Consistency and Preparation Key to Successful Start to 2023
Abbottstown, PA – June 2, 2023
by Addicted2Dirt PR & Media Mgmt
Photo Credit: Jeremy Zarfos Photography
Kody Hartlaub claimed the Hard Charger award at Lincoln Speedway Saturday night, May 20th, by executing an exciting charge from the back of the field.
On the May 19-20 weekend, Hartlaub passed a whopping total of 25 cars during competition at two central Pennsylvania tracks. It was a flashback to the 2022 season when he often found himself working hard to overcome challenges and passing numerous cars to salvage a night.
At Lincoln, Hartlaub proved that whether he starts on the front row or near the back, he will be a factor this season 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.
Date: May 19, 2023
Track: Williams Grove Speedway
City, State: Mechanicsburg, PA
Quick Stats: 27 cars, Heat 4th (8), A-main 6th (11)
Date: May 20, 2023
Event: 358 Summer Series
Track: Lincoln Speedway
City, State: Abbottstown, PA
Quick Stats: 33 cars, Heat 5th (8), A-main 5th (18)
Date: May 27, 2023
Event: 358 Summer Series Dirty 30
Track: BAPS Motor Speedway
City, State: York Haven, PA
Quick Stats: 29 cars, Heat 1st (3), A-main 3rd (2)
Solid Night at The Grove
Friday night, May 19th, Hartlaub was part of a 27-team field for the 358 sprint cars at Williams Grove.
The handicap format was now in place, so Hartlaub’s success thus far in 2023 put him deep in the lineup on the outside of row four for heat number two. He managed to move up to 4th by the time the checkered flag waved on the 8-lap qualifying race.
With the feature lining up straight up from the heat race results, Hartlaub was placed 11th in the lineup for the 20-lap main event. He raced his way to 6th in just four laps but his progress stalled there. It was a solid night but it was his first finish outside the top five since opening day on March 26th.
Letting It All Hang Out at Lincoln
The following night, the 358 Summer Series event at Lincoln Speedway drew a quality field of 33 cars. Four heat lineups were set by a pill draw. The top five finishers would transfer to the A-main but only the top two would be handicapped.
The draw didn’t help Hartlaub much more than the handicap system did the night before. Once again, he lined out outside row four for the second heat race of the night.
Hartlaub was able to surge into 5th on the opening lap but that was the limit of his progress on the narrow, early program racing surface.
The outcome of qualifying put Hartlaub behind a lot of good cars to start the A-main. He would take the green in the 18th position.
Hartlaub’s team continued to adjust on his No.95 throughout the night, dialing it in. Meanwhile the racing surface widened. When the green lights flashed on for the 25-lap main event, the East Berlin, PA resident went right to work.
Hartlaub charged forward seven spots in just the first five laps. By lap eight he had cracked the top ten. From there, it was a methodical effort to chase down and pick off competitors.
When the checkers fell on the event and the dust had settled, Hartlaub had cracked the top five yet again, passing thirteen cars to get there.
Summing up Friday and Saturday night, Hartlaub passed a grand total of 25 cars to turn in finishes of 6th and 5th on what could have very easily been two very tough finishes outside the top ten instead.
Getting Dirty at BAPS
Last Saturday night, May 27th, BAPS Motor Speedway played host to the most lucrative Central Pennsylvania event of the season for the 358 sprint cars, the Dirty 30.
The event provided a unique chance (for 358 sprint car teams) to earn their starting spots based on their time in group hot laps, rather than at the hands of a random pill draw. Hartlaub turned 2nd quickest in his group, with the invert putting him inside row two to start for his 8-lap heat race.
Hartlaub chased the leader for the first half of the race, then finally on lap six wrestled the lead away from race-long leader, Chris Frank, to take the win.
The win was key to Hartlaub’s night because the PA Speedweek format was in use. That meant the heat winner and the quick timer would make the redraw for a top eight starting spot in the feature. Since Kody wasn’t the quick timer in his group, winning was the only way.
The redraw for the A-main, dubbed the Dirty 30, went well for Hartlaub. He drew the number two pill to get the outside front row starting spot alongside polesitter Logan Rumsey.
Hartlaub was running 2nd at the completion of the opening lap but slipped back to 3rd the next trip around. That’s where he would be the rest of the way. He was within striking distance of the runner-up spot much of the night but was never able to get by.
2023 So Far
The first two months of Hartlaub’s 2023 season have been remarkable. Eight races into the season he has seven top-10 finishes, including five podium finishes, two of which are wins.
“I’m really happy with our consistency and how we have been able to move from the old tire to the new tire while keeping our program where it needs to be.“, Hartlaub said. “I’m also happy about how we adjusted and overcame our initial test session and race. We struggled a lot those two nights but put our heads together and made changes that got us going.”
“Honestly, my only disappointment so far was at BAPS on Saturday. Don’t get me wrong, it was still a good finish, but we went backwards. We were just off a little. I’d like to have that one back, change a couple things I did, and do it again.”
Up Next: 410 AND 358 Action
Kody Hartlaub will break out his 410 sprint car this week at Williams Grove Speedway on Friday, June 2nd. He has run a few races in other cars in recent years, but this time he will be in his own car.
Last winter he purchased a new Eagle chassis. He also picked up a used 410 engine from Danny Dietrich.
“I plan to run five or so 410 shows this year at various tracks. The goal is to get valuable seat time with the new car and just make steady progress each and every week.“, Hartlaub said.
Hartlaub tested his 410 car at BAPS Motor Speedway a couple weeks ago to get ready for his first competitive action of the season in the division.
“Our goal is to move to 410’s full time in the next year or two. We’ll have to see how things go but that’s the goal“, Hartlaub shared.
Saturday night June 3rd Hartlaub will be back in the seat of his 358 sprint car at Lincoln Speedway.
Season Stats: 358 Division
8 races, 2 wins, 6 top 5’s, 7 top 10’s, 7 top 15’s
Trivia Question
The answer to last week’s trivia question is Kody Hartlaub’s hometown is Littlestown, PA!
Now, on to this week’s question. What is Kody’s favorite TV show?
Hint – Did you know Kody has a website? You might want to visit KodyHartlaub.com!
The answer in the next press release!
Partner Spotlight
SRR Engines has been a race car engine builder for over 30 years from south central Pennsylvania.
SRR specializes in performance street and dirt racing engines.
Find them on Facebook by searching SRR Engines to contact them or learn more!
(717) 515-3271
steverucker05@gmail.com
KODY HARTLAUB RACING
Follow Kody’s season at: A2DPR.com/latest-news
Kody Hartlaub Racing on Facebook: Facebook.com/KodyHartlaubRacing
Kody Hartlaub on Twitter: Twitter.com/KodyHartlaub
THANKS TO OUR PARTNERS!
The entire team would like to express their appreciation to all their partners for the support during the 2023 racing season!
Brewer Home Improvements, LLC
MooseBlocks.com
Smith Titanium
SRR Engines
Siegel Racing
T and N Solutions
Inch & Co. Real Estate
Bigham Appraisal
Pretzel Boy
HAAS Shocks
Chop Designs
Herr Electric
Hartlaub’s Furniture, Inc.
- administrator on Jun 07, 2023
- Article Date: 6/2/2023 by Addicted2Dirt PR