(Photo by Ron Skinner Photos)
Inside Line Promotions – PAIGE, Texas (Aug. 23, 2015) – Ray Allen Kulhanek is in a comfortable position after a standout weekend in Texas.
The five-time ASCS Gulf South Region champion used a pair of podium finishes to take an 11-point lead in the championship standings heading into the final weekend, which is set for Sept. 4-5 at Battleground Speedway in Highlands, Texas, for the 14th annual Gulf South Championship Weekend.
“It was definitely a good weekend,” he said. “My mindset was to go out to win. I was on attack-mode all weekend long.”
Kulhanek kicked off the action last Friday on a rough note at Heart O’ Texas Speedway in Waco, where he was forced to swap engines between hot laps and a heat race. However, the task was completed on time and Kulhanek advanced from fourth to second place during his heat to earn a spot in the feature redraw. He then pulled the No. 2 during the random draw to line up on the outside of the front row for the 25-lap main event.
“We had that race won,” he said. “There was not a doubt in my mind we had it won. Unfortunately we blew the in-board brake line with about seven laps to go. The track was really heavy and rough. It was a cowboy-up track and was hard to pass. I got into the back of a lapped car accidentally and spun him. At that time it gave me a caution to have breathing room. When we took back off I was like, ‘I need to slow my pace down and maybe we won’t catch traffic in seven laps.’ I guess I didn’t slow up enough. I ended up catching them and was pinned to the bottom. I couldn’t move out toward the middle or the outside because it was so heavy and rough without having the breaks to calm the car down. I caught a lapped car at the wrong time and Seth (Bergman) got a good run on the outside and got around me.”
Kulhanek led the first 23 laps before he was passed in turn four coming to the white flag. He then held on for a runner-up result.
Saturday’s event at Cotton Bowl Speedway featured a similar performance as Kulhanek finished second in a heat race to lock into the feature redraw. This time he pulled the No. 1 to garner the pole position.
“I led past halfway and had been running the bottom the whole race,” he said. “We’d get cautions and I’d look at my guys. They were telling me I was good. We got a caution later in the race and I was told to go to the top in turns three and four and stay on the bottom in turns one and two. I heard Seth on the outside of me in turns one and two. We went into turns three and four and he went to slide me, but the caution was already out. I was like, ‘I better start railing the top.’ I did that and we got in a heated battle for about three laps, sliding each other back and forth. Ultimately he had a better car than I did.”
Kulhanek said he led the first 17 or 18 laps before Bergman took the lead with a handful of laps remaining. Kulhanek lost another position in the closing laps trying to make the top work. However, his third-place finish was good enough to gain the championship lead with two races remaining.
“I know what I have to do as a driver,” he said. “I went into the last race of the season battling Aaron Reutzel for the championship in 2013 with a tighter points battle than I am in now. I know what to expect. We’re going to do our work in the shop to make sure all of our ducks are in a row.”
QUICK RESULTS –
Aug. 21 – Heart O’ Texas Speedway in Waco, Texas – Heat race: 2 (4); Feature: 2 (2).
Aug. 22 – Cotton Bowl Speedway in Paige, Texas – Heat race: 2 (1); Feature: 3 (1).
SEASON STATS –
17 races, 3 wins, 12 top fives, 14 top 10s, 14 top 15s, 15 top 20s
UP NEXT –
Sept. 4-5 at Battleground Speedway in Highlands, Texas, for the 14th annual Gulf South Championship Weekend with the ASCS Gulf South Region
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 – ButlerBuilt Professional Seat Systems
Based in Concord, N.C., ButlerBuilt Professional Seat Systems manufactures custom seats and distributes a variety of racing accessories, including seat mounts, padding, belts and restraints, steering wheels and helmets. For additional information, visit http://www.ButlerBuilt.net.
“ButlerBuilt Professional Seat Systems are definitely the safest seats on the market,” Kulhanek said. “I’ve had a couple of bad crashes and I definitely didn’t move because the seat did its job.”
Kulhanek would also like to thank Oilfield Equipment & Manufacturing, Miller’s RV Park, Texas Rotating Equipment, Frazier and Son, DR2 Racing Engines, J&J Auto Racing, Smiley’s Racing Products, 41 Shocks, Engler Machine & Tool, Outlaw Wings, Hoosier Racing Tire Southwest, Penske Racing Shocks, Snap Graphics 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 by joining Team ILP, contact Shawn at 541-510-3663 or Shawn@InsideLinePromotions.com. For more information on Inside Line Promotions, visit http://www.InsideLinePromotions.com.
- Shawn Miller on Aug 23, 2015
- Article Date: 8/23/2015 by Inside Line Promotions