Inside Line Promotions
– KNOXVILLE, Iowa (July 6) – Last weekend was a busy one for Logan Forler, who competed in four features during three days at three tracks in two states.
The results: three top 10s, including a near win at the famed Knoxville Raceway in Knoxville, Iowa, to cap the weekend.
The 18-year-old from Lake Havasu City, Ariz., led the first 13 laps of the 15-circuit feature in the second main event of the 360 twin feature format on Saturday. In fact, Forler led until turn four as he stared at the white flag.
“I was out front by myself and didn’t know that the bottom came in,” he said. “Sometimes it’s better to be in the catbird seat than to be the leader.
“I was frustrated that I lost the race, but I thought to myself that there was nothing I could have done. I’m happy the engine ran. The car ran good. I’m happy that we’re kind of set for the Knoxville Nationals now in the 360s.”
Although he had competed at the Knoxville Raceway a handful of times this season, all but one race had been in a 410 engine. Forler and his team used Saturday as a trial to work on the setup and engine package before next month’s 360 Knoxville Nationals – arguably the premier weekend of racing in that class.
The night began with Forler putting down what he called his best qualifying performance at Knoxville, which earned him the third-best time. He charged from sixth to fourth in his heat race, but as he made a move for third place, the car pushed up into the slick part of the track and he slid back to sixth. He missed directly advancing to the feature, but picked up a transfer by finishing second in the B Main.
The 360 class had twin, 15-lap features, with the second main event lined up on a straight invert based on the cars finishing on the lead lap from the first feature. Forler drove from 17th to 12th in the first half of the first feature before he dropped off toward the end.
“I just kept falling back and falling back,” he said. “I made a few mistakes.”
Forler finished 19th, which gave him the pole of the second main event. He took off from the start and pulled away to a large lead. A red flag with several laps remaining allowed the team to tighten up the car and Forler once again shot out to a big advantage on the top groove.
However, he couldn’t see that one car was gaining on the inside line and as the white flag waved, Forler was passed for the top position. He finished second, which is his best career result at Knoxville.
Earlier in the weekend Forler competed with the ASCS Midwest Region. He finished with identical results in both heat races and features with one common theme: he was moving forward.
On Thursday, he drove from sixth to fourth in his heat race and 13th to ninth in the feature at Junction Motor Speedway in McCool Junction, Neb.
Forler charged from fifth to fourth in the heat race and 14th to ninth in the feature on Friday at I-80 Speedway in Greenwood, Neb.
His trio of top 10s last weekend gives him 12 this season.
Forler is returning to his former stomping grounds in the Northwest for the next couple of weeks. He’ll compete on Saturday at Grays Harbor Raceway in Elma, Wash., before the six-race, six-day ASCS Northwest Region Speedweek next week.
“I’m kind of interested to see how much I’ve actually improved or if I have improved since I left,” he said. “Plus, it’s nice to go back to the tracks that I started on.”
For live updates of Forler and the rest of Speedweek, visit www.insidelinepromotions.com.
QUICK RESULTS –
June 30 – Junction Motor Speedway in McCool Junction, Neb. – Heat race: 4 (6); Feature: 9 (13).
July 1 – I-80 Speedway in Greenwood, Neb. – Heat race: 4 (5); Feature: 9 (14).
July 2 – Knoxville Raceway in Knoxville, Iowa – Qualifying: 3; Heat race: 6 (6); B Main: 2 (1); Feature #1: 19 (17); Feature #2: 2 (1).
SEASON STATS –
33 races, 27 features, 1 win, 5 top fives, 12 top 10s, 17 top 15s, 24 top 20s
UP NEXT –
Saturday at Grays Harbor Raceway in Elma, Wash.
FAVORITE NUMBER –
13: Feature laps led last Saturday at Knoxville Raceway in Knoxville, Iowa.
SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS –
Website: www.rushracingenterprise.com
Twitter: http://twitter.com/ForlerRacing
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Logan-Forler/190774707612190
APPAREL –
Forler has t-shirts, girls crew neck shirts and sweatshirts for sale. The sizes range from small to 3XL and prices are $15-20 for shirts and $30 for sweatshirts. For more information, visit www.rushracingenterprise.com.
SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT – Des Moines Industrial Products
Located in Clive, Iowa, Des Moines Industrial Products sells any industrial product that a race team, business or individual could need.
“Des Moines Industrial Products came on board this year and has helped the team out a lot,” Forler said. “I really appreciate their support.”
Forler would like to thank his sponsors, including Steve Forler Trucking, Shark Racing Engines, Line-X, RN Smith Harvesting and Atomic Designs for their continued support.