Story By: A2DPR / KODY HARTLAUB RACING – ABBOTTSTOWN, PA – The month of September opened with yet another two-race weekend for Kody Hartlaub. After an impressive top ten run in his 410 sprint car the week before, this time it was all about his team’s primary focus this year, the 358 sprint car.
QUICK RESULTS
Hartlaub was among a field of 28 drivers set to do battle Friday night, September 1st at Williams Grove Speedway. The heat lineups were set using a handicapping system, which put point leader Hartlaub outside the fourth row. That improved to outside row three when two lesser experienced drivers opted to start at the rear of the field.
By the time one lap was complete, Hartlaub was already 4th and poised for more when the caution appeared. On the ensuing restart, he dove into turn one but the hole he thought he saw closed quickly.
With little time to adjust, Hartlaub spun and was collected another car. He pushed off and restarted at the back of the pack, but the car was wounded. He managed to finish 6th to transfer into the A-main in the J Fuels, 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.
There was significant damage to the front suspension but with help from Steve Owings, Doug Hammaker and others, the team patched the car back together to put Hartlaub on track for the feature.
Hartlaub’s car wasn’t its competitive self though and the East Berlin, PA driver just survived to salvage a 19th place finish.
“I made a mistake and paid for it.“, Hartlaub said of the misjudged passing attempt in the heat race. “I owe a big thanks to Steve Owings, Doug Hammaker and everyone else that came down to help us salvage what we could in the feature.“
Upon returning to the shop late Friday night, the team spent several hours swapping their 358 motor into their 410 sprint car so they could race at Lincoln Saturday night.
Saturday night, September 2nd, brought 24 teams to Lincoln Speedway and a pill draw put Hartlaub in row two for his heat race. He quickly secured a handicap spot for the feature with a 2nd place finish in the qualifying race.
The handicapping system put Hartlaub 9th on the grid for the 20-lap A-main. In a steady, workmanlike effort, he methodically chipped his way toward the front, breaking into the top five on lap eleven.
A few laps later, Hartlaub claimed 3rd and on the final circuit took the runner up spot away from veteran Frankie Herr.
It was Hartlaub’s 12th top five finish in 20 starts this season in the 358 sprint car ranks.
“Thank you to my crew, Kevin And Stacy Hartlaub, Austin Funk, Pat Brewer, and David Hartlaub Jr. for the long hours to get it turned around so we could be here tonight.“, Harlaub said.
Hartlaub will return to action at a two-race weekend at Williams Grove Speedway on September 15th, followed by Lincoln Speedway September 16th.