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Van Dam Overcomes Vibration, Power Steering Failure at Cocopah Cup Challenge

(Photo by Malcolm White)

Inside Line Promotions – SOMERTON, Ariz. (Nov. 12, 2013) – An obnoxious vibration hampered Henry Van Dam during his final race weekend of the season.

Van Dam got off to a rough start on Friday at Cocopah Speedway during the Cocopah Cup Challenge with the Lucas Oil ASCS National Tour.

“I thought over the weekend we were not that great, but not that bad either,” he said. “On Friday night we fought a bad vibration and had a power steering gear let go. We didn’t learn much because we were fighting those issues.”

After advancing from fifth to third place in his heat race, Van Dam lined up on the inside of the seventh row for the 25-lap main event. To go with the vibration, he lost his power steering early in the feature.

“The vibration was there all night,” he said. “A lap into (the feature) I could feel something was wrong with it. It was kinda coming and going. By Lap 8 or 9 it got to be too much. It felt like I was going to wreck myself or someone else so I decide to pull to the infield.”

Van Dam ended with a 24th-place result and the team decided to switch rear ends and the driveline prior to Saturday’s season finale.

It did the trick as Van Dam started on the pole of his heat race. He led most of the race before Logan Forler was able to take the top spot in traffic in the closing laps.

“We had a good start,” Van Dam said. “I caught a lapped car where I really didn’t want to catch him and Logan capitalized on it.”

Van Dam placed second in the heat race, which earned him enough points to advance to the feature. After starting 15th in the 30-lap main event, Van Dam quickly worked toward the top 10.

“I felt like we got a pretty decent start,” he said. “I passed a few cars. I got racing with some guys and got frustrated and fell back a few positions. Then a guy spun in front of us in (turns) one and two. I wasn’t sure where he was going to go and I checked up pretty much to an idle. That allowed a few cars to pass me and the cars in front of me to get further ahead. About halfway through the race we were able to start picking them off. Not a bad race, but not what we were happy with.”

Van Dam rebounded to charge to an 11th-place finish to cap his season. It marked his 35th top 15 of the year.

QUICK RESULTS –

Nov. 8 – Cocopah Speedway in Somerton, Ariz. – Heat race: 3 (5); Feature: 24 (13).

Nov. 9 – Cocopah Speedway in Somerton, Ariz. – Heat race: 2 (1); Feature: 11 (15).

SEASON STATS –

46 races, 1 win, 11 top fives, 25 top 10s, 35 top 15s, 41 top 20s

MEDIA LINKS –

Website: http://www.HenryVanDam.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/VanDamRacing

VIDEO –

Here is a link thanks to ARRacing Videos to Van Dam’s victory at Grays Harbor Raceway on June 15: http://youtu.be/sFPjfxd5Vgs

APPAREL –

Van Dam has t-shirts and sweatshirts available at his racing trailer at every race he competes in. For his schedule, visit http://www.HenryVanDam.com.

SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT – Big Bob’s Flooring Outlet

Big Bob’s Flooring Outlet has the largest and most complete selection of quality in-stock carpet, ceramic tile, sheet vinyl, natural stone, area rugs, laminate and hardwood flooring in the Yuma, Ariz., area. For more information, visit http://www.MyBigBobs.com.

“Big Bob’s Flooring Outlet is a big supporter of racing in Yuma and we are very excited to be able to partner with them,” Van Dam said.

Van Dam would also like to thank Kovash Logging, Johansen Excavating, Les Schwab Tire of Enumclaw, Van Dam Dairy, Village Green Resort, Enumclaw Xpress Lube, Bob and Joan Shumway, Kellan and Kelsey Hall, Foothills Auto Supply, American Powder Coating, Pete Vos, Clems Enumclaw Powersports, Char’s Barber Shop, Wesmar Race Engines, Factory Kahne, A.R.T. Speed Equipment, SpeedMart, Van Dam Farms and Rich Van Dam Dairy for their continued support.

INSIDE LINE PROMOTIONS –

Inside Line Promotions specializes in affordable public relations, media management and merchandising services for sprint car teams. ILP Founder Shawn Miller leverages professional journalism with new media technologies and social networking to improve your exposure and your sponsors’ return on investment.

To meet the media relations needs of your team, contact Shawn at 541-510-3663 or sprintcarreporter@yahoo.com. For more information on Inside Line Promotions, visit http://www.insidelinepromotions.com.

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