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Alex Bowman wins Prairie Meadows 200 for third win of 2012

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SM Staff
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[media-credit name=”ARCARacing.com” align=”alignright” width=”300″][/media-credit]Alex Bowman would hold off Grant Enfinger on a late race restart to win the Prairie Meadows 200 at Iowa Speedway. It marks Bowman’s third win of the season as he became the seventh different driver to pull into victory lane on the short track.

“I definitely got to thank everybody – Paul Andrews, Mannats for coming on board,” the driver of the No. 22 St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital/Mannats Dodge says. “They called at the last minute and wanted their name on the hood.”

The 21-year-old gave credit to his veteran crew chief Paul Andrews for the adjustments he made following practice.

“We’ve ran this chassis three times this year and won those three times,” Bowman adds. “I think it’s just ‘cause of the crew chief, Paul Andrews.”

Bowman would pass Frank Kimmel for the lead with 49 to go after a caution and go on to lead the rest of the way, despite a pair of restarts.

“We’re looking forward to Chicago,” Andrews says looking forward. “We felt like we got short-changed at Michigan, so we’re excited to go there. He says it’s all about me, but it’s all about him. He makes me look good.”

Grant Enfinger would finish second for the fourth time in his career, tying his career best finish.

“Really it was a bunch of hard work by everybody,” Enfinger says. “Appreciate everybody for pushing to make this race happen. We came up a little short again, but that was everything we had. We had a strong car on the long run; they all had a little bit of a better car on short run. They would get away from us, but we would reel them in on the long run.”

Chad Boat would finish third in his ARCA debut, followed by Clay Rogers and Frank Kimmel.

“A lot of those guys were having the problem where they were spinning the tires on the restart and I was able to get off the line better,” Rogers says. “We were also able to cut the center better than our competitors before the tires got hot.”

Chad Hackenbracht would finish sixth, followed by Matt Lofton, Spencer Gallagher, Ryan Reed and Mason Mitchell.

Short track tempers would flare near the end of the race as there were two separate incidents involving drivers.

With four laps to go, Gallagher and Erik Jones would make contact multiple times while battling for sixth, ending with Jones going around after contact from Gallagher.

“I think at the end of the day, we pulled everything out and finished strong,” Gallagher says. “Do I wish that would’ve gone differently? Yes, but welcome to short track racing. Those things happen and it’s part of the short track mentality.”

Also, Lofton would give Reed a bump to get by him late in the race and as a result, Reed spun Lofton after the race.

The first 75 laps of the race would run green with pole sitter Brennan Poole leading every one of them, though he would bring out the first caution when he’d hit the wall with a flat tire. That pretty much ended his chances as he struggled for the rest of the night and got into the wall again on lap 115.

Brandon Davis would also have a bad night as he would get into the turn two wall after getting loose on lap 127. Davis would then get caught in another accident on lap 185 when Milka Duno would get loose, collecting both Davis and Jared Marks. Ralston would also get spun in the wreck by Robert Mitten.

It was also a weekend to forget for Nelson Canache as he would run into problems during practice, followed by a hard hit to the inside wall as he tried to miss hitting Zach Ralston when he spun.

“A couple cars in front of me were fighting and got side-by-side,” Canache says. “One of them spun in front of me and I was holding the car to see which way he was going to go. I went down and couldn’t avoid. We were working on the car in the race. I think we got the car good by that point to move up, but these things happen. I’m okay, but it is what it is.”

The next race for the ARCA Racing Series is the Ansell ActivArmr® 150 at Chicagoland Speedway on July 21st.

 

2012 ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards Event #11    
Iowa Speedway, Newton Iowa, 7-13-12      
Prairie Meadows 200      
             
