2 Weeks, No Features
8/9/08 - Two weeks worth of work has proved fruitless for the Warren Harley Davidson Race team.
Last week the team had a special guest in the pits as Bob and Clint Kriner made the drive in from Chambersburg to Sharon Speedway. Clint was kind enough to pitch in with the car, and help the crew with a set-up that lead to Mike's second heat race win of the season. The crew was optimistic leading to the feature. "I think this might be our week to get back into Victory Lane" Johnny Laird commented as he set the tire pressures and secured the mud plate to the big right rear tire of the 5K machine.
On the drop of the green Mike could tell he had a good car, but on only the second lap the front axle let go. When the tow truck dropped the car off at the hauler, the crew was ready with another axle, and all hands on deck had the axle replaced in near record time. Unfortunately the green came out just as Mike was being pushed back up the chute, and the team would have to load the car with a devastating 22nd place finish.
This week Mike started the second heat race in 6th and finished in 5th. Set for a 10th spot starting position, again the car didn't make it to the track surface as the rain came just as the 4 wheeler was fired to push the car out. Races were called for the night, so it looks like 2 features next weekend.
Not a Bad Days Work
7/19/08 - The team showed up at the Hartford Oval this week knowing they had a long night ahead, with the make up for last weeks rained out feature plus the regular night's racing action on tap.
First up for Mike and the Warren Harley-Davidson sprinter was the make up feature, in which Mike would line up 10th. When the green flag dropped, Mike knew he had a good car, and made his way up to 6th by the 10th lap. For the remainder of the 25 lap feature, Mike battled between the 5th and 6th spot as the track wore in and the car got tighter. Mike would take the checkered flag in the 5th spot for his 3rd top 5 of the year.
The second heat race had Mike starting 5th, and he picked up a spot to finish 4th. The fan spin for the invert set Mike to line up 4th in the nights feature event.
When the green dropped, Mike could tell right away the car was a little on the loose side. He was able to run 24 of the 25 laps in the top 5, and in the closing lap lost a spot to finish 6th, marking his 7th top 10 for the year. While it was a long night, the team was happy to load the car with 2 good finishes. Mike holds his 3rd position in the championship standings with 5 points races remaining.
This week the team is off as the WOO Late models come to town. The 5K will be back in action on August 2nd.
Hard Slick Track, Hopes Deflated
7/508 - In contrast to last weeks long rain delay, this weekend was hot and dry. The track knew it too, as the racing surface was dry, hard, and slick right from the onset.
The holiday weekend drew a good crowd of both cars and spectators. In all, 32 sprints had checked into the pits for the night's racing action. Mike was called to start the Warren Harley Davidson Sprinter in the 3rd spot in the second of four heats. He would need to finish at least in 3rd to secure a spot in the top 12 inversion, and at least 5th to secure a starting spot in the A Main. From the drop of the green it was obvious the 5k was having trouble getting any traction on the slick surface. On the first lap he lost a spot to the 2L of Ed Lynch Jr, and for the next 5 laps he would try different lines trying to catch the 2L. All he got for his effort was pressure from Scott Bonnell who finally caught up on the 6th lap and relegated Mike to a 5th place finish. This secured his spot in the feature, but locked him out of the top 12 inversion.
Set for an 18th place starting position, the crew got busy preparing the car. Lots of changes, shocks, bars, stagger, whatever the crew though would give Mike the best shot at turning some good laps. The drop of the green suggested the crew had hit on something. Mike jumped to 14th by the second lap and got to work. Carefully weaving though traffic, Mike battled up to 10th by the lap 18. Just 2 laps short of the checkered flag Mike was working hard to pick up another spot or two when the right front tire let go coming through turn 3. He was able to get it wooed up and keep the wing in the air, but the final results would show the 5K with a 20th place finish. Being a double points night, this could have really hurt, but Mike maintains a 3rd place position in the points, less than 100 out of 1st.
"At least we loaded the car into the hauler in one piece, we'll be back next week and try again" Mike commented as he climbed into the cab. Indeed they will, stay tuned to see how things go!
A long rain delay leads to a top 5
6/28/08 - After 2 weeks off Mike and the crew were definitely ready to get ready to get back to work this week, but Mother Nature looked to have rain on her mind.
With dark clouds loaming, and thunder rolling in the distance, the track was run in and the sprints were called to put heat in the engines. Just as Mike rolled the Warren Harley-Davidson Sprinter back to the hauler the rain started. After an hour when the rain had gotten downright heavy, the crew was already making dinner plans. The track officials claimed they had looked over the radar and the rain would pass. Sure enough, the rains finally stopped and track re-prep began with discing up the track. Pretty much anyone with a truck helped run the track in and before long the sprints were called back out.
Mike started the second heat race of the night in the 5th spot and finished 4th. The fan spin of the wheel set the top 6 to invert for the feature start, placing Mike to start the 5K in the 8th spot. By the 8th lap Mike had worked his way up to 5th where he ran the remainder of the 25 lap feature, Marking his second top 5 and 5th top 10 of the season.
I Love a Parade
6/7/08 - Once again the crew loaded the hauler and with hopes of getting back to victory lane this weekend. "The car has been good this year" Johnny Baird commented, "we just need to find that magic setup to push us to the front".
With 24 Sprinters checked into the pits this week, it would be another full field. Mike was set to take the 5K out to line up 3rd in the second heat race of the night. Mike settled into 4th on the first lap and the front 4 would run in order all 8 laps.
