Story By: A2DPR / KODY HARTLAUB RACING – ABBOTTSTOWN, PA – Kody Hartlaub opened up the month of June with two top-ten finishes for his new team, the Trone Outdoors No.39.
As the month moved on and headed towards the annual summer tradition that is Pennsylvania Speedweek, the most grueling test his team would face this season, Hartlaub and crew chief Kevin Frey were focused on continuing to fine-tune the details that would make the East Berlin driver more comfortable and further improve the team’s performance.
CONTINUING CONSISTENCY
At Williams Grove Speedway on June 14th, Hartlaub moved forward in his heat race and started inside the top ten in the main event.
The night had the makings of another top ten, however Hartlaub slipped back a few spots out of the top ten in the early going, then late in the race the night took a turn for the worse when he got caught up in someone else’s accident. The damage ended his night early with a 16th-place finish.
The following night at Lincoln Speedway Hartlaub again moved forward in his heat race, capturing a runner-up finish and securing the 6th starting spot in the A-main.
Hartlaub charged toward the front in the early going, climbing as high as 2nd on lap nine. He slipped back, outside of the top five at the midpoint of the race and ultimately finished 7th.
CHEMISTRY
The June 21st & 22nd weekend brought the final tune-up races at Williams Grove and Lincoln before Speedweek. At ‘The Grove’ Hartlaub recorded another top-ten finish, a 9th in the final rundown.
Saturday’s race at Lincoln may have been the most telling and most valuable of Hartlaub’s first eight races in the Trone 39. He qualified 3rd quickest in the field and went on to win his heat race, but it was the A-main that provided the most valuable experience.
Hartlaub took command of the race from the pole position and remained out front for the first 24 laps of the 30-lap affair. He kept names like Wagaman, Rahmer, and Bollinger behind him.
As the race entered its final ten laps, Hartlaub was holding nearly a straightaway lead, navigating lapped traffic smoothly. With six laps remaining, he attempted to slide a lapped car that was racing in his preferred line but he couldn’t complete the pass.
Another attempt two corners later was the decision Hartlaub would later regret. The slide job killed his momentum and allowed Matt Campbell to close the gap and get by for the lead. The sequence not only stole his momentum, it also took him out of his rhythm and cost him two more spots in the final three laps to officially finish 4th.
“I know what I would do differently next time.”, Hartlaub said of the late-race decision that cost him the lead. “Inexperience bit me. Lesson learned.”
“I’m disappointed we didn’t get the win tonight but I can’t be unhappy about how we have been running only eight races in. We’re all working really well together, we’re competitive, we’re getting better every week, and we’re having fun.”
With a solid first month in the seat of the Trone No.39, Hartlaub appears ready to embark on the PA Speedweek journey. He heads into Speedweek having logged five top-ten finishes in his first eight starts aboard the Trone 39.
“We have got a really good chemistry in the shop and at the track. There has been great communication and collaboration. Kevin and I are working well together, making decisions together, and everyone involved has settled into their roles.”, Hartlaub added.
“As far as in the seat, I was worried about time trialing coming into the season because that was something we didn’t do much in 358’s and I knew it was something I would need to get good at to be competitive in a 410. Racing twice every weekend, many of them time trial shows has helped me tremendously. Not only with qualifying but with racing in general. Nothing beats seat time.”
“I take the history of this sport seriously, so being able to drive the Trone 39, which is an iconic car especially here in PA, means a lot to me and I’m going to work hard to keep this car at the front of the field for as long as I have the opportunity.”
UP NEXT
Hartlaub and team will tackle all ten nights of this year’s edition of the annual summer series.
Fri 6/28 – Williams Grove Speedway
Sat 6/29 – Lincoln Speedway
Sun 6/30 – BAPS Motor Speedway
Mon 7/1 – Lincoln Speedway
Tue 7/2 – Grandview Speedway
Wed 7/3 – Port Royal Speedway
Thu 7/4 – Hagerstown Speedway
Fri 7/5 – Williams Grove Speedway
Sat 7/6 – Port Royal Speedway
Sun 7/7 – Selinsgrove Speedway