July 13, 2012 / 11:04 PM      
             
FIN STR NO DRIVER/HOMETOWN TEAM & CAR LAPS  STATUS
1 2 22 Alex Bowman/Tucson AZ St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital Dodge 202 Running
2 8 36 Grant Enfinger/Fairhope AL Breland Homes Dodge 202 Running
3 4 98 Chad Boat/Phoenix AZ Curb Records-Celebrity Fight Night Chevrolet 202 Running
4 5 45 Clay Rogers/Troutman NC Beard Oil Chevrolet 202 Running
5 10 44 Frank Kimmel/Clarksville IN Ansell-Menards Toyota 202 Running
6 7 58 Chad Hackenbracht/New Philadephia OH CGH Motorsports Chevrolet 202 Running
7 11 16 Matt Lofton/Roxboro NC Strutmasters.com Chevrolet 202 Running
8 16 23 Spencer Gallagher/Las Vegas NV Allegiant Air Chevrolet 202 Running
9 3 15 Ryan Reed/Bakersfield CA RaceHard.com-Renton Coil Spring Toyota 202 Running
10 9 6 Mason Mitchell/W. Des Moines IA J&S Ag Services-Make A Wish Foundation Chevy 202 Running
11 6 55 Erik Jones/Byron MI Paragon Corvette Reproductions-CG Financial Chevy 202 Running
12 18 32 Mason Mingus/Brentwood TN Iowa One Call-811 Call Before You Dig Chevrolet 202 Running
13 14 17 Chris Buescher/Prosper TX BeavEx-Reliance Tool Ford 202 Running
14 27 5 Bobby Gerhart/Lebanon PA Lucas Oil Chevrolet 199 Running
15 13 95 Michael Leavine/Bullard TX WRL General Contractors Ford 198 Running
16 22 94 Milka Duno/Caracas Venezuela Milka Way Toyota 198 Running
17 19 41 Michael Simko/White Lake MI Hendren Motorsports Chevrolet 197 Running
18 24 3 Drew Charlson/New Bremen OH Aluma Aluminum Trailers-Heitkamp Crop Ins Dodge 196 Running
19 26 88 Buster Graham/Lafayette LA Batter’s Dream-RoushYatesParts.com Ford 195 Running
20 23 90 Zach Ralston/Springville IA ORingSales.com Chevrolet 192 Running
21 30 10 Rick Clifton/Circleville OH BASF Chevrolet 192 Running
22 32 34 Darrell Basham/Henryville IN Darrell Basham Racing Chevrolet 189 Running
23 28 04 Larry Barford Jr./Denton MD First Mariner Bank-Trauma Doc Dodge 188 Running
24 35 48 James Hylton/Inman SC Radon.com Ford 187 Running
25 12 12 Jared Marks/Napoleon OH Premium Energy VIP-SRT Motorsports-UNOH Dodge 184 Accident
26 34 35 Tom Berte/New Berlin WI CGS Premier-Staytuned Customs Chevrolet 180 Accident
27 20 99 Brandon Davis/Huntington Beach CA Roulo Brothers Racing Ford 178 Accident
28 1 25 Brennan Poole/The Woodlands TX The Ad Man-Midas Chevrolet 172 Running
29 15 52 Tom Hessert/Cherry Hill NJ Federated Auto Parts Chevrolet 161 Accident
30 33 66 Nelson Canache/Caracas Venezuela Venezuela Tourism Chevrolet 133 Accident
31 38 79 Mike Koch/Mountain Home AR K&K Racing-Karl’s Plumbing Chevrolet 71 Oil Leak
32 17 02 Josh Williams/Port Charlotte FL SW Florida Cable Construction Ford 57 Handling
33 29 40 Roger Carter/Sunfield MI Carter 2 Motorsports Dodge 54 Handling
34 36 06 Tommy O’Leary/Cygnet OH GreatRailing.com Ford 18 Suspnsn
35 37 0 Scott Null/Lake Mills WI Wayne Peterson Racing Ford 10 Rear End
36 39 64 Joseph Hughs/Springfield IL Jack Hughes Racing Dodge 9 Engine
37 25 69 Korbin Forrister/Cedartown GA Tilted Kilt Ford 7 Brakes
38 21 68 Will Kimmel/Sellersburg IN Clarksville Schwinn & Cyclery Ford 5 Radiator
39 31 18 Mike Affarano/Shorewood IL North Grand Auto Parts Ford 4 Brakes
40 40 73 Dale Shearer/Chillicothe MO Shearer Racing Ford 0 Engine

Lap by Lap: Prairie Meadows 200 won by Alex Bowman

By
SM Staff
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Alex Bowman would hold off Grant Enfinger on a late race restart to pick up his third win of 2012.

 

Lap 1 Brennan Poole leads lap 1

Lap 12 Joseph Hughs blew up

Lap 23 Poole leads Bowman, Boat, Rogers and Reed

Lap 43 Poole leads Rogers, Bowman, Boat and Enfinger. Only the top 14 remain on the lead lap.

