(Photo by Collin Markle Photography)
ORRVILLE, Ohio – After starting out the season with multiple nonwing sprint car appearances, Hunter Schuerenberg plans to return to winged racing this weekend, in preparation for his upcoming stretch with the World of Outlaws. The previous weekend’s events saw Schuerenberg take a seventh-place result with the United States Auto Club at Bloomington (Ind.) Speedway before battling through difficult conditions at Orrville, Ohio’s Wayne County Speedway with the All Star Circuit of Champions.
To start the weekend off in Seth Motsinger’s Kistler-powered Eagle No. 2 at Bloomington, Schuerenberg rocketed around the World’s Fastest Red Clay Quarter Mile in 10.963 seconds to align himself fifth among the 35 drivers to qualify. The top-six invert in each heat race didn’t slow down the Sikeston, Mo. native, as he hustled through to a second-place heat result after starting fifth.
Earning back his qualifying time and the invert position that went with it for the night’s main event, “Hunter Percent” lined up just behind polesitter Chad Boespflug, in the third position. Soon after the drop of the green, Schuerenberg would look for combat with Boespflug and former USAC champ Brady Bacon. Bacon took the top spot away early, and Schuerenberg would rally by Boesfplug on the high side shortly after. Continuing to use the outside lane would eventually bite Schuerenberg; while closing on Bacon for the lead, he slid the machine too high over the cushion and slipped back several spots. Time ran out before he could make a full recovery, and finished in seventh.
For Saturday night’s racing action, Schuerenberg would transition back into the Nolen Racing No. 20N for the first time this season. At Wayne County Speedway, he was one of 30 competitors in action with the All Star Circuit of Champions. He hoped to shake off the rust early, as the first car on track to time in. The result was a 14.969-second effort that would put him 17th overall, and seventh in the first of three groups; thus, he’d start heat one from seventh. In the end, he’d neither gain nor lose position, narrowly missing out on the transfer with a seventh-place result.
In the 12-lap B-Main, Schuerenberg took the green flag from outside the front row. He raced with long-time All Star racer Andrew Palker early, and ultimately finished in third, but still earned his way into the main event. Going from the 21st position, Schuerenberg wasn’t making any progress early, and retired his entry after seven laps, taking an official scoring of 23rd.
Schuerenberg would like to thank Roof Bolt Express, Nolen Racing, Mach 1 Chassis, Eddie Gilstrap Motors, Competition Suspension Inc., AFCO Racing, ButlerBuilt Professional Seat Systems, Hinchman Racewear, Keizer Wheels, Brown & Miller Racing Solutions, Smith Precision Products, 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 April 22 at Attica (Ohio) Raceway Park with the Fremont/Attica Sprint Title Series, and on April 23 at Atomic Speedway in Chillicothe, Ohio with the Ohio Sprint Car Series, both in the Nolen Racing No. 20N 410ci winged sprint entry.
Quick Results
April 15 – Bloomington, IN – 410ci Wingless Sprint – Qualifying: 5th; Heat: 2nd (5); Feature: 7th (3)
April 16 – Orrville, OH – 410ci Winged Sprint – Qualifying: 17th; Heat: 7th (7); B-Main: 3rd (2); Feature: 23rd (21)
2016 Stats
3 races, 3 features, 0 win, 0 podiums, 0 top-fives, 1 top-ten, 2 DNFs
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Article Credit: Redbeard Promotions