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2004 Racing Report Archive
2004 Feature Race results...
3/20 -- TW -- DNQ
4/3 -- GVAT -- 15th
4/9 -- SRP -- 2nd
4/10 -- GVAT -- DNQ
4/16 -- SRP -- 6th
4/24 -- GVAT -- 12th
4/30 -- SRP -- 16th(DNF-Piston)
5/1 -- GVAT -- 13th
5/7 -- SRP -- 24th DNS(crash)
5/8 -- GVAT -- 13th
5/21 -- PV -- 22nd (DNF Ignition)
5/22 -- GVAT -- 12th
6/4 -- SRP -- 12th
6/9 -- CC -- 8th
6/12 -- GVAT -- 14th
6/18 -- SRP -- 15th
6/19 -- GAMB -- 8th
6/26 -- HV -- 8th
6/30 -- CC -- 15th
7/2 -- SRP -- 22nd (DNF - engine)
7/2 -- SRP -- 20th (DNF-Piston)
7/3 -- GAMB -- DNQ
7/9 -- SRP -- 7th
7/10 -- GVAT -- 16th (DNF-crash)
7/17 -- HV -- 11th (DNF-chain)
7/23 -- SRP -- 6th
7/24 -- GVAT -- 18th (DNF - piston)
7/30 -- SRP -- 4th
8/6 -- SRP -- 7th
8/7 -- GVAT -- 17th (DNF-piston)
8/13 -- SRP -- 6th
8/14 -- GVAT -- 9th
8/21 -- GVAT -- 16th
8/27 -- SRP -- 19th (DNF - chain)
9/3 -- PV -- 19th (DNF-piston)
9/4 -- HV -- DQ
9/10 -- SRP -- 19th (dnf-piston)
9/11 -- GVAT -- 9th
9/18 -- GVAT -- 19th (dnf-engine)
9/24 -- SRP -- 3rd
10/1 -- PV -- 7th
10/2 -- GVAT -- 10th
10/9 -- GVAT -- 7th
10/16 -- GVAT -- 16th (DNF-piston)
10/22 -- PV -- 16th (DNF-crash)
10/29 -- HD -- 3rd
10/30 - HD -- 13th (DNF-crash)
Selinsgrove Raceway Park -- 4/16/04
Friday night, Duke Racing made a return trip to Selinsgrove Raceway Park. After a very successful practice session, Duke Racing lined up on the outside of row 3 for the second heat race of the evening. When the green flag dropped, Duke Racing powered forward to the third position. After mounting a challenge for the second position, Duke Racing decided to play it safe and settle for the third spot which was also the final spot to be handicapped to the front of the feature race lineup. Duke Racing was completely satisfied with the King Racing Chassis and made no changes for the feature event. After redrawing for the feature lineup, Duke Racing started on the inside of row 3. When the green flag dropped, Duke Racing stood on the gas ready to charge to the front when the black cloud following the team appeared again as something went sour in the power plant of the Duke Racing entry. The ignition system began to fail, causing the engine to sputter as well a severe lack of speed down the straight-aways. Fortunately, Duke Racing was able to endure the engine difficulties and completed the race running in the sixth position.
Selinsgrove Raceway Park -- 4/9/04
Friday night, Duke Racing returned to their hometown track to make their first ever appearance in a micro sprint after coming off back-to-back karting track championships at Selinsgrove Raceway Park. On this night, Duke Racing tried using a little different setup than what was used in previous weeks and after the practice session, it was apparent that the changes paid off as the 2004 King Racing chassis was blistering the 1/5th mile oval during the practice laps. Duke Racing made no changes to the car before the qualifying event. After lining up on the outside of row 3, Duke Racing quickly stormed into the fourth position on the first circuit around the speedway. A lap later, Duke Racing bolted into the third position off turn 4 and engaged in a three-way battle for the lead. With the top 4 in each qualifying event being handicapped to the front of the feature, Duke Racing decided not to take any chances and rode around in the third position for the remainder of the race to assure the team of a good starting spot for the feature event. Ecstatic with the performance of the King Racing Chassis thus far, Duke Racing made no serious changes for the feature event. By luck of the draw, Duke Racing started on the outside of row 2. When the green flag dropped, Duke Racing was able to get in line with the leaders and held their position through the opening laps. On lap 3, Duke Racing powered off turn four into the third position and wasted no time by moving into the runner-up position on the next lap and set their sites on the leader. After a seemingly endless series of caution flags, speedway officials had to bring out the red flag for a fuel stop with 11 laps remaining. When the race restarted, Duke Racing suffered a fuel load up and lost the second position on the restart as the car began to suffer from a loose condition in turn two. Fortunately, the second place car suffered from mechanical problems with 5 laps remaining and stopped on the back stretch bringing out the caution flag and gave Duke Racing one more shot at the leader. When the green flag waived for the final time, Duke Racing locked in on the leaders bumper and tried all ways to make a bid for the lead, however, the leader was able to block every attempt and Duke Racing had to settle for a satisfying second place finish in their first ever micro race at Selinsgrove Raceway Park.