Lap 61 Josh Williams heads down pit road with a mechanical problem

Lap 64 Poole leads Rogers, Enfinger, Bowman and Boat

Caution lap 75 Brennan Poole hits the outside wall with flat tire while leading // Rogers now leads……leaders hit pit road for pit stop. Tom Hessert gets the lucky dog. Enfinger leads Rogers, Bowman, Boat and Jones. Poole making multiple pit stops, trying to fix the damage.

Restart Lap 83 as Rogers and Enfinger run side-by-side for the lead.

Lap 84 Rogers lead the lap ahead of Enfinger and Bowman. Rogers clears Enfinger for first, Enfinger battles with Bowman for second.

Lap 85 Rogers leads Bowman and Enfinger as Jones and Boat run side-by-side

Lap 86 12 cars on the lead lap; Rogers and Bowman battle for the lead

Lap 87 Rogers and Bowman battle side-by-side for the lead, ahead of Enfinger, Jones and Boat. Bowman takes the lead

Lap 90 Bowman leads Rogers, Enfinger, Jones and Boat

Lap 107 Boat passes Jones for fourth; Rogers and Enfinger battle for the second position.

Lap 109 Rogers keeps Enfinger behind him for second.

Lap 115 Caution as Brennan Poole has another right front tire issue. Most of the lead lap cars stayed out, with only some cars running near the end of the lead lap pitting. Those drivers include Frank Kimmel and Ryan Reed.

Restart lap 121

Lap 125 Bowman leads as Enfinger and Rogers battle for second, ahead of Boat and Jones.

Caution Lap 127 as Brandon Davis gets into the wall in turn two after getting loose……The leaders make their way down pit road for stops…..Kimmel stays out to take the lead

Restart Lap 135

Lap 136 Kimmel leads while Lofton and Bowman battle side-by-side for second

Lap 137 Bowman clears Lofton for third as big wreck on the backstretch after Zach Ralston and Nelson Canache wreck. Ralston gets loose and spins as Canache hits the inside wall, trying to avoid Ralston.

Restart lap 144

Lap 145 Kimmel leads ahead of Bowman while Lofton and Enfinger battle for third

Lap 146 Kimmel leads Bowman, Lofton, Enfinger and Jones as the caution comes out for Michael Simko spinning in turn two and hitting the wall. Simko got loose and then possibly got a little bit of contact from Chad Hackenbracht. Milka Duno got the lucky dog.

Restart lap 150

49 to go Rogers and Hessert make contact, but everybody saves it; Bowman passes Kimmel for the lead

47 to go Bowman leads Kimmel, Enfinger, Lofton, Jones

30 to go Bowman leads Enfinger, Kimmel, Boat and Jones

Caution Lap 185 Jared Marks, Brandon Davis and Milka Duno wreck. Duno gets loose on the inside of Ryan Reed and collects Marks and Davis. Zach Ralston gets spun trying to avoid by Robert Mitten.

Restart 8 to go Bowman gets a good jump on Enfinger.

7 to go Rogers and Jones side-by-side for fifth

6 to go Bowman leads Enfinger, Boat, Kimmel

5 to go Rogers clears Jones for fifth. Spencer Gallagher and Eric Jones make contact battling for sixth.

Caution 4 to go Gallagher spins Jones off of turn two. Gallagher apologizes on his radio, saying it wasn’t on purpose.

Green-White-Checkered finish.

2 to go Bowman leads Enfinger and Boat while Kimmel and Rogers battle for fourth.

White flag Rogers clears Kimmel for fourth, off to try to pass Boat for third.

Alex Bowman wins, ahead of Enfinger, Boat, Rogers, Kimmel, Hackenbracht, Lofton, Gallagher, Reed and Mitchell.

Mansfield Motorsports Park, a Lost Gem

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SM Staff
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The parking areas were filled with cars on July 17th, 2010. A line stretched around the brick hut that sold tickets and passes. Hot dogs were sizzling, sending an aroma that radiated from the Fast Lane Grill. Fans climbed up the metal stairway to find their seats, and kids were mesmerized by their first glimpse of a real racetrack. Mansfield Motorsports Park drew a crowd for this thrilling stop on the ARCA schedule.

Sadly, that race, the Tim Richmond Memorial 200, was the last race at the track. The gates have been closed ever since.

