(Photo by Brendon Bauman Photos)
GRANITE CITY, Ill. – While spending nearly a month out of the seat of his own winged sprinter, Hunter Schuerenberg returned without missing a beat. Racing in Tony Epperson’s No. 2e wingless ride for “Indiana Sprint Week,” he came back to the winged ranks and spent much of his two nights in Illinois near the front of every race he competed in.
Competing in the first two nights of the Midwest Open Wheel Association Illinois Speedweek, Schuerenberg began the weekend early on Thursday night at Quincy Raceways. 24 outlaw sprints rolled into the pit area for the Workforce 40 event that also featured World of Outlaws Late Models. Schuerenberg quickly re-adapted to winged racing, winning his heat race from the third starting position, which earned him a spot in the dash. After starting third, he briefly attained second before rising star Rico Abreu charged by and moved Schuerenberg back to third.
The dash finish put the Sikeston, Mo. driver third on the main event grid. Going 25 laps, he dropped to fourth early, but soon resounded with a charge into the second spot. Several green flag laps ticked away, and the Roof Bolt Express/Nolen Racing No. 20N was closing in on Abreu for the lead. One mistake was all it took for Schuerenberg to slide too high in turn two and spin to a stop just over the edge of the banking. Restarting from the tail with nine laps to go, Schuerenberg pulled to the infield to conclude his night shortly thereafter.
Night two’s host was Tri-City Speedway, where Schuerenberg scored his lone victory of the season on April 17. One less sprint car attending the Granite City, Ill. track put the count at 23. The night wouldn’t begin with a win in heat race action, but rocketing to a second-place finish from seventh on the grid was sufficient to earn a dash appearance. Starting in third, Schuerenberg dropped one position to fourth.
From that position at the start of the feature race, Schuerenberg attempted to pass third-starting Brad Loyet but couldn’t make his way by. With six laps complete, a caution for leader and recent NASCAR Truck winner Christopher Bell tangling with a lapped car moved Schuerenberg into the third spot. Fellow Sikeston native Jerrod Hull nabbed the third position away in the middle stage of the race, and as Schuerenberg attempted to take it back, the rubber laying on the track brought passing to a halt, and forced him to settle for the fourth-place finish.
Originally scheduled to race his No. 20N on Sunday night at Jacksonville Speedway, Schuerenberg’s plans changed to racing Jeff Walker’s No. 11 wingless sprint at Kokomo Speedway, but rain cancelled that event before it could get underway.
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 July 31 at Gas City I-69 Speedway in Gas City, Ind., on August 1 at Plymouth Speedway in Plymouth, Ind., and on August 2 at Kokomo Speedway in Kokomo, Ind. in the Walker No. 11 410ci wingless sprint entry.
Quick Results
July 23 – Quincy, IL – 410ci Winged Sprint – Heat: 1st (3); Dash: 3rd (3); Feature: 19th (3)
July 24 – Granite City, IL – 410ci Winged Sprint – Heat: 2nd (7); Dash: 4th (3); Feature: 4th (4)
2015 Stats
30 races, 22 features, 1 win, 7 top fives, 12 top tens, 7 DNFs
Social Media
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Website: http://www.hunterpercent.com
Article Credit: Redbeard Promotions