(Bill W) August 12, 2009 – What was a downright miserable week turned around in “Ultimate” proportions, when Jesse “The Rocket” Hockett triumphed in the 8th Annual Casey’s Ultimate Challenge presented by Searsboro Telephone Company on Tuesday night! The $15,000 win aboard the VKCC Motorsports/Tom Buch #13 exorcised some demons left over from a close second place finish when Dickie Gaines stormed by the Warsaw, Missouri driver for a win at the UC in 2004.
The win comes after misery at the Knoxville Raceway. With high hopes going into the 360 Nationals, a tough qualifying night put Jesse in a D main he would not emerge from on Saturday. To top it off, he tangled with another competitor and flipped in the 410 program. Oh yeah, and the family dog died too!
Still, the team knew going into the Ultimate Challenge that it was within their grasp. Jesse beat the USAC boys twice in one night earlier this season at Grandview Speedway in Pennsylvania, and was running third in their points before the pavement races hit. After winning both his heat and qualifier on Tuesday, he was set up on the pole for the 30-lapper.
Dave Darland started alongside Jesse and got a little anxious on the first start, which was called back. Jesse returned the favor on the next try. “Neither one of us wanted to give the other the lead at the start,” he explains. “Dave and I have been battling all year really.”
Darland jumped out front, as the first 16 laps went green. The pair left the rest of the field behind and Jesse reeled the leader in when they approached lapped traffic on lap 13. He found his way by on lap 16, just before a red flag was displayed. “The racecar just kept getting better and better,” he says. “I kind of found a line where I would enter low in one and drift against the fence. It let me reel him in a little bit, and then we were able to make a move.”
Jesse restarted in the lead and held it as the remaining 14 laps went nonstop. Lapped traffic again became a factor later on, and it looked like the tables would be turned in favor of Darland. In the last corner, he made a bid to outdrag Jesse. "I didn't know what I was going to do that last lap," he says. "The bottom was good, and so was the top. Dave Darland is such a great competitor; I knew he'd be there. I just tried to stay in my line and hope he wouldn’t get around me. My crew and my owners put a great car under me, and I can't thank them enough."
The difference was .045 of a second at the line in the closest finish in history. “We had a great car,” says Jesse. “My guys work so hard on it all the time. We’ve definitely had an absolutely horrible week to put it mildly, but this makes up for it. I wouldn’t trade it for anything.”
Darland’s car owner was bidding for his fourth Ultimate Challenge title. “Scott Benic has won enough of these,” says Jesse. “It’s someone else’s turn to win one of these Ultimate Challenges.”
Jesse knows what it is like to lose a close one at Oskaloosa, and the emotions hit after winning Tuesday. “The last time (2004), I felt like I gave it up at the checkers,” he says. “My (late) cousin Daniel (McMillin) was there, and this one’s for him.”
Thursday will serve as Jesse’s qualifying night at the 49th Annual SuperClean Knoxville Nationals.
On the Web
To learn more about Jesse “The Rocket” Hockett, including updated results and photos, visit http://jessehockett.com!
T-Shirt Trivia!
Last week’s answer: Joe Beaver won the D main in 2001.
Last week’s winner: Travis Elwood from Oklahoma City, OK
This week’s question: Who have been the winners of the Ultimate Challenge by year?
Each week, we’ll be giving away a Jesse Hockett t-shirt to our trivia winner! We will draw a winner from the correct answers submitted on Friday following the release. Submit your trivia answer, along with your name, address and t-shirt size to sprntcar@iowatelecom.net! Put "Hockett Trivia" in the subject line.
Rocket Rambles
Jesse has raced in the A, B, C and D features at the Knoxville Nationals. He put it in the main event in 2004, finishing 17th in the finale. A good run on his prelim night was the catalyst. He finished sixth behind Danny Lasoski, Jason Meyers, Terry McCarl, Kenny Jacobs and John VanDenBerg.
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Rocket Hockett
“Rocket Hockett” is an up close look at the past, present and future of Jesse Hockett. To receive "Rockett Hockett", send an e-mail to sprntcar@iowatelecom.net with "Hockett" in the subject line.
Jesse would like to thank the partners of the VKCC Motorsports/Tom Buch team, including Parker Store of Phoenix, AMS Waterfall Systems, Rod End Supply, LRB Manufacturing, Penske Shocks, Butlerbuilt Professional Seat Systems, Diversified Machine, Inc., Fischer Body Shop, Simpson, Hoosier, Conroy Bleeders, ARP Fasteners, Indy Race Parts, Massey’s Truck and Tank Repair, RMS Racing Engines, Pro Powder Coating, Korte Transportation, Rocket Graphics, Lucas Oil, Weld Racing, Spike Products, Maxwell, Red Onion Lounge, Engler, Barnes Dry Sump Oil Systems, FSR Racing Products, RH2, Canyon Apparel, JEI, Total Seal Piston Rings, JE Pistons and Wings Unlimited for all their help!
- Bill Wright on Aug 12, 2009
- Article Date: 8/12/2009