Yet, I could still hear it. As I looped my fingers through the chainlinks, the faint roaring of engines bounced off my ear drums. The wind whipped my hair back. Cars speeding off turn four, inches from smacking the wall. I felt the earth shake beneath me. Squealing sheet metal made me cringe, and sparks lit up my brain. There was a black-and-white freight train reeling through my head. It was like I was there, even if I had never witnessed one of the events.

I blinked, and it was all gone.

[media-credit name=”Ronda Greer/NASCAR” align=”alignright” width=”298″][/media-credit]Dust rode the breeze to hit me in the face. In just two years, the speedway has become desolated. The gravel parking lot is the home of browning weeds and brand-new lighting. The ticket building’s security cameras have bird nests sitting on them, which goes nicely with the bright new ‘Tickets’ sign. New metal railing lines the stairway up to the bleachers, but they’ll never be grasped by eager hands.

Taking a step back, my head mindlessly shook. The owner had put so much money into the facility, only to shut it down due to a lack of a title sponsor. The track closed back in 2008 after it lost its NASCAR Truck date, but it reopened when it gained a spot on the ARCA line up in 2009. The two races were won by Parker Kligerman and Max Gresham, the track becoming a blur in late 2010.

I think everyone knows that feeling, the one you get when you know you’ve lost something special. It twists your stomach into a tight double knot. That’s what I felt as I took pictures through the gates. The half-mile seemed perfect, especially with the Mansfield Lahm Regional Airport right across the road. With some research, I found out that the track set aside one hour for autograph signings and opened the pits before the race. It was willing to do anything for the fans, to make them happy. I guess that wasn’t enough.

The race was important to the community. The Tim Richmond Memorial 200 was an obvious tribute to NASCAR’s James Dean-esque driver, who grew up half an hour away in the city of Ashland. It was our way of celebrating his life, which ended way too quickly. Also, there isn’t a Cup or NNS race anywhere near here. You have many dirt tracks, and ARCA still runs up in Toledo Speedway. With Michigan, Indianapolis, Kentucky, and Pocono surrounding us, there isn’t a big track around here.

Mansfield was our gateway into the NASCAR world, only to be shut abruptly.

When I climbed back in the car after capturing the photos, it felt like I was walking away from an opportunity. It had the potential to become a great track. Trust me, if someone fixed it up, I would promote the heck out of that place. Make T-shirts, posters, have a bake sale, whatever I could do to get Mansfield Motorsports Park back in the positive spotlight.

One day, it might get to shine again, and I hope that day comes soon.

BIG WEEKEND FOR JASON WHITE

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JIM WHITE RETURNS TO THE TRACK THIS WEEKEND

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Race No. 5: A&W Cruisin’ The Dub 300 at Motoplex Speedway

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SM Staff
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The fifth race of the 2012 NASCAR Canadian Tire Series season marks the first race out west for the series as part of a three-race West coast swing that includes a stop in British Columbia, Alberta and Saskatchewan. The first stop of the three is the half-mile tri-oval in Vernon, British Columbia, known as Motoplex Speedway.

Coming to Motoplex with the momentum is D.J. Kennington, who has won the previous two oval events at Canadian Tire Motorsports Park and Delaware Speedway. The two wins earned him the top spot on the Hunter Index, which was launched in 2010 to highlight the standout performances in the NASCAR touring and regional series. A panel of NASCAR experts and media debate driver’s accomplishments of a single month to see who they feel should be at the top.

“Claiming the first two oval races on the Canadian Tire Series to compliment some nice early season runs at road courses makes Kennington a real threat to run off with his second series title in three years,” Tim Quievryn of TheThirdTurn.com says in NASCAR’s press release.

Kennington, who heads to Motoplex leading by 13 points over Andrew Ranger, has finished in the runner-up position in each of the last two races at Motoplex. He has also finished inside the top five in each of his five starts. Though for 2010 series champion, he has a current streak of six straight top-five finishes and seven consecutive top 10s.

The one to beat on the half-mile is Scott Steckly as he has won the last two events in B.C. The two-time series champion has not finished worse than second in his five B.C. starts and has five top-five finishes in his last six series starts dating back to last season. He currently sits fourth in points after finishing 14th at CTMP and second at Delaware.

Other past winners on the half-mile in B.C. are J.R. Fitzpatrick, Andrew Ranger and Don Thomson Jr.

