(Photo by Vince Vellella Photos)
Inside Line Promotions – KNOXVILLE, Iowa (Aug. 9, 2016) – Ray Allen Kulhanek put together his best performance at the Arnold Motor Supply 360 Knoxville Nationals last weekend during the 26th edition of the marquee event at Knoxville Raceway.
“Overall it was the best 360 Nationals I’ve had to date,” he said. “Every year we’ve shown up we’ve had something go wrong. We show a lot of speed, but haven’t got the right breaks. I am disappointed about not being in the A Main on Saturday night.”
The weekend began last Thursday with Kulhanek qualifying 17th quickest to kick off his preliminary night. He then placed fifth in a heat race to miss locking into the main event by only one position.
“In the heat race the car stumbled real bad and we lost a lot of ground,” he said. “We drove back into a transfer spot. The guy who took the final transfer had a better car. I felt like we were able to get in the A Main. I think if we could have stayed with the front row we would have been in the A Main and it would have been a game changer for Saturday.”
Kulhanek was relegated to the B Main, where he ended with a seventh-place finish.
That lined him up on the inside of the sixth row for the C Main on Saturday.
“We had a good car in the C Main and made a lot of passes,” he said. “We didn’t really go far enough on tightening the car up for the B Main. I started moving around at the end of the C Main to feel the track out because I knew we were in a position to go to the B Main. That way I had an idea of where to go for the setup in the B Main.”
Kulhanek charged from 11th to fifth place in the C Main to transfer into the back of the B Main, where he capped the 360 Knoxville Nationals with a 19th-place result.
“The bottom was a little too dominant so it made it tough to make a lot of passes,” he said. “We were fighting on the loose side as well.
“I want to thank Bruce Griffith for giving us the opportunity and all of our partners for their support. Right now I’m looking for a 410 engine so we can compete during the Knoxville Nationals this week.”
Kulhanek’s engine was damaged a week and a half ago so he is seeking an engine to rent so he can compete this Wednesday through Saturday at Knoxville Raceway for the 56th annual 5-Hour ENERGY Knoxville Nationals. Anyone with an opportunity can call Kulhanek at 281-825-8766.
QUICK RESULTS –
Aug. 4 – Knoxville Raceway in Knoxville, Iowa – Qualifying: 17; Heat race: 5 (3); B Main: 7 (7).
Aug. 6 – Knoxville Raceway in Knoxville, Iowa – C Main: 5 (11); B Main: 19 (21).
SEASON STATS –
29 races, 3 wins, 7 top fives, 12 top 10s, 18 top 15s, 23 top 20s
UP NEXT –
Wednesday through Saturday at Knoxville Raceway in Knoxville, Iowa, for the 56th annual 5-Hour ENERGY Knoxville Nationals
MEDIA LINKS –
Website: http://www.RayAllenKulhanek.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Kulhanek_Ray
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RayAllenKulhanek/?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.”
Kulhanek would also like to thank Texas Rotating Equipment, Big Bass Tour, Alcon Construction, GoPro, Griffith Truck & Equipment, Miller’s RV Park, ButlerBuilt Professional Seat Systems, ASI Racing Engines, Frazier & Son, Smiley’s Racing Products, 41 Shocks, Engler Machine & Tool, Outlaw Wings, Hoosier Racing Tire Southwest, Penske Racing Shocks, C4 Graphics, Simpson Race Products and Marvin and Peggy Pearson 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 09, 2016
- Article Date: 8/9/2016 by Inside Line Promotions