(Photo by Tear-Off Heaven Fotos)
VENTURA, Calif. – After two rough outings on Friday and Saturday nearly two thousand miles apart, Hunter Schuerenberg is seeking redemption this weekend at Jacksonville Speedway in Illinois, the first time in which he’ll race at a track he has raced at previously in 2015. The Sikeston, Mo. racer struggled to find speed at Ohio’s world-renowned Eldora Speedway with the World of Outlaws Friday; a Saturday morning flight to Bob Hope Airport in Burbank, Calif. to compete at Ventura Raceway didn’t offer up much for results, either.
The half-mile Eldora played host to a groundbreaking event with the “Mother of All Sprint Car Weekends,” in which the World of Outlaws and United States Auto Club sprint cars raced on the same track on the same night for the first time in the history of the sanctions. Competing in the World of Outlaws portion of the event, Schuerenberg would face off with 38 other teams; a 32nd-quick lap in qualifying put “Hunter Percent” eighth on the grid in his heat race, where he would finish eighth as well.
The finish moved Schuerenberg to the B-Main; starting deep in the field, in 15th, he would try actively to gain ground, but couldn’t make anything stick, again finishing where he started. “It was the only night I felt totally lost so far,” he remarked, frustrated by the ‘dirty air’ phenomenon that comes into play with winged sprint car racing on bigger tracks. “I couldn’t get within two car lengths of someone without totally losing [the handling on] the car.”
Hoping for a better showing on Saturday, a flight halfway across the country put Schuerenberg at the Ventura County Fairgrounds, one of Southern California’s most storied racing venues, set to drive the Berry Pack No. 73 for Josh Ford Motorsports in the “All-Coast Challenge.” The fifth-mile speedway saw a whopping 50 cars even sign in for USAC/CRA sprint car competition. Schuerenberg, back in a wingless sprint for the first time in two months, powered around the track in 12.743 seconds to qualify ninth. Inverting the top six in each of four heat races, he started fourth but struggled through the ten-lapper, finishing in the eighth position.
Another B-Main berth was on tap, but Schuerenberg would have much better starting position this time around. Going fifth, with the top six transferring, he would remain in the fifth spot for the entire 12-lap event to earn a main event start. Aided by his strong qualifying lap, Schuerenberg would start eleventh in the 40-lap feature. Again trying his hardest to move forward but gradually falling back, he felt it was best to call it a night around the midpoint of the race rather than risk tearing the car up, taking a scoring of 20th.
Schuerenberg would like to thank Roof Bolt Express, Nolen Racing, Mach 1 Chassis, Competition Suspension Inc., AFCO Racing, ButlerBuilt Professional Seat Systems, Hinchman Racewear, Keizer Wheels, High Side Design, and Ron Gorby’s Howard Johnson, as well as all of his fans for their continued support.
Schuerenberg is next scheduled to compete on May 15 at Jacksonville Speedway in Jacksonville, Ill. in the National Sprint League/Midwest Open Wheel Association co-sanctioned "Sprints Gone Wild" event in the No. 20N 410ci winged sprint entry.
Quick Results
May 8 – New Weston, OH – 410ci Winged Sprint – Qualifying: 32; Heat: 8th (8); B-Main: 15th (15)
May 9 – Ventura, CA – 410ci Wingless Sprint – Qualifying: 9; Heat: 8th (4); B-Main: 5th (5); Feature: 20th (11)
2015 Stats
12 races, 9 features, 1 win, 2 top fives, 6 top tens, 2 DNFs
Social Media
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Website: http://www.hunterpercent.com
Article Credit: Redbeard Promotions