Fitzpatrick won the inaugural race in 2007 at Motoplex Speedway, before logging top 10s each year that followed; he finished eighth last season. He currently sits third in the standings after finishing third at CTMP and 14th at Delaware. Fitzpatrick will have 2008 Motoplex Speedway winner Dom Thomson Jr. atop his pit box as his crew chief.

Ranger will be making his first Motoplex start after winning the race in 2009. In the two previous starts before the win, he had one top-10 finish. Though Ranger is one to watch without a doubt as he has finished inside the top 1- in 26 of his last 27 series starts, dating back to 2008. The two-time series champion currently sits second in points.

Another driver looking for a good run at Motoplex Speedway is Jason White as this is his home track and the title sponsor of the race sponsors his No. 21 Dodge each week. White currently sits ninth in points, 12 points out of fifth.

“Our performance this season has been improving at every event,” White says. “The whole gang at DJK Racing has given me a great car every weekend and we’re competing hard each time out.”

The best finish that the 2008 Rookie of the Year winner has on his hometrack is a seventh place finish while finishing 11th last year. White will be joined on track by his brother Jim White, who will be driving the No. 24 A&W Dodge.

“It’s going to be so exciting to race against Jim,” Jason White says.  “He’s a heck of a racer and I’m looking forward to battling with him head to head.”

It will mark the sixth carer start for Jim White after having a memorable top 10 finish last year at Motoplex.

“I started thinking about it a few months ago,” Jim White says.  “I talked with my former Crew Chief Tyler Case who now works for Scott Steckly and it was Tyler who really made this happen and has prepped the car for this weekend.”

While the previous drivers mentioned have loads of experience, 20-year-old Ryley Siebert will be making his second series start after making his debut last season at Auto Clear Motor Speedway in Saskatoon, Sask. The Williams Lake, B.C. native calls Motoplex Speedway his home track and is a regular Late Model competitor.

“I’m certainly comfortable there and know the track very well,” he says. “But there is some pressure that comes with it. I’ll have a lot of friends and family at the race and they are going to expect me to protect my home turf.”

The second-generation driver is hoping to have a solid run, hoping to run all 300 laps, well finishing ahead of his father, Trevor Seibert.

“When I was younger, my dad was my hero,” Ryley Seibert says. “Now that I’m 20 and share the race track with him, I just want to beat him. He beat me not too long ago in his Late Model, so I need to get a little payback.”

For Kevin Harvick, Family is First

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SM Staff
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[media-credit name=”Gary Buchanan” align=”alignright” width=”181″][/media-credit]There was no doubt that Kevin Harvick was anxious last weekend at Daytona with his wife DeLana ready to bring the child known as ‘Baby Otis’ into the world and his race car ready to run under the lights.

Harvick was indeed ready to miss a race if needed in order to be there for the birth of his son. But all worked out for the best and dad was indeed able to get his wife to the hospital on time.

“I was actually home and prepared not to come back if that situation at home,” Harvick said. “Everyone knew where I stood on that.”

“Richard (Childress) has been a big supporter in that and it’s always been family first.”

But all worked out well and the Harvick’s welcomed Keelan Paul Harvick on Sunday, July 8th at 6.8 lbs. and 19.5 inches.

“Waiting on Keelan was the longest nine months of my entire life,” Harvick admitted. “But time literally stood still when I held him for the first time.”

“DeLana and I are just amazed by how special and rewarding this is.”

For both Keelan’s father and mother, the past week has been most eventful. And, of course, Harvick had to pay a bit of a price for getting wife DeLana to the hospital just two hours before the baby was born.

“Dad waited a little long to get her to the hospital,” Harvick said of wife DeLana. “I was obviously not her favorite person as they told her they wouldn’t give her an epidural.”

“She did good,” Harvick continued. “She had it all natural, no drugs or nothing.”

“We had a healthy baby boy and that was the most important things,” Harvick said. “Everybody is good and at home, doing normal things.”

In spite of the rush in getting to the hospital and in spite of being one of NASCAR’s most proficient drivers, Harvick admitted he did not speed while taking his wife in to deliver.

“First off, I did drive her to the hospital,” Harvick said. “The only part for me is that it wasn’t very fast because she was obviously in a lot of pain.”

