Western Speed Racing Rules USAC Pavement Midgets at Vegas & Sprint Team Invade Irwindale
- 21 Sept 2011
"He has won 18 main events this year, he has brought a lot of recognition to the team, and has opened quite a few eyes along the way," team owner, Kevin Gerhardt told K&N Race News. "Brodie, at the young age of 13, is wise beyond his years. His driver feedback along with his father's (Andrew Kostecki) vast years of experience has greatly accented our team and allowed us the dominance we have experienced this year." Following up on Kostecki success in Vegas, team Western Speed Racing's sprint car drivers next invaded Toyota Speedway at Irwindale, California. There Kevin's son, Cody Gerhardt and Tim Skoglund competed on the half-mile paved oval, where the ultra-light, high horsepower sprint cars hit over a 140mph at the end of the straight-aways. The team raced multiple cars in two divisions. Tim qualified second quick and Cody fifth. It was Cody's first race at the facility, which is also the largest track the series runs on. In the main event Cody turned the fastest lap and led 22 of the 40-lap race, and technically finished second. The sanctioning body however would relegate Cody to fourth place, claiming later he jumped a late race restart. Commenting on the decision Kevin said, "Long story short, what the sanctioning body said was proper to do at the drivers meeting, was not what they followed in the main event. On the last restart Cody started at the throw of the green flag and passed for second place and finished in second. The chief steward (who has since quit USAC) decided he jumped the start and was therefore penalized two positions. He was upset, but I was very proud he did not lose his cool and accepted it as a racing incident." Skoglund finished the race in third place, despite having to overcome an early race crash, after another racer ran into him, which put him in the back of the field on the restart. "Tim (Skoglund) got crashed into about five laps into the race, he had to come in the pits and get a flat tire changed and started last. The third place finish on a 40 lapper was real good for the last place restart," remarked Kevin. "Tim actually ran our sprint car when we had Toyota power," continued Kevin. "He started with us in 2006 and 2007 in the Focus midget series and won two championships back-to-back, as well as 12 main events along the way. In some form or fashion Cody has been racing with Tim since he was six-years old." Cody has already clinched the 2011 Rookie of the Year title and he's currently sitting in third place overall for the series championship, with Tim in fourth place and both drivers are only 10 to 15 points out of first place. Team Western Speed Racing heads to Madera Speedway in Madera, California this weekend. "The sprint car team is trying to get a championship for Cody or Tim," adds Kevin. Find K&N products for your vehicle using the K&N application search then use the K&N dealer search to find a K&N dealer in your part of the world. |
