York Haven, PA – April 18, 2024
by Addicted2Dirt PR & Media Mgmt
Photo Credit: Jeremy Zarfos / WRT Speedwerx
Despite closing out the 2023 season with two top-ten finishes in his six 410 sprint car starts, Kody Hartlaub didn’t enter the 2024 season with any high expectations for his first full season in the division.
There is a lot of learning to be done and experience to be gained, and he knows that. He also knows he has the ability, the team, and the equipment to be competitive on the tough Central PA circuit, so while still being realistic that there will be good days and bad, he sets the bar high for himself to limit mistakes and shorten the learning curve.
That’s the kind of mentality you need behind the wheel if you’re going to succeed.
QUICK RESULTS
Date: April 7, 2024
Division: 410 Sprint Cars
Track: Lincoln Speedway
City, State: Abbottstown, PA
Stats: 31 cars, Qualifying 4th, Heat 4th (4), A-main 11th (6)
Date: April 14, 2024
Division: 410 Sprint Cars
Track: BAPS Motor Speedway
City, State: York Haven, PA
Stats: 43 cars, Group 4 Qualifying 8th, Heat 8th (8), B-main 9th (12)
SOME DAYS YOU ARE THE WINDSHIELD
April opened with Lincoln Speedway pushing their Saturday show to Sunday to doge Mother Nature. Hartlaub and his Ninety Five Motorsports team were in the house for their fifth start of the season at the Abbottstown, PA oval.
With the move to Sunday, the event was changed to a time-trial show but that didn’t phase Hartlaub. He turned in the 4th quickest lap in the 31-car field.
Hartlaub started and finished 4th in his heat race, putting him on the outside of row three for the 30-lap A-main. The East Berlin, PA resident was eyeing his first top ten of the season and possibly a top five if things went well.
Things didn’t unfold that way though and Hartlaub slipped back a few spots in the early going. He held on to a top ten spot until the final lap, crossing the line 11th at the checkers.
“The car was pretty good. I just got out-driven by guys who have more experience running the top like that on a daytime track. Gained some experience today for next time.”, Hartlaub explained.
The end result clearly wasn’t what he was aiming for but overall it was a strong performance by the rookie against experienced quality competition.
SOME DAYS YOU ARE THE BUG
The following Sunday, April 14th, Hartlaub was back in action but this time the scene was BAPS Motor Speedway. It was to be a two-race weekend for the team but Saturday’s event at Lincoln Speedway was cancelled due to the weather.
The format for the BAPS show used group, timed hot laps to set the heat lineups. Hartlaub found himself digging out of a hole from the beginning after qualifying 8th quickest in his group. That put him 8th to take the green in his heat race and with only the top five transferring, he had a tall order on his hands.
Hartlaub did not transfer through the heat and was relegated to a 12th starting spot in the B-main, a 15-lap race with only the top four advancing to the main event. He only managed a 9th-place finish, ending his day.
“Not going to sugar-coat that one. We were terrible in time trials and it was tough to make up that lost ground with only one lane to race in during the heat.”, said Hartlaub of the uncharacteristic day.
UP NEXT
Kody will make his season debut at Williams Grove Speedway this Friday, April 19th to compete in the $8,000-to-win Tommy Hinnershitz Classic.
The following night he will be back at his home stomping grounds, Lincoln Speedway, to race the $20,000-t0-win 20th Annual Weldon Sterner Memorial.
SEASON STATS: 6 races, 0 wins, 0 top 5’s, 0 top 10’s, 4 top 15’s, 4 top 20
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
Broadcast coverage of High Limit Racing events, Port Royal Speedway events and select Lincoln Speedway events is available at FloRacing.com.
Broadcast coverage of World of Outlaw events and Williams Grove Speedway events is available at DirtVision.com.
Broadcast coverage of 410 sprint car events at BAPS Motor Speedway is available at SprintCarUnlimited.tv
THANKS TO OUR PARTNERS!
The entire team would like to express their appreciation to all their partners for their support during the 2024 racing season!
Brewer Home Improvements, LLC
J Fuels
MooseBlocks.com
Bigham Appraisal
Griffith Plumbing Services
T and N Solutions
Smith Titanium
Herr Electric
Siegel Racing 59
Addicted2Dirt PR & Media Mgmt
Pretzel Boy
Barbie Miller, Realtor
KH Suspension
Don Ott Racing Engines
Pruitt Innovation & Technologies
AL Driveline
DMI Performance
SpeedComm
- administrator on Apr 20, 2024
- Article Date: 4/18/2024 by Addicted2Dirt PR