Greenwood Valley Action Track -- 4/10/04
After Friday nights terrific performance, Duke Racing was pumped to head to the Greenwood Valley Action Track for Saturday evenings events. The night started out full of promise and Duke Racing was storming around the track as well as the top contenders during the practice session. With a great car and the third starting spot for the qualifying race, Duke Racing was very optimistic at the nights potential when it all came to a crashing halt. As Duke Racing was pushed off and started catching the field to start lining up for the qualifying event, Duke Racing suffered a steering malfunction and lost the ability to control the micro sprint at speed and could not get it stopped in time as the King Racing Chassis slammed into the second turn wall causing massive damage to the front of the racecar. Upon return to the pit area, the Duke Racing crew worked feverishly to try to fix the extensive damage. Duke Racing barely completed repairs when it was time to line up last in the B-main with only 3 cars to qualify for the main event. Duke Racing was able to overcome severe handling difficulties due to steering repairs to challenge for the third and final transfer spot with 3 laps remaining. As Duke Racing made a bid for the third spot on the inside of turn one, the third place driver gave no room and forced the King Racing Chassis over the inside of the racetrack, clipping a tire with the left front corner of the car, which spun the Duke Racing entry, ending any chance of qualifying for the A-Main. As they say in racing, one day your a hero, the next day your zero...
Greenwood Valley Action Track -- 4/3/04
Saturday night, Duke Racing made their season debut at the Greenwood Valley Action Track. The practice session saw dry and dusty track conditions that caused the new King Racing Chassis to react very freely on the slick track. After a few adjustments by the hard working pit crew, Duke Racing made it out for another practice session and King Racing Chassis responded with vast improvement. Duke Racing team engineers were confident that they had a handle on racetrack when Mother Nature decided to throw everyone a curve and the sky decided to open up with a plethora of precipitation. After a 2 hour rain delay, Duke Racing lined up for the first of three heat races for the 34 cars on hand. Luck of the draw had Duke Racing starting 9th in the 11 car field on the wet and slick track conditions. When the green flag dropped, the King Racing Chassis roared to life, sliding up to the sixth and final transfer spot when there was a caution flag with 2 laps remaining. On the restart, the field was brake checked going into turn one and Duke Racing was nerfed to the high side, losing traction and the final transfer spot on the final lap. Upon return to the pit, Duke Racing was fairly happy with the performance of the King Racing Chassis, unfortunately they were just a victim of circumstance on a wet, sloppy race track. This was proven during the B-main where Duke Racing started on the pole position and left the rest of the field in the dust as they pulled away to a half track lead in just 8 laps while turning some of the fastest times of the night. Elated with the performance of the new King Racing Chassis, Duke Racing only an air pressure adjustment was made for the feature event. Still suffering fro the poor draw at the beginning of the night, Duke Racing was forced to line up in the 19th position for the feature event. When the green flag dropped for the feature race, Duke Racing slowly started making their way through the heavy traffic. Battling a tight condition due to the track conditions becoming very tacky, Duke Racing slid into the 13th position by lap 10. Near the midway point of the event, Duke Racing was working on entering the top ten when they tried to make a pass under a car in turn two and the car ahead lost control and knocked Duke Racing into one of the construction barrels which guard the infield along the inside of the racetrack. Unfortunately, the barrel because lodged underneath the King Racing Chassis causing Duke Racing to stop on the track to remove the barrel bringing out the yellow flag. After the barrel was removed, Duke Racing rejoined the rear of the field. However, the impact cause a bolt to be pulled out of the clamp of the front sway bar which cause the bar to drop all the way to the bottom of the frame support. This unexpected chassis adjustment turned a slightly tight racecar into a very tight racecar. By the end of the race, Duke Racing was able to rebound to 15th place with a very ill-handling racecar, but overall, Duke Racing was very pleased with the potential shown by the new King Racing Chassis for the rest of the 2004 racing season.
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