[i (Bill W) September 29, 2009]
Jesse “The Rocket” Hockett was less like a rocket, and more like a raging Brahma bull in the Lucas Oil ASCS National Series race at the Lucas Oil Speedway near Wheatland, Missouri on Saturday. A steering problem derailed his efforts to get to the front, but he still managed a ninth place finish. This weekend, he’ll tackle a pair of $10,000 to win events at the Lawrenceburg Speedway in Indiana.
With 59 cars in the field, things started well with the draw putting the Warsaw, Missouri driver outside of row two for his heat. He was able to chase Travis Rilat to the checkers and lock himself in the main event outside of row five.
Jesse began his assault on the well groomed 3/8 mile oval where he has excelled in the past, but a mechanical problem surfaced early. “We had a good battle going with Travis Rilat about five or seven laps into it,” he says. “One lap, I went into the corner, and it didn’t want to turn. All of a sudden, it turned all at once, and my hands were all over the wheel.”
Suddenly, the car had a mind of its own. “Something broke in the steering,” says Jesse. “We don’t know exactly what, but something was majorly wrong. I actually did a 360 spin and kept going at one point.”
Jesse manhandled the VKCC Motorsports/Tom Buch #13 as best he could. “Shortly after that, there was a caution and I was the last car on the lead lap,” he says. “I was able to get by a couple of cars and get up to seventh or eighth. Then I actually spun sideways going down the front straightaway. I haven’t done that before.”
Somehow, Jesse kept it on the track and on the lead lap, maintaining a ninth place finish amongst a very stout field. “It was a handful just keeping the car on the track,” he says. “We were lucky to be on the lead lap there when the yellow came out. We really couldn’t go backwards. We were still competitive with our car, but I really couldn’t make any moves without putting the other guys or myself in danger.”
The team will take the wings off this weekend and head to the high-banked Lawrenceburg Speedway in Indiana. The Lawrenceburg Fall Nationals will feature two big nights of racing worth $10,000 to win each feature. On Friday, the event will be sanctioned by USAC, while Saturday will run under the banner of the MSCS sprints.
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: Dickie Gaines won the first race that Jesse ran at the Lucas Oil Speedway.
Last week’s winner: Eric Otteson from Salida, California
This week’s question: At how many tracks has Jesse won at in Indiana?
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 four top ten finishes in eight starts at Lawrenceburg Speedway. He has competed with the wing three times and without on five occasions. His best finish came with a sixth place finish in the 2007 Hoosier Fall Classic prelim with the All Stars. He has two seventh place finishes with USAC (2007, 2009) and a seventh with the All Stars at the 2008 Hoosier Fall Classic.
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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!.
Jesse races at the Lucas Oil Speedway (High-Fly’N-John Lee Photo)
- Bill Wright on Sep 30, 2009
- Article Date: 9/30/2009