May 19th, 2001. This would be the first running of the Super MiniCup Cars at Jennerstown Speedway located in the Laurel Mountains of Somerset County, Pa.
To begin with the people at Jennerstown were very friendly and easy to work with. We were given a printed schedule of how the events would be run for the night. Practice was to begin at 5:00 PM with Racing beginning at 7:00 PM.
After talking to a few of the track official and holding a little drivers meeting to inform everybody of how the night would progress it was time to get down to business.
Round one of practice would have us all guessing as to what gear to run, what kind of set up to use, and just what would be the quickest way around this .522 mile track. After a few laps I knew that I definitely had the wrong gear on, Rpm's were on the low side. I decided to stay on the track and get some kind of idea where the car felt fast.
Round two of practice proved to be a little better as far as gearing was concerned, however the car seemed to be struggling for air. Maybe it was the humidity or possibly the altitude. We still were not sure where we would stand when it came to Qualifying.
The Stabley MotorSports/Race Car Graphics Monte Carlo would be the first to take to the track for qualifying, not my favorite spot at all. I could feel that the car was a little faster but I still was not sure if it would be fast enough. It was not long before Matt Wallace pulled into the pits behind me followed by Mike Camp, David Smith, and Jacob Coffin. A few minutes later and the results were in. I had qualified 4th out of 5 cars.
Matt Wallace had captured the pole in his Wally's Iron Works/Flicks Auto Body Thunderbird with a fast time of 25.81, followed by Jacob Coffin at 26.11, David Smith running a 26.18, Then myself (Ken Stabley) with a 26.20 and Mike Camp with a 26.53. Only .72 seconds separated the field.
At the drop of the Green for the feature it was hammer down into turn one I ran up on the bumper of coffin coming out of two and had to let out of it just a little (to early in the race to get hungry). Going into turn 3 we were still 2 wide. Coming out of turn 4 I found myself all alone on the outside groove. Out of the draft! Nowhere near my line!
As each of the next 3 laps ticked by, I would find myself one more spot closer to last place. By lap five I was all the way to the rear of the field. At least now I was able to get into the draft behind the #20 of Mike Camp going into turn two. Coming out of four I slipped to the inside of Camp and Saw the # 7 of David Smith. Coming out of Two I was on his tail. He knew I was there and left me no option but the outside. I got a run coming off of 4 and went again to the outside of Smith, through 1& 2 we were door to door. Still it would be Smith entering turn 3 first. Coming out of 4 I was able to get to the inside and it was a drag race into turn 1. Once again we would be door to door through 1 & 2, this time I had the inside line. I was able to keep just enough of a lead on smith going into 3 to put my car where I wanted to be. Next was the young lion of Jacob Coffin. I had a few car lengths to make up before I would be able to see if I had anything for him. I was able to get a good run coming off 2, which allowed me to pick up the draft off Coffin. This guy was smooth as silk and very defensive. I tried to go low, Coffin went low. I looked to the outside and found that door close real quick. All I could do was wait for an opening. I found a crack going into 1 but it was not enough as coffin would carry the momentum to stay in front coming out of 2. Into 3 I was there again on the inside Coffin slipped up the track just a little and I slipped right into his line. That was enough to get me by and set my sights on the # 4 of Matt Wallace. Unfortunately while all this battling was going on for 2 & 3 Wallace was able to extend a considerable lead. The checkers would wave with Wallace getting the first win at Jennerstown for the Super MiniCups I would get 2nd, Coffin 3rd, Smith 4th and Camp 5th.
Wallace was directed to the Start/Finish line where he would be interviewed and photographed. When he was through I was also interview only to give a little information of the car to the fans.
It was a great night of racing, and we all went back to the pit area to pose for some photo's that will be awarded to the participants at a later time.
Next Race is scheduled at Central Pa. Speedway on May 26th, 2001. See you at the Races!