“We didn’t make any real fast corners,” Harvick continued. “We would go straight and fast.”

“So, I didn’t get yelled at on the drive over and that was my goal.”

Harvick acknowledged what every new parent knows, that of the joys of sleep deprivation with a new little one in the house.

“Yeah, the sleeping pattern is different for sure,” Harvick said. “But we’re fortunate to have a lot of help, obviously with her mom being right there, we’ve been able to incorporate her into everything that is going on.”

“It’s definitely been a change but nothing as bad as everybody made it sound like for sure,” Harvick continued. “It’s been great.”

In typical Harvick style, with both mom and dad being very active in the world of social media, baby Harvick has his own Twitter account already.

“Well Keelan has his own everything because I didn’t want some crazy ass fan getting hold of this Twitter name or his website,” Harvick said. “So he has everything that you could imagine from top to bottom just as more of a personal security piece of mind than anything.”

Harvick did affirm, however, that there was no race vehicle available to baby Keelan, at least at present.

“We’re hoping for no go karts,” Harvick said. “We’re hoping for golf clubs.”

“We’re hoping that we go in a different direction there,” Harvick continued. “But whatever he wants to do.”

With the birth behind him, Harvick is now preparing for what he loves to do this weekend, being back at the track behind the wheel of the No. 29 Rheem Chevrolet. And he is relieved and ready to take on the New Hampshire Motor Speedway.

“You know, it’s nice to come to the race track now to be honest with you,” Harvick said. “Over the last few weeks, the anxiety of just everything that was going to happen with having a baby and knowing that everything is settled at home and everybody is healthy.”

“That was the part I was worried about most,” Harvick continued. “Definitely the most relaxed that I’ve been able to be in weeks coming to the track.”

“Obviously this is a place that Shane (Wilson, crew chief) and his guys have had a lot of success at,” Harvick said of the ‘Magic Mile’. “We’ve been fortunate to run well here as well in the past, so we are just looking forward to getting on the race track.”

While Harvick’s eye will be on a checkered flag, he no doubt will be thinking often of his little one at home.

“He’s just starting to get that little smile where he opens his eyes and looks at you,” Harvick said. “It’s pretty neat.”

“That was the best moment I’ve ever got to experience in my life.”

Eddie D’Hondt, Jeff Gordon’s Spotter, Sees a Team on the Verge

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SM Staff
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[media-credit id=62 align=”alignright” width=”168″][/media-credit]While Eddie D’Hondt has done just about everything in his career, from racing modifieds in the Northeast to spotting for four-time champion Jeff Gordon, he is absolutely sure of one thing.

D’Hondt is firmly convinced that the No. 24 team is on the verge of taking the checkered flag and, once that occurs, that there will be other wins to follow.

“We’ve had some awful good races and we’re so close and on the verge of busting out,” D’Hondt said. “Working with Alan (Gustafson, crew chief) and getting to know Jeff (Gordon) more and more has been very rewarding.”

“Once we finally have our day, it will all come together.”

D’Hondt brings years of racing experience to the spotter’s stand for team 24. He has worked for drivers the likes of Tony Stewart, Kenny Wallace and Bill Elliott, as well as owning his own Nationwide team with Tommy Baldwin and working for Yates Racing.

“Since I left Yates, I’ve been pretty much spotting for teams,” D’Hondt said. “I’ve worked for Kyle Busch the last year and a half and now Jeff Gordon.”

“So, that’s my journey.”

Because of his diversified background, on and off the track, D’Hondt feels that he brings multiple characteristics to the spotter’s stand. But he credits his time behind the wheel as the key to effective spotting from the sky.

“I think having been a driver helps me understand a little bit of the driver’s aspect of it and understanding the cars,” D’Hondt said. “I stay on top of that as best I can.”

“A lot of spotters were drivers at one point so it helps.”

D’Hondt also acknowledges that his spotting style varies, depending both on the type of track and on the type of driver.

“It may vary for sure,” D’Hondt said. “At a speedway race, the driver and spotter talk a lot more.”

“Here at New Hampshire, it’s more the crew chief than me talking,” D’Hondt continued. “I also spot for Justin Allgaier in the Nationwide Series and Miguel Paludo in the Truck Series, so whatever feedback, like tire wear or other trends, I’ll bring it to their attention.”

In his career, D’Hondt has seen many changes in the role of the spotter. And that evolution has kept him constantly busy on the stand, with breaks in the action being few and far between.

