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2009 Latest News:
Clyde Martin Speedway Sat August 8th Zack had an excellent run this past weekend at the Clyde. The two of us arrived ready to roll.....and after a 5 lap practice run Zack made the call on a few changes for the car in preparation for our scheduled Heat Race that he was slated to start on the outside pole!! Confidence abound, Zack himself made the chassis adjustments and lined up on the front row. He shot out and took the lead immediately and led every lap to WIN his first Heat Race at Lanco!!!! Then the lineup was posted for the Main: Zackaryah on the POLE and then the rain came. At Lanco, an event is not official if they do not get in and complete ALL Heats and Consi's. So we nervously waited out the rain. Track officials re-ran the track back in and managed to finish the heats and consi's and one complete feature before the rains came again! At around 11pm they finally called off the evening! We are scheduled to make up this main (FROM THE POLE) on August 29th! We are looking forward to this upcoming weekend.....and hope to see you there!!! Kathleen and Zack
After having a two week break.....the team will be back at Lanco this upcoming weekend! Zack has finally lost his "rookie" status as far as starting in the back and our last visit there was FABULOUS! A rain delayed and interrupted even that landed him in 8th place at the checker flag, after running in the top 5 for most of the race! It was a double points, members only, 35 LAP feature!! We look forward to going back this weekend! Path Valley Speedway Fri June 26th Clyde Martin Speedway Sat June 27th We have been rained out and crashed out the past few weeks! Two weeks ago on Sat. June 13th Zack was wrecked by a "competitor" and sent straight into the guardrail at Lanco. Zack ended up being treated in the Care Center. He broke welds on this steering wheel with his helmet when he hit it with his head! The damage to the car was extensive enough we could not continue on that night.
After repairs, we were back to Path Valley last weekend with a new motor by A-main Motors! Wicked is the word!! Zack started on the pole for his heat race and led every lap.....including the all important LAST one, winning his first heat race!!! While running in third place half way through the Feature the motor that operates his wing adjustments separated and came apart....leaving him unable to adjust his wing. Zack could hardly hang onto the car and finished in 10th! Fast forward to this past weekend........... Finally the team had a good weekend!! Path Valley was delayed a bit by a quick shower but once things got underway, we were flyin'!! Again, with our new motor from A-main Motors, we were learning the jetting and feeling it out. Zack started 7th in his heat and finished 5th, giving him a 9th starting position for the Feature. He had a solid run and finished 7th. We headed to Lanco the next day to try it again! This time we were locked and loaded.......ready to RACE!! Zack is still starting in the back in the heats due to Rookie status. Starting 9th, with the top 6 transferring into the Main, Zack had a very tight car and finished 7th just one spot out of the transfer position. This did mean that he had an excellent starting position in the Consi: Outside Pole! At the drop of the green flag, Zack shot out, took the lead and lead the field around to lead the first lap.....almost! Going into the corner, with too much speed, he hit the tires on the infield and spun himself out. Bringing out a caution, with no laps completed, Zack had to line up in the rear. After several more attempts at getting the race underway, Zack re-started in 11th......and passed 9 cars in two laps, finding himself up front again!!!!!! It was way too cool! This motor is AMAZING!!!!! Finishing 2nd in the Consi, Zack lined up in 20th spot in the Main race later that evening. Happy at first to have made the Main, our next objective was to finish it for once!! Zack had a wicked fast car.....stayed out of every bit of trouble......shoved and pushed his way through the thick of it and finished 13th!! It was amazing to see. Simple as that! Zack is coming into himself.....and evidently NOT going to be anyone's target anymore! You go Zack!! Can't wait til this Friday............... See you at a track! Kathleen and Zack
Path Valley Speedway Friday May 22nd and Clyde Martin Speedway Saturday May 23rd A fabulous weekend of exciting racing! Friday night at Path Valley was another frustrating evening. Zack had a great warm up which led to an even better start to our heat race……until the shifter cable broke. Stick in 5th gear, Zack wisely came off the track, regulating him to a start in the back of the Feature race later that evening! Starting in the rear of the Feature, Zack was able to finish 12th despite having a really loose car to contend with. We were not thrilled that we had missed tire call, but at least we were heading toward the front and finished!!! We knew we were finally enjoying some good karma, and we were very excited that the next day we would get chance to do it all again!! …….and BOY what the next day would bring!!!!!!
Saturday was a big day. Clyde Martin Memorial Speedway's Memorial Open Race! This race was a non points race and a wonderful opportunity to NOT have to start in the rear because we are considered a rookie!!!! Zack was able to pull a low number and actually qualified on the pole for his heat race. There were over 40 cars.....and only 24 would make it into the Main Race. Four heat races, with the top 4 transferring. Zack started on the pole of Heat #4 and DROVE AWAY!! He led for 7 laps, until our friend and competitor "Flyin' Dave Falini" was able to over take Zack and they finished one-two 3 laps later! We were thrilled to be in the Main Race. Having finished 2nd in the 4th heat, our quick math told us we would start eighth in the Main! Word filtered through that the field had been inverted: The top eight, which means we were now on the pole for the race!!!
