3/6/2011
Chris Coker
CCR's Weekend Rundown
It's been an exciting off-season for us, and now we can finally say the season has started! This weekend we traveled to Beaumont, TX for the Smiley's Racing Products ASCS Gulf South Region series opener. 37 stout competitors showed up for the event, including World of Outlaw standout Sam Hafertepe Jr., ASCS National Tour star Wayne Johnson, Sooner Region Champ Sean McClellend, Lone Star Champ Kevin Ramey, and Defending Gulf South Champ Ray Allen Kulhanek. With only 20 starting positions available in the nights feature event, zero mistakes could be made. Unfortunately Chris Coker Racing had a tough break before he even got on the track.
After drawing number 39, giving the BullDig.com #5c a 6th place starting spot in heat number 3, Chris fired the car off for hot laps, and before he was able to make a lap there was an obvious mechanical problem. The rear-end bolts had pulled out of the housing due to a massive parts failure. Fortunately Chris was able to limp off the track without causing permanent damage to the drive-line making a repair possible.
After making the repair there was only one problem... nearly three and a half months since his last time in a sprint car, Chris would need to shake off the rust and shake down the brand new BullDig.com #5c as he battled wheel to wheel with other cars. Needless to say, the situation was high in stress and low in momentum. After a clean start and a green to checkered heat race Chris was able make a last turn pass to secure 5th, leaving him just short of an A main transfer spot. Chris would start 4th in the first of two B-Mains, and after a spirited battle with Logan Bledsoe and 2009 champ Aaron Ruetzel, Chris would again fall just short of making the feature for the second time in the difficult night.
Chris wasn't dissapointed in the team's effort, only in the lack of opportunity "We had 37 cars going for 20 spots last night. We just barely missed the feature in theBullDig.com Triple X after having a bad draw and not getting on the track for hotlaps with a new car we've never had on the track. We were fast, and the car felt good. We just fell behind with the draw and were caught chasing the race track after missing hot laps. If anything I'm more confident now. We just threw a random setup on a car we have no history with and ran with a guy thats been in the top 5 on the national tour so far this year. What if I get to warm up next time!?" Chris said with a smile.
Saturday night the team was prepping for Battleground Speedway in Highlands, TX before the race was ultimately cancelled due to weather conditions. The team is now debating what the next event will be. We will definitely be in Waco on April 1st for the next Gulf South event, and possibly in Mesquite, TX for the National Tour race on March 25th & 26th.
To change the subject slightly, Chris Coker Racing may be mixing it up this year by entering some USAC National Midget events. The first of such events will be at Dodge City Raceway (Dodge City, KS) on April 22 & 23, when CCR teams up with JBM Motorsports to take on the Nation's best USAC Midget teams. Single event sponsorships are available for all Midget events Chris Coker competes in. Contact Chris for more information.
A special thank you to BullDig.com and all of our new fans on Twitter and Facebook. Be sure to follow us for live updates and promotions!
Submitted By: Admin Account