MILLVILLE, New Jersey (May 18, 2011) – – Following an impressive and career-best 11th place finish last Sunday at Toledo Speedway, Chad Hackenbracht and his CGH Motorsports team head to New Jersey Motorsports Park (NJMP) this weekend looking to build the team’s confidence and platform in Sunday’s ModSpace 150.
Despite zero road racing experience in a stock car, Hackenbracht is leaning on advice from his veteran team to guide him towards a top-10 finish in the fifth race of the season. He is also relying on the feedback of two driving schools at Road Atlanta and Road America respectively — hoping some of the fundamentals he was educated with will transfer to NJMP this weekend.
While the 19-year old had very limited short track experience before competing at Salem (Ind.) Speedway and Toledo Speedway respectively, Hackenbracht is keen on showing that he once again adapt to unfamiliar territories.
“It’s now or never,” Hackenbracht joked. “Going to any race track with no prior experience, not to mention throwing a track on top of it that includes both left and right hand turns can try and mess with your confidence. Thankfully, I have a great team behind me and we’re prepared for what lies ahead this weekend.”
Quietly, Hackenbracht has been inching his family-owned team up the championship rankings and while the New Philadelphia, Ohio native knows that a win may not necessarily be the top order for this weekend; the opportunity to record a good finish does still exists.
“I don’t want to say that this weekend is a race of survival for us this weekend, but it’s a race that I want to learn and have a finish that we can be satisfied with,” the 2008 National Asphalt Legends champion explained.
Should Mother Nature’s forecast attempt to throw a curve-ball at the series for a third consecutive race, Hackenbracht knows that he has to be prepared for the unexpected, which could include racing in the rain.
“If we race in the rain, man, I think it will be fun but you have to be on your game and I mean seriously on your game,” sounded Hackenbracht. “I heard that when ARCA raced in the rain last year at Palm Beach, everyone did a good job. Hopefully if it comes down to that, we’ll do the same on Sunday. I would prefer though to stay dry if we could.”
Kevin Reed, director of competition for CGH Motorsports is optimistic about this weekend despite his pilot’s limited road course experience.
“We are looking forward to New Jersey this weekend,” said Reed, the 2010 ARCA crew chief of the year. “I have prepared cars for NJMP over the last three seasons and they have all qualified in the top-six. We have a real good piece this weekend and Chad’s experience at Skip Barber will undoubtedly enhance our efforts. We’ve been strong the last couple of races, we don’t plan to stop now. I’ve reminded Chad to just stay on the pavement all day and have brakes at the end and we will finish in the top-five or maybe even record that first career win!”
In 13 ARCA events maneuvering five top-20 finishes including a career-best 11th at Toledo Speedway in May 2011. Two ninth place qualifying efforts at Kansas Speedway (2010) and Salem (Ind.) Speedway (2011) are his best time trials efforts to date.
CGH Motorsports is actively seeking additional marketing partners for the full 2011 ARCA Racing Series schedule. Single, multi and full-season placements are available on the team’s No. 58 entries. Interested parties are urged to contact Jordan Dahl at 570.234.5449 or jordan@cghmotorsports.com.
The ModSpace 150 (67 laps / 150 miles) is the fifth of 19 events on the 2011 ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards schedule. The fourth ever ARCA event held at New Jersey Motorsports Park is a two-day show. Practice begins Saturday, May 21 with an hour and a half practice session planned from 11:15 a.m. – 12:45 p.m. A final “happy hour” session has been etched in from 1:45 p.m. – 2:45 p.m. Menards Pole by Ansell qualifying is slated to begin at 4:30 p.m. The field will take the green flag on Sunday May 22 shortly after 1:00 p.m. The race will not be televised but event coverage including live timing and scoring throughout the weekend will be available through the ARCA Racing Network (ARN) online at http://www.arcaracing.com/ arcaracing.com presented by ARCANation.com.
For more information on Chad Hackenbracht and CGH Motorsports, please visit ChadHackenbracht.com http://www.chadhackenbracht.com/ and CGHMotorsports.com .
Connect with Chad Hackenbracht and CGH Motorsports through Facebook by clicking here. http://www.facebook.com/pages/Chad-Hackenbracht-Fan-Page/192325897461194
Tweet with Chad Hackenbracht through Twitter at @ChadH58 or CGH Motorsports @CGH5858.
About CGH Motorsports:
CGH Motorsports (CGHMotorsports.com ), established in 2007 by Ohio entrepreneur Greg Hackenbracht is located in a 10,000 sq. foot facility located in Mooresville, North Carolina. CGH Motorsports is home of rising sensation Chad Hackenbracht, who competed in nine ARCA Racing Series races in 2010 after an aggressive ARCA testing schedule in 2009. Chad Hackenbracht is the 2008 National Asphalt Legends champion, winning 33 percent of his races and finishing in the top-10, 85 percent of the events he competed in. The team will step up their commitment from a partial schedule and prepare for a hopeful full-season ARCA championship assault beginning in February 2011.