“The evolution of the spotter has changed over the last few years,” D’Hondt said. “It used to be when a caution came out, you could take a drink or relax a little bit.”

“Now, there’s a lot more action,” D’Hondt continued. “We’re looking for cars coming around so we don’t hit them or looking for problems in the pit stalls. Pit road is tight and cars are coming at the last second.”

Because of all this action, D’Hondt advises preparation for each and every race is key. And once the race starts, focus is all important, especially with juggling multiple radios as well as seeing the activities on track.

“Two hours before a race, I’ll go up and start getting into my mental mode,” D’Hondt said. “Once the race starts, you could blow a bomb up next to me and I would never notice.”

“I have five radios on, so I’m listening to a tremendous amount of things,” D’Hondt continued. “I listen to the race broadcast, NASCAR, myself, and I have a digital radio when the crew chief talks to me.”

“So, it’s pretty dizzying,” D’Hondt said. “But that’s all just part of me being able to give information when it’s applicable or warranted.”

Of course, because spotters are human too, there are other preparations that have to occur before they came atop the stand.

“There’s a lot of goofy stuff we have to do to prepare for a race, like make sure we got to the bathroom before it starts,” D’Hondt said. “Like at the Charlotte 600, you’ve better have gone because there’s no time once you’re up there.”

“I generally won’t drink anything two hours before a race,” D’Hondt continued “Once the race starts, I’ll take a drink every once in awhile.”

“I also chew gum to keep my mouth going,” D’Hondt said. “The only time we’ll eat anything is in between practices because that’s a decent enough break.”

One of the more recent challenges that spotters like D’Hondt have had to face is the ever changing paint schemes on their drivers’ cars. This played special havoc for D’Hondt last weekend at Daytona when driver Jeff Gordon was in the black Pepsi Max race car.

“We had a black car at a dark race track last Saturday and when the wrecks started happening and there’s smoke, it’s really hard,” D’Hondt said. “You just have to feel your way through it.”

“It’s almost a sixth sense.”

“I come early and walk around the garages to make sure I know what the sponsors are and whose car number is whose because a lot of times, Jeff will ask,” D’Hondt continued. “So that’s part of my job.”

While many consider the role of spotter as glamorous and exciting, D’Hondt affirms the most serious aspect of the job.

“It’s got its glamorous side to it,” D’Hondt said. “But at times, it can be pretty intense.”

“It’s our job to keep the drivers safe first and foremost.”

While safety is supreme, spotters also play important roles as information givers, as well as cheerleaders and encouragers. And of course, that balance depends greatly on the driver, his tenure in the sport and his own expertise behind the wheel.

“Sometimes I feel like cheerleading might be a good thing, but there are other times when you just have to let them concentrate and do their jobs,” D’Hondt said. “So, there’s a little bit of a fine line there.”

“I think it depends on the driver,” D’Hondt said. “With Jeff, as a four-time champion, I don’t have to tell him much.”

“With a second year driver in the Truck Series, he still has a lot to learn,” D’Hondt continued. “I can say, in the right moment, a lot to help him.”

Of all the drivers he has worked with, D’Hondt expresses highest admiration for his current driver and four-time champion.

“Jeff has been there, done that and he knows,” D’Hondt said. “So, I talk a whole lot less when it comes to Jeff.”

“I’ve worked with a lot of drivers with tenure in our sport, but Jeff Gordon to me is the consummate professional,” D’Hondt continued. “He amazes me how he never gets rattled, never takes his anger out on his guys and is just very professional.”

“I like that and I like to carry myself the same way.”

With D’Hondt atop the spotters’ stand and Jeff Gordon behind the wheel, this spotter knows it is just a matter of time until he, his team and driver finally reach Victory Lane. And with one win will no doubt come others as well.

“We’ve had a pretty rough year, not because we haven’t had fast cars or cars capable of winning,” D’Hondt said. “I feel like once we win our first race, it won’t be our last.”

“I feel like now, we’re in a pretty good rhythm,” D’Hondt continued. “And having won in the past, I know I will never lose sight of what winning will mean.”

SRT Motorsports – Sprint Cup Post-Qualifying Quotes – New Hampshire

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Toyota NSCS New Hampshire Post-Qualifying Notes & Quotes

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SM Archive
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