By Bill W
May 3, 2011 – After a night of issues on practice night Friday amounted to nuisances more than anything. Sprint car driver, Chad Humston, and the Mark Burch Motorsports #1m team competed in Knoxville Raceway’s season opener last Saturday night. After finishing 2010 with eight wins, including two at Knoxville, there is much anticipation surrounding the team that will campaign an “outlaw” type schedule in 2011. They are deciding on this weekend’s activities that may either be in Kansas or back at Knoxville.
With some heavy hitters on the 360 side, Chad timed in well during qualifications with a lap good enough for third quick amongst the 27-car field. “I thought that started our night out well,” says the Giltner, Nebraska native. “I thought the car was fast all night. We had some issues on practice night that we got corrected. The track wasn’t the best for the feature, but we’ll take what we can get.”
With a heat invert of six, Chad cruised to second, thanks to owner Mark Burch, crew chief Marvin Brees, Cal Werner and “Papa” Humston. “We’re out there to win every race,” says Chad. “That’s something we always try to do. Mark and Marvin really had the thing working well in the heat. I just wish we had the same type of track for the feature.”
Unfortunately, the track became an uncharacteristically single-groove oval as the main event began. With an invert of twelve, Chad’s third quick time of the night saw him start outside row five. It was tough sledding, and after spending much of the race treading around eighth, he would settle for an eleventh place run. “We were able to move up to eighth there,” he says. “Late in the race, we had a car get a little goofy in front of us. Instead of taking a chance and getting by him, and possibly getting into trouble, I stayed behind him and ended up getting passed on the last lap. Ninth, tenth, eleventh…it wasn’t worth tearing the car up for one or two spots.”
Looking back, the team knows the racecar was a fast one, even though track conditions prevented it from seeing its potential. All in all, it was much better than an outing a month ago at I-80 Speedway that ended up going up in smoke. “I told Mark that I thought it was a ‘Successful Bummer’,” says Chad. “We had a good night for the most part. The car ran really well, and we had it hooked up. It was just a bummer that the track took rubber.”
Weekend plans are pending. “We’re debating on going to Dodge City (NCRA), which we have on the schedule, or Knoxville,” says Chad. “It’s kind of up in the air. The two weeks following, we’ll be in Knoxville. We are trying to stay a little closer to home this year if we can, but Dodge City is probably about the same distance as Knoxville.”
New Marketing Partners Needed and Welcomed
The Mark Burch Motorsports team is always looking to work with new partners to help them achieve their advertising goals. For more information please contact Mark at mark@markburchmotorsports.com!
Online
To keep up with Mark Burch Motorsports, check them out online at http://www.markburchmotorsports.com/!
You can also follow Chad, of Chad Humston Racing, by checking him out online at http://www.chadhumston.com/!
For weekly updates on Mark Burch Motorsports, join our mailing list by emailing “MB Motorsports” to sprntcar@hotmail.com.
Partner of the Week: Hoosier Tire Great Plains
Hoosier Tire Great Plains has been serving the Kansas, Nebraska and Colorado area since 2001. All employees of Hoosier Tire Great Plains are directly involved with race teams either as owners, drivers or pit crewmembers. What this means to you the customer is racing advice that has been tested on the track first, and then findings are passed on to you, the customer. Hoosier Racing Tires are the best on the market and Hoosier Tire Great Plains also stocks a full assortment of racing accessories to give you the best advantage. Contact them toll free at 1-800-651-5164, or visit them on the web at www.HoosierTireGP.com!
Mark Burch Motorsports
The mission of Mark Burch Motorsports is to be an innovator in the unrefined business of Sprint Car racing on dirt, while representing our sponsors and manufacturers in a professional and positive manner both on and off the track. It is our goal to develop and improve our winning spirit and carry on our winning tradition by utilizing the growth of close personal relationships throughout our organization. This pursuit of excellence is the fuel that feeds the fire of our souls.
Mark Burch Motorsports would like to thank the following primary sponsors: Engler Machine and Tool, Inc., Hoosier Tire Great Plains, Wireless Amber Alerts, Wolfweld Chassis, OE Parts Megastore, Smiley’s Racing Products, Arrow Truck Sales – Kansas City, MO, Whitetail Paradise, Triple R Tire, S&S Welding and Vortex Racing Products.
Mark Burch Motorsports would like to thank the following product sponsors: Schoenfeld Headers, Total Seal Piston Rings, Manton Push Rods, Ultra Lite Brake Components, Pro Shocks, Dyers Top Rods, King Racing Products, Speedway Motors, Weld Racing, Hoosier Tire, Harris Decals, Eckley Racing Engines, Rage Fuel Systems, Electromotive Engine Controls, Huggins Cams, Wireless Amber Alerts, National Rod Ends, Wulff Pumps, Shaver Wesmar Gear Drives, CV Products and Saldana Racing Products.