(Photo by Seth Lacewell)
Inside Line Promotions – CONROE, Texas (Nov. 9, 2014) – Ray Allen Kulhanek had a solid season despite running into rough luck on a routine basis in 2014.
Kulhanek earned three feature victories, 10 top-five finishes and 20 top 10s in only 30 races this season. He also finished second in the ASCS Gulf South Region championship standings, which marked his fifth straight season in the top two in points and his 10th top 10 during the 11 seasons he has raced 360ci sprint cars.
“We aren’t satisfied by finishing second in the points by any means,” said Kulhanek, who entered the season having won four straight ASCS Gulf South Region championships. “Our goal was to win the title again and unfortunately we weren’t able to achieve that. It seemed like our team ran into quite a bit of bad luck, whether it was high pill draws or untimely cautions or being caught up in other people’s crashes.”
The tough luck started early in the year as Kulhanek drew the last starting position in each of his first four races of the season.
The first bright spot came on June 7 when Kulhanek claimed an ASCS Gulf South Region event at Gator Motorplex in Willis, Texas. He added his second victory of the season on July 26 at Bronco Raceway Park in Cleveland, Texas, before recording his final triumph on Sept. 6 with the ASCS Gulf South Region at Leesville 171 Speedway in Leesville, La.
“We were able to capitalize whenever we had good starting positions in the main events,” he said. “Unfortunately, we drew way too many sevens and eights in the feature redraws.”
Kulhanek advanced into the feature redraw during 14 of the 20 ASCS Gulf South Region events. However, he pulled the No. 7 or No. 8 – the two highest numbers available – eight times. On top of that, Kulhanek only pulled the No. 1 or No. 2 to score a front row starting position three times. He won twice and finished on the podium during all three races.
“Hopefully we got all of the high draws out of the way this season and we’ll catch a few breaks next year,” he said. “I feel like we made the best of the situations we were dealt and with a couple of other opportunities we would have had a few more wins.
“Regardless, I want to thank everyone on the team and each of our sponsors who helped us achieve three wins and all of the success we had. I’m really looking forward to next season.”
SEASON STATS –
30 races, 3 wins, 10 top fives, 20 top 10s, 23 top 15s, 27 top 20s
MEDIA LINKS –
Website: http://www.RayAllenKulhanek.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dork.racing.9?fref=ts
APPAREL –
Kulhanek will have apparel available for sale at his race trailer throughout the season. For a list of his scheduled events, visit http://www.RayAllenKulhanek.com.
SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT – J&J Auto Racing
Located in McKenzie, Tenn., J&J Auto Racing has manufactured sprint car chassis and racing parts for more than 40 years. For more information, visit http://www.JandJAutoRacing.com.
“Everyone at J&J Auto Racing are probably some of the nicest people in racing,” Kulhanek said. “I talk to them quite frequently. They are always quick to answer phone calls and will get stuff shipped out to you the same day. And they are definitely the safest cars on the market. I don’t have a complaint on them after winning the last four championships running their cars.”
Kulhanek would also like to thank Oilfield Equipment & Manufacturing, Miller’s RV Park, Texas Rotating Equipment, ButlerBuilt Professional Seat Systems, Smiley’s Racing Products, Engler Machine & Tool, Outlaw Wings, Hoosier Racing Tire Southwest, Penske Shocks, Don Ott Racing Engines, Snap Graphics, Frazier and Son Laser Cutting and Simpson Race Products for their 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 Nov 09, 2014
- Article Date: 11/9/2014 by Inside Line Promotions