Inside Line Promotions
– HIGHLANDS, Texas (May 4, 2014) – Things are going in the right direction for Ray Allen Kulhanek, who capped arguably his most successful weekend of the season with a podium finish last Saturday at Battleground Speedway.
“It was a lot better,” he said. “I went in the direction I’m used to going in. After the way our season started this year with all the little gremlins, we really haven’t had any finishes to talk about. To get through a weekend and be fast all weekend long and not really fight any issues was kind of a nice break from the way the season has been going.”
The weekend began on Friday at Golden Triangle Raceway Park in Beaumont, Texas, to kick off the ASCS Gulf South Region doubleheader. Kulhanek maneuvered from fifth to third place during his heat race on the narrow track, which earned him enough points to advance into the feature redraw.
“Same old story,” he said. “I drew back there on the fourth row.”
Kulhanek pulled the No. 7 in the random redraw to start the main event on the inside of the fourth row.
“On the very start of the race the guy starting in front of me got on the brakes sooner than I expected,” he said. “I got in the back of him and damaged the nose wing. I’m not sure if that really hurt me though. The track was really one groove around the bottom. The only way you were going to get to pass anyone was if they bobbled and messed up.”
Kulhanek picked up one position to end with a sixth-place result.
The team wrapped up the weekend on Saturday at Battleground Speedway, where Kulhanek powered from fourth place to win his heat race. That earned him another trip to the feature redraw and this time he pulled the No. 2 to start the main event on the outside of the front row.
Kulhanek jumped to the lead on the start and led for approximately the first 10 laps before traffic became an issue.
“We ran up on a couple of lapped cars,” he said. “(The racing lane) was pretty much right around the top and dry around everywhere else. I came up on four or five of them that were stacked together. You had to make a real fast decision and hope you made the right one. I ended up getting hung up for a lap and it let Travis (Rilat) get by me.”
Kulhanek battled with Rilat for a couple of laps through traffic before he was able to gain the advantage. Channin Tankersley then attacked Kulhanek for the runner-up position in the closing laps.
“Me and Tankersley went back and forth swapping spots,” he said. “I think we swapped spots three or four times. With about two or three laps to go I got another shot to go by him, but I got pinched between him and a lapped car.”
Kulhanek ended with a third-place result, which marked his second podium of the season. It also moved him into third place in the ASCS Gulf South Region championship standings.
Kulhanek is scheduled to take the next couple of weekends off before returning to action on May 23 at Cotton Bowl Speedway in Paige, Texas, and on May 24 at Shady Oaks Speedway in Goliad, Texas, with the ASCS Gulf South Region.
QUICK RESULTS –
May 2 – Golden Triangle Raceway Park in Beaumont, Texas – Heat race: 3 (5); Feature: 6 (7).
May 3 – Battleground Speedway in Highlands, Texas – Heat race: 1 (4); Feature: 3 (2).
SEASON STATS –
8 races, 0 wins, 2 top fives, 5 top 10s, 7 top 15s, 8 top 20s
UP NEXT –
May 23 at Cotton Bowl Speedway in Paige, Texas, and May 24 at Shady Oaks Speedway in Goliad, Texas, with the ASCS Gulf South Region
MEDIA LINKS –
Website: http://www.RayAllenKulhanek.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dork.
APPAREL –
Kulhanek will have apparel available for sale at his race trailer throughout the season. For a list of his scheduled events, visit http://www.RayAllenKulhanek.
SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT – J&J Auto Racing
Located in McKenzie, Tenn., J&J Auto Racing has manufactured sprint car chassis and racing parts for more than 40 years. For more information, visit http://www.JandJAutoRacing.com
“Everyone at J&J Auto Racing are probably some of the nicest people in racing,” Kulhanek said. “I talk to them quite frequently. They are always quick to answer phone calls and will get stuff shipped out to you the same day. And they are definitely the safest cars on the market. I don’t have a complaint on them after winning the last four championships running their cars.”
Kulhanek would also like to thank Oilfield Equipment & Manufacturing, Miller’s RV Park, Texas Rotating Equipment, ButlerBuilt Professional Seat Systems, Smiley’s Racing Products, Engler Machine & Tool, Outlaw Wings, Hoosier Racing Tire Southwest, Penske Shocks, Don Ott Racing Engines, Snap Graphics, Frazier and Son Laser Cutting and Simpson Race Products for their support.
INSIDE LINE PROMOTIONS –
Inside Line Promotions specializes in affordable public relations and media management for motor sports drivers, teams, sponsors, tracks, series, events, organizations and manufacturers. ILP Founder Shawn Miller leverages professional journalism with new media technologies and social networking to improve your exposure and the return on investment for your sponsors.
To meet the media relations needs of your program and to join Team ILP, contact Shawn at 541-510-3663 or InsideLinePromotions@gmail.com