speedway

Race 8-Bristol (COMBO)

South

Race 1-South Georgia Motorsports Park

Race 2-Greenville-Pickens

Race 3-Concord Motorsports Park

Race 4-Hickory Speedway

Race 5-Southern National (Kenly)

Race 6-Caraway Speedway

Race 7-Myrtle Beach

Race 8-Bristol (combo)

CHAMPIONSHIP

Race 1-Mansfield or Jennerstown

Race 2-Southern National or Hickory

Race 3-South Boston or Motor Mile

Race 4-Myrtle Beach

Alright, each division would have 4 half milers with 4 bullrings intertwined within. I would start the season in late March and finish up in October. The Northern Division would hit some familiar tracks plus add Lonesome Pine and Old Dominion Speedway. The South would pick up Greenville Pickens and Caraway. Bristol would close out the regular season in a combo race to crown our champions at the mecca of short track racing. The Championship races would feature 2 half-milers and 2 bullrings that would offer a fair test to determine our overall champion. The races should rotate year from year between Mansfield and Jennerstown (both are worthy), Southern National and Hickory, and South Boston and Motor Mile. Myrtle Beach should always end our season.

I honestly don't think we should be traveling to Iowa and Wisconsin. Both trips are expensive (fuel and travel costs are killer right now) and outside our market area. I may be proven wrong but Rockingham, as cool as it will be to race there, is probably too large of a track for our cars. I think the seperation between the big budget teams and the smaller teams will be exagerated there.

I believe that the economy will be the final determining factor for the 09 schedule. How many tracks turned a profit this year or are financially healthy enough to continue to operate? Lakeland is already off of the schedule and I'm sure (based on a hunch, no hard facts) that contracts with Milwaukee Mile and Rockingham have already been signed. It looks like the future of our series is migrating towards bigger and faster tracks. Is that good? My bet is no, but it could be our only choice.

MK

Probably my favorite picture from the season. Ryan and I were sharing a moment before the South Boston pre-race ceremonies when Kathy Bond from USAR captured this photo. Ryan was eating a bag of chips, asking me questions about the cars. He's really smart for a 2 year old and asks the most inteligent questions. Thank God he takes after his mother!!

A great picture taken during the June Mansfield race from a local sportswriter in Ohio. Ryan looks like he's taking notes from the "old man" while his beautiful mother looks on.

Working my way to the front. We started deep in the field at Mansfield-29th I think, made our way to 8th with 50 to go when an busted rotor button (ignition) put us out. Great teamwork all weekend long. Fast pit stops and a smooth handling car had us on the verge of our best career finish.

Signing autographs at Mansfield. So far this year my favorite autograph sessions. The fans are friendly, respectful and knowledgeable. Great people there.

Beautiful huh? car's down in the track, looking good at Jennerstown

Hey all-I'm sorry I've been MIA for the past couple months. What's going on you ask? Just been busy and haven't had time to post anything. So here's the absolute latest-we are not going to Iowa this weekend-dont have enough cashola to go out there. It is a LONG HAUL from Tazewell to Newton, Iowa. When you go that far-the checkbook needs to be healthy. Honestly, I'm not sure (other than contractual obligations) why we even race out there. Sure, everyone says that it is a super facility but there are plenty of nice race tracks that are much closer.

I guess I better give a quick recap as to how our season's been since Salem. We struggled with brake problems at Motor Mile, had a really solid run at Jennerstown finishing around 15th or so, ran second at South Boston until a knot-head took us out, had to skip Bristol due to having too many torn up race cars and nothing in one piece to take, and finally went to Mansfield and ran really well before having a problem with the ignition system with 50 laps to go.

All in all, I'm pleased with how the year's went. We have had a lot of fun racing this year-the Pro-Cup series is a great series to be a part of. The best way to describe it to those of you who don't race is that it's kinda like Cheers (yeah, random 80's reference there)...everyone knows your name and its a great family atmosphere, the officials treat us well, the fans are awesome and the on track racing is competitive.

I've learned a lot this year. I've learned a lot about the newest setup tricks (bump stops, coil binding, etc) but most importantly I've learned a lot about what I need to feel in the racecar to make it fast. The "light-bulb" started to come on in Jennerstown and it went full-on bright in Mansfield. I've also learned the importance of testing. Testing is, without doubt, the most important thing a team can do to be successful. You can do all of the "computer simulation" and all of the "homework" you want at the shop, but if you dont get to the track and put the "rubber to the road" then all you're doing is "spinning your wheels" (literally!)

Our plans for the remainder of the season are to skip Iowa and race for the wins at Kenly (Southern National Speedway) and Rockingham. We have a vigorous testing program in place for the remainder of the season, with tests tenatively planned for Motor Mile, Kenly and Rockingham, with a possibility of a test at good 'ole Lonesome Pine.

'till next time-(hopefully not as long as last time!)

MK