[i (Bill W) September 15, 2009]
Though victory escaped “The Rocket” Jesse Hockett last weekend, he registered a pair of second place finishes in the Jesse Hockett Racing #77, including one after a great duel with Tony Bruce Jr. at Eagle Raceway’s Nebraska Cup. This weekend, the Warsaw, Missouri driver will stay a little closer to home and work on the new shop as he runs the last race of 2009 at the Double X Speedway in California, Missouri.
Friday night, Jesse headed to the Valley Speedway in Grain Valley, Missouri for some Winged Outlaw Warriors action. Drawing the pole for the heat was a good way to start, and he ran second in his heat. “(Brad) Ryun got the jump on us in the heat race,” he says. “The groove was pretty much around the top of the track, there wasn’t a bottom. We drew a six out of six on the redraw for the feature.”
Starting outside of row three, it took little time to move into the runner-up spot, where he would finish. “We got up to second within the first four laps,” says Jesse. “We just kind of held on there. Josh (Fisher) was really fast, and there weren’t really any opportunities to pass him. There were a lot of cautions, but we had a second place car.”
The Nebraska Cup offered up a $5,000 to win feature that drew over 50 cars. After running third in his heat, Jesse earned enough points to qualify for a start in row two. “It was really the best race we’ve been involved in all year,” he says of the run on the banked 1/3 mile oval. “We started in the second row (inside) there, and we were able to get by Brady (Bacon). Tony and I were able to go at it hard. It was pretty much a dead heat race for a lot of laps there.”
The pair diced through traffic with precision and had the crowd in a lather. “We were splitting lapped cars,” says Jesse. “When we first got to traffic, I went high and he went low under a car, and the next lap I was low and he was high. The track was really racy there for the feature…it was crazy.”
The deciding factor came with about ten to go. “With ten laps to go, we were battling through traffic,” says Jesse. “He chose the right line through there, and I didn’t. He got pulled away a little, and I got hung up. Up until then, it was wild for sure.”
“Overall, it was a pretty good weekend,” says the winner of 20 features this season. “We really ran into some tough competition up at Eagle, and we were able to run well with our own car. That’s a good feeling.”
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: Jesse’s first two wins came at Lakeside in the Ron Shuman Classics of 2003 and 2004. They were worth $10,000.
Last week’s winner: Chris Tezak of Bowling Green, Ohio
This week’s question: How many feature wins does Jesse have at the Double X Speedway?
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 only competed one other time at the Nebraska Cup. He finished eighth in the event back in 2003. Mike Chadd won that one, ahead of Rodney Droud, Jeff Lowery, Ron Love, Billy Alley, Seth Brahmer and Randy Martin.
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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 Sep 16, 2009
- Article Date: 9/16/2009