Ninety plus degrees all day set the track surface up to be dry and hard. The crowd participation spin of the wheel was again not kind to Mike, he was set to line up 11th for the 25 lap feature. Most of the field finished about where they started, as the track surface didn't lend itself to much passing. By lap 18 Mike managed to get himself into 9th where he would finish. "If we had started up front tonight, we probably would have finished up front", a frustrated Kekich commented after the race. "We will be really analyzing the car this week to see if we can figure out how to pass some cars".
With 4 races in the books, the Warren Harley-Davidson race team is sitting 2nd in points with 1 top 5 and 4 top 10 finishes, but that isn't making the team fell much better. "We've got the stuff to win some races this year" say's Jamie, the teams lead mechanic. "We will get this beast into victory lane soon."
Long Night, Short on Fuel
5/31/08 - Mike and the crew made their third visit to Sharon Speedway this week with all intentions of showing just what the 2008 edition of the Warren Harley-Davidson Tight Seal Glass Block race team could do. With 23 Sprint Cars checked into the pits, there would be 3 heat races. Mike lined the 5K up 3rd in the 1st heat of the night and jumped into the lead on the first circuit. The 3B of Scott Bonnell got by on the 4th lap and Mike ended up finishing 2nd.
The redraw set the top 10 cars to invert, lining Mike up 7th to start the 25 lap feature. With the IRS Late Models on the ticket for the night, the track was sure to slick off and take rubber after their 50 lap feature. The team busied preparing the car, trying to forecast how the track would look when the Sprints took to the track for their feature, set to run last.
The track was indeed hard when the sprints were called to the shoot. Mike took the green and fell back to 10th as he worked multiple grooves to see where the car would work best on the slick surface. The race was riddled with cautions, and with a full field the top 12 cars found themselves in lapped traffic early and often. By the 10th lap Mike had the 5K back into 7th and found the bottom to his liking, looking for moisture to get forward bite. A caution on the 24th lap set the field for a one lap shoot out, and Mike was up to 6th hoping to pick up a spot for a top 5 finish. As the final green dropped Mike made his move, but coming out of turn 2 the car sputtered. Many caution laps and a slick track had emptied the 5K's fuel cell one lap too soon. The 5K crossed the finish line in 9th place, far short of what the team had hoped for, but notching their 3rd top 10 of the year.
Next week will find the team back in action at the Hartford Oval.
Car was fast, but lots of traffic
5/24/08 - The Warren Harley-Davidson Tight Seal Glass Block Race Team was back in action this Memorial Day weekend. "I can't wait to get in that car" Mike commented at the shop before the race. When the hauler rolled into the pits, the pill draw was bad news, Mike would start dead last (9th) in the 3rd heat race on the night. The holiday weekend coupled with Mercer not running lead to 27 410's on the card for the evening.
The 5K looked good in her heat race, with Mike behind the wheel she eased her way through heavy traffic and nearly ran down the 1 car for a spot in the inversion, missing that 4th spot by only 0.15 seconds. The 5th place finish set the team up for a 15th place starting position for the feature which would start 25 cars.
Again saddled in heavy traffic, Mike picked up spots as the laps ticked away. Dealing with lapped traffic very early in the 25 lap feature, Mike ran different grooves trying to make his way towards the front of the field. After an poorly timed caution, Mike settled the 5K into 9th where he would finish. "I know we didn't finish well, but I am proud of this run", Mike said afterwards. "I could drive that car anywhere I wanted, it really feels good this year. I think we can win a couple before the season is out".
Stay tuned, you won't want to miss the teams return to Victory Lane.
Kekich Races into the 2008 Season
5/10/08 - After Mother Nature took the first Sprint Feature win of 08 last week, Mike and the rest of the Warren Harley Davidson Tight Seal Glass Block race team rolled into the pits with all intentions of starting the season strong. Mike rolled out to start 4th in the first of 2 heat races on the night. Mike jumped to the lead on the second lap just before a red flag came out when Keith Taylor had some trouble. Keith was fine and the green came back out with Mike leading the way. Mike would lead the remainder of the laps to score a heat race win on the 5K's first appearance on the Sharon dirt.
As the crew got busy readying the car for the feature, Mike commented the car seemed a little tight through the middle, but the car felt good. The fan "spin of the wheel" set the top 8 to invert relegating Mike to an 8th spot starting position. Mike had made his way up to 4th by the 7th lap, and settled into 5th on the 11th lap where he would finish the 25 lap event. "The engine is strong this year", Mike mentioned after the race. "We went a little too far with the adjustment and left me too loose for the feature, but the car hasn't turned this ell in 2 years. I really think we are going to be good this year".
The 5K will be back in action next weekend at the Hartford oval.
Kekich Racing busy preparing for 2008 Race Season
Air wrenches are buzzing and vinyl graphics are flying in the Kekich Racing shop in Hermitage these days. The objective; get the Warren Harley-Davidson Tight Seal Glass Block 5K Sprint car ready to do battle on the Hartford oval once again in 2008. The team is excited, and can't wait to get back to the track this season. "The off season is just brutal" said Jamie Hutchinson, the teams chief mechanic. "All I want is the smell of methanol in my nose, a big crunchy pickle from the concession stand in my hand, and my rear end in Victory Lane".
The team's owner and driver, Mike Kekich, is equally excited to get back to work. "We found a little problem with the fuel system when the engine went back to the builder this year, which explains why we weren't as good as we should have been last year. We plan to add some trophies to the man-cave this year, and make a serious run for the championship" commented Mike.
The excitement doesn't stop there, there is a Limited Sprint being assembled in the shop with hopes of getting Adam out there this year as well. Can the fans at Sharon Speedway handle 2 5K's? And more importantly can Shelly handle 2 Kekich men in sprint cars? Stay tuned and find out!