(Photo by Studio 92 Photography)
Inside Line Promotions – KNOXVILLE, Iowa (April 29, 2014) – For the second straight Saturday the White Lightning Motorsports trio of Jamie Ball, Larry Ball Jr. and Devin Kline faced tough luck at Knoxville Raceway.
“We’ve definitely had the bad luck we didn’t plan on having,” Jamie Ball said. “Nothing is from lack of preparation.”
Ball qualified eighth quickest in the 360 class on the half-mile oval before charging from fourth place to win his heat race by approximately 1.5 seconds. He then pulled the No. 7 in a feature redraw to start the 15-lap main event on the inside of the fourth row.
“I was probably racing better than I ever have running the top and the bottom,” he said. “I just caught an unlucky break. I was racing for fourth and missed the bottom. So I was sliding up to try to block (Justin) Henderson. Right at the pit gate he squeaked by and it took the air of my nose and sucked me into the wall.”
After maneuvering into the top five during the first half of the feature, Ball collided with the wall exiting turn two with approximately four laps remaining. The impact forced him to the pits with a 21st-place result.
“I didn’t get upside down so that was good,” he said. “My expectations are still high. We’ve just got to catch the right breaks.”
In the 410 division, Larry Ball Jr. went out to qualify toward the end of the field and he ended up timing in 27th quickest.
“He had to go out in the last session and the track slowed down considerably,” Jamie Ball said. “But in the heat race he started ninth and he ended up racing his way into the fifth position. That was a pretty big confidence booster knowing that the car showed speed in the adjustments he made.”
Ball Jr.’s heat race performance locked him into the main event, which he started on the outside of the ninth row.
“The car was a lot better, but was still battling some bad air problems,” Jamie Ball said. “Things are still a work in progress in the 410 as he’s trying to make changes to feel more comfortable in the car.”
Ball Jr. spent most of the race battling for a top 15 before settling for an 18th-place finish.
Devin Kline ran into trouble early in the night in 305 action. After qualifying 14th quickest and starting on the outside of the front row in his heat race, Kline headed to the pits on the second lap with mechanical problems. He was unable to compete the rest of the night.
“One of ears broke off the oil pump and chewed up the bearings,” Jamie Ball said. “Hopefully we’ll get the engine back this week so he can race on Saturday.”
The team is scheduled to return to Knoxville Raceway this Saturday for the third points race of the season.
QUICK RESULTS –
JAMIE BALL – April 26 – Knoxville Raceway in Knoxville, Iowa – Qualifying: 8; Heat race: 1 (4); Feature: 21 (7).
LARRY BALL JR. – April 26 – Knoxville Raceway in Knoxville, Iowa – Qualifying: 27; Heat race: 5 (9); Feature: 18 (18).
DEVIN KLINE – April 26 – Knoxville Raceway in Knoxville, Iowa – Qualifying: 14; Heat race: DNF (2); Feature: DNS (19).
SEASON STATS –
JAMIE BALL – 2 races, 0 wins, 0 top fives, 1 top 10, 1 top 15, 1 top 20
LARRY BALL JR. – 2 races, 0 wins, 0 top fives, 0 top 10s, 0 top 15s, 1 top 20
DEVIN KLINE – 2 races, 0 wins, 0 top fives, 0 top 10s, 0 top 15s, 0 top 20s
UP NEXT –
Saturday at Knoxville Raceway in Knoxville, Iowa
MEDIA LINKS –
Jamie Ball Website: http://www.JamieBall.com
Larry Ball Jr. Website: http://www.LarryBallJr.com
Devin Kline Website: http://www.DevinKline.com
Jamie Ball Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/JamieBall5j
Larry Ball Jr. Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/LarryBallJr5j
Devin Kline Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/DevinKline5j
APPAREL –
White Lightning Motorsports has t-shirts and hoodies available for purchase at their race trailers in the infield of each sprint car event at Knoxville Raceway in Knoxville, Iowa.
SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT – JJ Kane Auctioneers
Selling from multiple locations across the United States., JJ Kane Auctioneers specializes in asset recovery and liquidation. They hold absolute auctions year round across the United States. For more information, visit http://www.jjkane.com.
“JJ Kane Auctioneers is a huge part of our race team and has been since the beginning,” Jamie Ball said. “They are also a big part of our family business and we couldn’t do it without them. They are great people as well and we enjoy our business and personal relationships with each and every one of their team members.”
White Lightning Motorsports would also like to thank L & J Automotive, AIB College of Business, Van Gorp Construction, Timberline Tree Service, Ostrich Racing Engines, Sweet Manufacturing, Keizer Aluminum Wheels, Vocon Auctioneers, Iowa State Savings Bank, FK Rod Ends, Fragola Performance Systems, King Racing Products, BR Motorsports, Hoosier Tire, Bell Helmets, MPD Racing, Driver Websites, Champion Oil, Wingdance Graphics, Replay XD, The Hearing Clinic, Shell Shock and Hooker Harness for their continued support.
INSIDE LINE PROMOTIONS –
Inside Line Promotions specializes in affordable public relations and media management for motor sports drivers, teams, sponsors, tracks, series, events, organizations and manufacturers. ILP Founder Shawn Miller leverages professional journalism with new media technologies and social networking to improve your exposure and the return on investment for your sponsors.
To meet the media relations needs of your program and to join Team ILP, contact Shawn at 541-510-3663 or InsideLinePromotions@gmail.com. For more information on Inside Line Promotions, visit http://www.InsideLinePromotions.com.
- Shawn Miller on Apr 29, 2014
- Article Date: 4/29/2014 by Inside Line Promotions