Story By: A2DPR / KODY HARTLAUB RACING – ABBOTTSTOWN, PA – Kody Hartlaub has been building his 358 sprint car program’s depth, preparation and performance over the past few seasons. All of it is toward the ultimate goal of entering the 410 sprint car ranks, not in a rush, but with a solid foundation.
The East Berlin, PA resident has filled the seat of a couple 410 sprint cars for a few races over the past couple years. That was certainly valuable for the experience it provided. As he entered last offseason, (with the help of Pat Brewer and Brewer Home Improvements) Hartlaub decided it was time to start assembling his own 410 program. In late May, it was ready to hit the track at BAPS Motor Speedway during a test-and-tune night. With that test under his belt, he targeted Williams Grove Speedway the following week to make his 2023 410 debut.
The June 2nd show at Williams Grove Speedway drew only twenty one 410 sprint cars, guaranteeing Hartlaub the maximum laps he could ask for to gain valuable knowledge and experience in his own equipment.
Hartlaub started 7th in his heat race and he managed a 6th place finish to secure the 17th starting spot in the 25-lap main event.
In the A-main, Hartlaub appeared to be on his way to a notable season debut in the division. By lap three he was already in 12th and the top ten was in sight.
With ten laps complete, Hartlaub chose to drop off the pace and pull in. The issue wasn’t with the car, it was with the driver. Hartlaub had been feeling ill for the past 24 hours but had rested prior to racing Friday night and felt ok to start the night. The evening took a toll on him though and he made the smart decision to get out of the car. He was officially credited with an 18th place finish but what was gained in the process was very valuable.
“My plan was to just lag back and make laps behind the field but when I did that in the heat race I caught the field pretty quickly, so I thought what the heck let’s race. In the feature I did that and I was pretty happy with how that was going but I started to really not feel very well and knew it wasn’t smart to stay out and try to fight through it. I didn’t have anything to gain from doing that.“, Hartlaub said.
The following night at Lincoln Speedway, after a lot of rest and a visit to the doctor, Hartlaub was back in the seat of his 358 sprint car and rolling to the green flag on the front row of his heat race. Polesitter Justin foster took command at the start but on lap nine, Hartlaub finally wrestled the lead away and went on to win the heat race.
Hartlaub was slated to start 9th in the A-main but unfortunately the rains came before the event could take the track.
Hartlaub planned on racing in the 358 sprint car at Williams Grove Speedway on June 9th, but a late afternoon rain storm washed out the show.
Saturday night, Hartlaub was back at Lincoln Speedway with the makeup feature from the previous week on the agenda, along with the night’s regular show.
Following hot laps, the previous week’s rained out feature led off the action. Hartlaub started 9th and quickly surged into the top five on lap four. Progress stalled there.
Hartlaub held down the 5th spot until lap fifteen, when he slipped back to 6th. On the final circuit he dropped to a 7th place finish in the Brewer Home Improvements, Moose Blocks, Smith Titanium, SRR Engines, Siegel Racing, T&N Solutions, Inch & Co. Real Estate, Bigham Appraisals, Pretzel Boy, HAAS Shocks, Chop Designs, Herr Electric, Hartlaub’s Furniture, Kody Hartlaub Racing No.95.
“Our results in that first feature are on me. The track was different at both ends and we weren’t good at either end because I tuned myself right out of it.“, Hartlaub said.
In the night’s regular show, Hartlaub started on the pole of his heat race and he controlled the race from start to finish, winning by 1.46 seconds.
With the handicap system in play and Hartlaub leading the points, he assumed the 12th starting spot for the 20-lap main event. Unfortunately, the track had started to take rubber during the 410 sprint car feature, so teams were dealing with a narrow, if not single lane, surface from the drop of the green.
Hartlaub managed to battle his way to a 10th place finish but that was as far forward as conditions would allow him to go. With five events now in the books at Lincoln Speedway in 2023, Hartlaub leads the point standings by 50 over Steve Owings.
Hartlaub will strap back into his 410 sprint car at Lincoln Speedway on Saturday, June 17th.
Friday night June 23rd Hartlaub will be back in the seat of his 358 sprint car at Williams Grove Speedway.