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9/9/2013
Cole Wood
Wood Learns Finesse on Slick Track with MOWA at 34 Raceway
Inside Line Promotions – EAGLE, Neb. (Sept. 9, 2013) – Cole Wood learned a valuable lesson in throttle control last weekend.
Competing in a Midwest Open Wheel Association doubleheader at 34 Raceway in Burlington, Iowa, Wood was forced to learn on the fly Friday night.
“I’ve been on a slick track in a 410 (engine), but never that small where I had to learn that much throttle control,” he said. “In a 360 you don’t have to use as much finesse with the throttle and brake as you do in a 410.”
Wood qualified 13th quickest and placed fifth in his heat race, missing a lock-in position to the feature by only one spot. He was forced to compete in the B Main and again ended fifth to earn a transfer to the main event. After starting on the inside of the 10th row, Wood gained a handful of positions to notch a 15th-place result – his 31st top 15 of the season.
“I wasn’t very comfortable at all,” he said. “We just kinda hung out and I was trying to run a lot on the bottom in the slick stuff. I didn’t get it figured out until Saturday.”
Wood qualified 12th quickest on Saturday to earn a spot in the heat race inversion, which started him on the outside of the front row for his heat.
“I got the jump and went into (turn) one and I tried to run the bottom,” he said. “I went in too fast and two or three cars got by me. I tried to make up for it in (turn) three and went in too fast again and jumped the cushion. I made two mistakes on one lap.”
Wood ended sixth in his heat race and was relegated to the B Main, which he started on the pole. After winning the consolation race, Wood started 13th in the feature and placed 11th.
“I think the feature was actually pretty good for us,” he said. “I fell back a little way on the start to 15th or something. I was able to get underneath a few cars when they made some mistakes. I felt a ton better.”
The team hauled to Eagle Raceway for the ASCS Midwest Region’s Nebraska Cup on Sunday. Wood finished sixth in his heat race, which sent him to a 12-lap B Main.
“The heat race was pretty bad,” he said. “I think that we were a little tight and I compounded the issue by trying to run around the top. We started eighth in the B Main. I was in fourth and was sliding a guy for third. Whether I wasn’t clear or he drove into the back of me, I don’t know. I slid him in (turns) one and two and he drove into the back of me.”
Wood ended up missing a transfer position by two spots to end his night.
He is slated to fly home to California and take this weekend off before resuming competition on Saturday, Sept. 21, at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, Texas, with the Lucas Oil ASCS National Tour.
“This weekend I plan on sitting next to the river enjoying some cold Coca-Cola,” he said.
QUICK RESULTS –
Sept. 6 – 34 Raceway in Burlington, Iowa – Qualifying: 13; Heat race: 5 (5); B Main: 5 (1); Feature: 15 (19).
Sept. 7 – 34 Raceway in Burlington, Iowa – Qualifying: 12; Heat race: 6 (2); B Main: 1 (1); Feature: 11 (13).
Sept. 8 – Eagle Raceway in Eagle, Neb. – Heat race: 6 (5); B Main: 5 (8).
SEASON STATS –
58 races, 0 wins, 8 top fives, 16 top 10s, 32 top 15s, 47 top 20s
UP NEXT –
Saturday, Sept. 21, at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, Texas, with the Lucas Oil ASCS National Tour
MEDIA LINKS –
Website: http://www.ColeWoodRacing.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/wood17w
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Cole-Wood-Racing/246046125428603?fref=ts
APPAREL –
Wood has t-shirts and hats available at his race car trailer at every race. For a schedule of events, visit http://www.ColeWoodRacing.com.
SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT – A.R.T. Speed Equipment
Established in 1976, A.R.T. Speed Equipment is a parts and fabrication shop with a huge inventory of sprint car and mini sprint parts. A.R.T. also builds top-notch chassis. For more information, visit http://www.ARTspeedequip.com.
“Everybody at Cole Wood Racing is very thankful for everything that Art and Glen do at A.R.T.,” Wood said. “They help us out with the best of equipment.”
Wood would also like to thank Elk Grove Ford, Roush Yates Racing Engines, Wion’s Body Shop, Keizer Aluminum Wheels, Awesome Racewear, ButlerBuilt Professional Seat Systems, CSI Shocks, Quick Lane Tire & Auto Center, NorCal Boxer Rescue and The Joie of Seating for their continued support.
INSIDE LINE PROMOTIONS –
Inside Line Promotions specializes in affordable public relations, media management and merchandising services for sprint car teams. ILP Founder Shawn Miller leverages professional journalism with new media technologies and social networking to improve your exposure and your sponsors’ return on investment.
To meet the media relations needs of your team, contact Shawn at 541-510-3663 or sprintcarreporter@yahoo.com. For more information on Inside Line Promotions, visit http://www.insidelinepromotions.com.
Article Credit: Inside Line Promotions
Submitted By: Shawn Miller