Savanna Kali wishing Uncle Zack "Good Luck" Nervous anticipation, as we finally had a chance to start up front. Starting in the back of the field week after week is very frustrating especially at Lanco where the back is a constant wreck-fest!!! We were finally going to be able to run up front, in a car we knew was FAST!!!!!! Ultimately more changes were made to the car as we put harder tires on and adjusted our corners. We were ready to go! Hearing " ON THE POLE FROM ELIZABETHTOWN PA ZACK FOUSE" was awesome! On the start, Zack shot out into the lead and pulled a car length away from Richie Hartman. A caution before the lap was scored required a second restart and on this one, Richie got Zack pretty quick and Zack fell in behind him. Zack drove incredibly hard and after 12 laps was in 4th spot, not allowing the three cars in front of him to drive away and forcing everyone trying to get around him to work for it dearly!! Around the time his RR tire should have been getting the heat to light up, he started to slide in the corners and push out horribly. His next lap past us allowed us to see his RR tire was going flat......almost gone. Zack, having no clue, stuck it out for a few more laps before finally spinning and creating a caution. He still had no clue until he came off the track and I met him and had to break the news. Again, there are no words!!!!!!! Inspection of the tire would show that the bead lock had separated, creating a slow leak and again we were heartbroken of what might have been. It was bittersweet, since at least we KNEW were were good and not junk!! We will keep at it, obviously!! This upcoming Friday is a WINGLESS points race at Path Valley. Zack absolutely is looking forward to that. And we will see what we have for Lanco again this Saturday! All we can do is keep going forward!! See you at a track!
Kathleen and Zack
Path Valley Speedway Friday May 15th and Clyde Martin Speedway Saturday May 16th Friday night at Path Valley was a typical spring evening! Cool temperatures and HOT racing! Zack had an awesome car. He had a great heat race and qualified 6th for the Feature Race. He ran 6th, and then 4th!! With only 6 laps to go a caution came out and of course.........SOMETHING happened! A tire issue, causing the right rear to grow....giving us too much stagger. The handling went away and although Zack adjusted as much as he could, he was diminished to a 10th place finish! Still, a top ten finish and FINISHING a race was nice for a change! . We have such a solid car. It has been disheartening to not finish due to no fault of our own! So we were thrilled to finally have broke the bad luck streak!!!!! Lanco on Saturday night was touch and go with the weather. With severe weather forecasted and all around us, we were anxious to get things underway! Zack had a decent warm up and started 9th in his heat. ( still starting in the back due to Rookie status and no points from last year) Top 6 transfer into the Main, so he had his work cut out for him. He drove his heart out and drove an excellent race, finishing SOLID in 5th!!!!! WE MADE THE MAIN!!!!!!! Unfortunately Mother Nature had her own plans and the rains came after the first race of the evening......so we will have to wait until June 13th to make it up! In hindsight, it is probably for the best.....we ended up with a bent front axle and right side nerf bar destroyed. So now, we will at least have a chance to make repairs......although I bet we coulda' had some fun!!!!!!!!
See you at a track!
Kathleen and Zack
Path Valley Speedway Friday May 8th and Clyde Martin Speedway Saturday May 9th The team showed up filled with anticipation and we were excited and very hopeful. Changes made during the off season, upgrades to the car and the skill of our driver has us on pins and needles waiting to get things underway this year! Zack had a fast fast car. After an encouraging practice run and heat race, Zackaryah started 9th in the Feature Race out of 21 total cars. With three laps to go, running strong in fourth place and knocking on the door to the third place spot. .Zack held his position coming out of turn two while the 5th place car tried to get a run underneath him and take his line. That driver drove up onto Zack's LR tire and proceeded to flip himself. Damage to us was a ripped off LR shock (of course it was the new adjustable one) and the pipe ripped off the car! Zack was extremely frustrated with only just a few laps to go. We were done.
The next morning repairs were underway. The team worked together to get parts picked up, the repairs made and everything ready in time to head to Lanco for Saturday night racing!!! As this was Dad's Birthday and he was along, we were enjoying the day and hoping to make him proud!! Racing, as usual for Lanco, was tough. Over 30 cars showed up for the 270 class with only the top 24 making the Main. Because of our rookie status and having no points from last year to base on, we must start in the rear of our heats at this point. Zack started last.....11th. Top 6 transfer into the Main race. Zack finished 8th, which gave him a 4th place starting position in the Consi race for the Main. Nerves were raw....but Zack was ready. Knowing he just needed to hold his position he was more than ready to get the job done. Racing in a car that was almost PERFECT Zack held his position and with bated breathe we watched as the laps wound down. With three laps to go coming out of turn four in the middle of a three-wide battle, the car to Zack's outside was muscled up a bit by Zack. Going in to the straight Zack suddenly slowed, bringing out a caution!!! The contact with the car resulted in the nerf bar of the outside car catching in Zack's RF tire and sheering off the valve stem!!!! With three laps to go, being solid in fourth place, we were in and then out of the Main Race that fast! Devastating does not even begin to cover it. Words can't describe the emotion.
So we have next week to look forward to. The old catch phrases "That's racin' " and "Get 'em next time" are what we are left with!! All I have got to say is WATCH OUT!!!!!!!
See you at a track!
Kathleen and Zack
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