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WHITT WINS TWO IN A ROW AT USAC EASTERN STORM |
Monday, June 8, 2009 – Cole Whitt and the USAC National Sprint Car series moved to Pennsylvania for a week of racing the fast, dangerous tracks that are legendary in the world of sprint car racing. Traditionally known for winged sprint car racing, the fans came out in droves to watch the USAC non-wing stars compete. Pennsylvania racing is as tough as the steel workers who created this region, and the drivers in USAC look forward to the large crowds and intense racing.
Night one of the tour found Cole in Bechtelsville, PA at Grandview Speedway. Cole and his no. 67k were decent in practice and qualifying. After a second place in the heat guaranteed Cole a slot in the feature, Cole knew that the tight 1/3 mile dirt oval would be difficult to pass on in the feature. The 10th place result was a solid effort in the feature and was confirmation of the difficulty in making passes.
A rainout on Wednesday night meant that Cole and the Red Bull Bullet no. 67k team would move to Big Diamond Speedway in Minersville, PA. Big Diamond is a track that Cole and his Bullet chassis have found success on in the past. The successful results would continue on this night as well. Sixth quick in qualifying combined with a fifth in the heat race meant Cole would start from the pole on this fast .384 of mile dirt track. Pennsylvania dirt tracks are traditionally smooth and dry slick, making throttle control and consistency key to success. Cole was able to take the lead on lap 1 and lead all 30 laps, holding off USAC point leader Dave Darland for the win.
After the win at Big Diamond, the USAC circuit moved on to the last event of the “Eastern Storm” tour on Saturday night. The 3/8 mile Mercer Raceway was new to Cole Whitt and the Keith Kunz team. The track is fast and slick therefore takes a lot of skill to make passes. After a late pill draw Whitt would qualify last which is truly a disadvantage on a dry-slick track. Cole came out of qualifying 3rd quick and knew that as long as he made it through the heat race he would be near the front. After starting the race in fourth, Cole took to the top side of the track, being one of the only cars that made the high groove work. Cole took the lead on lap 4 and was able to maneuver through lapped traffic, hold off a late race charge from Levi Jones and capture his 2nd straight win on the Pennsylvania tour.
Cole said after three events in five days, “We knew that in order to get back near the point leader in USAC we would have to have a good week. We found some things on the car that helped us with track conditions. I need to thank Keith Kunz Motorsports and all of the guys on the team for working hard at the track to allow us to run so well in the races. I’m looking forward to Sprint Week in Indiana and we’ll keep working for success this season.”
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