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Kulhanek Takes Many Lessons From Knoxville Nationals

(Photo by Jay Hallas)

Inside Line Promotions – KNOXVILLE, Iowa (Aug. 15, 2016) – Ray Allen Kulhanek can’t wait to return to the Knoxville Nationals next year after spending this year’s 56th edition of the 5-Hour ENERGY Knoxville Nationals learning.

“It’s tough to come out here and not get to race 410s very often and to come run Knoxville,” he said. “I’m disappointed. I had a goal to at least be in the C Main and I didn’t reach that goal. Coming to a place like here you definitely learn the rights and wrongs of everything. These guys will make you eat dirt.”

The event began on the wrong foot for Kulhanek, who was forced to borrow an engine to compete after he damaged his 410ci engine during the last outing.

“I want to thank Aaron Reutzel for loaning me a motor, Bruce Griffith for his help and our partners for the support to tackle this event,” he said. “Also, a big thanks to everyone who participated in the GoFundMe deal for our team to help offset our costs.”

Kulhanek kicked off the weekend on Thursday by qualifying 51st quickest, which was one spot out of making the heat races and sent him to the C Main.

“I was a little more comfortable coming into this deal with my engine,” he said. “That threw us off on the gear for qualifying night. We didn’t follow the track very well when it was time to start taking gear out of it. Things like that I learned and it made me open my eyes to a few other things that take place back home that now you’re questioning.”

Kulhanek scratched from the remainder of the night and he returned to the half-mile oval on Friday, when he qualified 30th quickest in his group and placed ninth in a heat race before scoring a third-place result in the C Main. That earned a transfer into the B Main, where Kulhanek advanced from 22nd to 19th.

That lined him up 20th in the D Main during Saturday’s finale.

“Nothing really went in the right direction,” he said after placing 16th. “It was a steady struggle. We kept digging and digging to make the best. I learned a lot that I get to take back home and I’m a lot more prepared to come back and do this next year.”

Kulhanek will return to 360ci competition this weekend when he is set to race on Friday at Heart O’ Texas Speedway in Waco, Texas, and Saturday at Lone Star Speedway in Kilgore, Texas, with the ASCS Gulf South Region.

QUICK RESULTS –

Aug. 11 – Knoxville Raceway in Knoxville, Iowa – Qualifying: 51; C Main: DNS (-).

Aug. 12 – Knoxville Raceway in Knoxville, Iowa – Qualifying: 30; Heat race: 9 (10); C Main: 3 (2); B Main: 19 (22).

Aug. 13 – Knoxville Raceway in Knoxville, Iowa – D Main: 16 (20).

SEASON STATS –

32 races, 3 wins, 7 top fives, 12 top 10s, 18 top 15s, 23 top 20s

UP NEXT –

Friday at Heart O’ Texas Speedway in Waco, Texas, and Saturday at Lone Star Speedway in Kilgore, Texas, with the ASCS Gulf South Region

MEDIA LINKS –

Website: http://www.RayAllenKulhanek.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Kulhanek_Ray

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RayAllenKulhanek/?fref=ts

APPAREL –

Kulhanek will have apparel available for sale at his race trailer throughout the season. For a list of his scheduled events, visit http://www.RayAllenKulhanek.com.

SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT – ButlerBuilt Professional Seat Systems

Based in Concord, N.C., ButlerBuilt Professional Seat Systems manufactures custom seats and distributes a variety of racing accessories, including seat mounts, padding, belts and restraints, steering wheels and helmets. For additional information, visit http://www.ButlerBuilt.net.

“ButlerBuilt Professional Seat Systems are definitely the safest seats on the market,” Kulhanek said. “I’ve had a couple of bad crashes and I definitely didn’t move because the seat did its job.”

Kulhanek would also like to thank Texas Rotating Equipment, Big Bass Tour, Alcon Construction, GoPro, Griffith Truck & Equipment, J&J Auto Racing, Miller’s RV Park, ASI Racing Engines, Frazier & Son, Smiley’s Racing Products, 41 Shocks, Engler Machine & Tool, Outlaw Wings, Hoosier Racing Tire Southwest, Penske Racing Shocks, C4 Graphics, Simpson Race Products and Marvin and Peggy Pearson for their support.

INSIDE LINE PROMOTIONS –

Inside Line Promotions specializes in affordable public relations and media management for motor sports drivers, teams, sponsors, tracks, series, events, organizations and manufacturers. ILP Founder Shawn Miller leverages professional journalism with new media technologies and social networking to improve your exposure and the return on investment for your sponsors.

To meet the media relations needs of your program by joining Team ILP, contact Shawn at 541-510-3663 or Shawn@InsideLinePromotions.com. For more information on Inside Line Promotions, visit http://www.InsideLinePromotions.com.

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