From Paul Joiner
(April 5th 2011 – New Braunfels, TX) This past weekend was one for strong optimism for the Chris Coker Racing Team. The weekend opened up in Waco, TX at Heart O’ Texas Speedway the 2nd race of the young ASCS Gulf South Season. A very strong field was on hand with 37 in the pits. Coker’s Oil Medics, Rod End Supply, Triple X #5c was fast from the time they unloaded, finishing a strong 2nd place his heat, advancing him into the Feature.
Chris would start 13th in the 30 lap feature, and run between 12th and 10th the majority of the race. With time running out and the track coming to him, he found his groove in the remaining laps and made a final turn pass to capture 8th. This gave the team their first top 10 of the season and moved them to 10th in points after the first two races.
The second part of the weekend would see the team pull into Speedarama Raceway in Lufkin, TX. Starting the night off in strong fashion once again, Chris would start 4th and finish 2nd in his heat, placing him 5th overall in passing points going into the redraw. However, the momentum quickly turned on the team as Chris experienced some issues with the throttle hanging prior to the green flag dropping. After running in the top 5 for the first few rounds, Chris’s brakes began to wear and overheat. Chris soon faded to mid pack. During a restart with only 6 to go Chris brushed the wall in traffic and retired to the infield, in a conservative move to save his equipment.
“When your running in the pill draw format and 37 cars show up, you have to be lucky and good, to make the feature each night. We had a little of both going for us this weekend in our heats. I think I had a top 5 car Friday, but I held back a little didn’t take too many chances with the new car.
Saturday, the slick bottom and hard/heavy cushion was something new for me that I haven’t really seen a lot of, and when the throttle started sticking I went into conservation mode. I wanted to finish the race, but it just got too risky and I was having a real hard time getting the into the corner.
I learned a lot this weekend, with the help of a few friends. We keep getting better each night, and I don’t see that changing any time soon.
The next events on the schedule for the Chris Coker Racing team will be April 15th and 16th. The team will head to Golden Triangle Raceway in Beaumont, TX and Royal Purple Raceway in Baytown, TX with the ASCS Gulf South. Both tracks always bring in excellent crowds and put on spectacular events. You should be able to catch Friday night’s action from home on the Texas Dirt Network (www.ustream.tv/channel/tdngtrp).
Chris has a brand new website presented by Driver Websites at www.chriscokerracing.com be sure to check it out. You can keep up with the team all season long on Facebook (www.facebook.com/ChrisCoker5c) and Twitter (http://twitter.com/ChrisCoker5c)