(Photo by Route 45 Raceway)
FLORA, Ill. – “Just a few more laps in traffic, and I think we could’ve had it.” But those few more laps never came for Hunter Schuerenberg, who was just one position away from a win when mist turned to sprinkles, and sprinkles turned to showers, forcing the premature ending of Saturday’s Midwest Open Wheel Association event at Route 45 Raceway in Flora, Ill.
Struggling through a few races as of late, Schuerenberg, who had been handling crew chief duties himself, decided to bring a new face on board. Donnie Cooper, who has numerous accolades as a car owner and crew chief, had been fielding a sprinter for Sammy Swindell early in the season and got the nod from Schuerenberg last week.
Once the first rain delay of the night was successfully dealt with, the pair were fast out of the gate. Schuerenberg’s fifth-starting position for heat race action was met with a second-place rally, the strongest heat race performance of the night among the 23 entrants. Behind two heat winners, the Sikeston, Mo. native lined up third for the dash. He fell back to fourth on the start, and narrowly avoided crisis when he contacted the wall at one point. Able to drive out of it, Schuerenberg held on to finish fourth and secure outside row two for the main event grid.
The opening green flag also benefitted the Roof Bolt Express/Nolen Racing No. 20N, as the outside polesitter, Joey Moughan, was deemed to jump the start. Schuerenberg and Moughan swapped positions for the complete restart. Moughan seemed unaffected by the penalty, and charged back into second when the green flew, with Schuerenberg in tow. As the top three reached the tail of the field, the yellow flag emerged for a slowing car on the back straightaway. Going back to racing, the top two, Korey Weyant and Moughan, pulled away. Unfortunately for Weyant, his event would soon be over with a flat tire, bringing out another caution. Schuerenberg assumed the second spot, but Moughan stretched his legs soon after the restart. Hoping to run him down in traffic, Schuerenberg nearly got his chance within a few laps. A flipping car in turn four illuminated the red lights around the speedway, and racing would never resume after that. Though the driver of the car was perfectly fine, the weather was not. The clouds rained down and rendered the track unusable, with officials deeming the race final.
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 June 26 in the “Sheldon Kinser Memorial” at Bloomington Speedway in Bloomington, Ind. in the Epperson No. 2e 410ci wingless sprint entry.
Quick Results
June 13 – Flora, IL – 410ci Winged Sprint –Heat: 2nd (5); Dash: 4th (3); Feature: 2nd (4)
2015 Stats
20 races, 12 features, 1 win, 3 top fives, 7 top tens, 4 DNFs
Social Media
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Article Credit: Redbeard Promotions