(Bill W) May 5, 2010 – Jesse “The Rocket” Hockett is no stranger to photo finishes. So when it came down to the wire at Houston Raceway Park Saturday night with the Sprint Bandits Tour ‘N Topless series, no one should have been surprised. At the checkers, the Warsaw, Missouri driver was edged out by Robert Ballou, after charging all the way through the pack. This weekend, the series travels to the Devil’s Bowl Speedway and I-30 Speedway.
Last weekend was to feature the first two races for the series, but Friday’s tussle at Golden Triangle Raceway Park in Beaumont, Texas was a wash. “I was a little nervous about Saturday (at Houston Raceway Park near Baylands) after driving all the way down to the Gulf and getting rained out on Friday,” says Jesse. “It was looking like rain on Saturday too. The high prices of fuel definitely are tough right now, so you don’t want an empty trip.”
Jesse ran three events at HRP and started fourth in all of them. The popular heat/qualifier format saw him finish third in the heat, and second in the qualifier. That set him up outside row two for the feature. “The heat and the qualifier really went well,” he says. “The car was working the way we needed it to.”
The feature started out just as strong, but a few laps in, disaster struck. “We were running a really strong third there,” says Jesse. “We were trying to make a move on Brady Bacon, and he had been getting a little sideways getting into the corners. About three laps in, he slid while I was trying to shoot the gap a little bit. We got together. That spun me around, and he kept going. It was one of those racing things.”
Jesse took the VKCC Motorsports #75 to the back and put on a show. “We went to the back, and we almost had a fast enough car to win from there,” he says. “I know from up front, we would have been good. I was pretty confident in the car.”
A charge set up a run for the lead on the very last circuit. “We were able to drive from 17th, all the way up to second,” says Jesse. “We picked our way forward. I was fourth with three laps to go, and I was able to get by Travis Rilat. We came for the white flag in third. We were able to get by Brady on the back straightaway for second, and then we slid under Robert (Ballou) in three and four.”
It was a drag race for the win. “I got underneath (Ballou), and I was just a little behind him coming off of four,” says Jesse. “I was gaining on him coming down the straightaway. I wish the finish line was just a little further down the track. We would have had it. It was still a good finish.”
Jesse likes the prospects of the series expansion in 2010. “There was a good crowd,” he says. “It was awesome racing all night. The car count was a little low in quantity, but high in quality. But how many non-wing cars are in Texas? It was a good show, and I think you’ll see the people keep coming back when they see races like that. I think the Sprint Bandits will continue to grow, and the fans are going to enjoy it.”
Friday, the team will head south again to the Devil’s Bowl Speedway in Mesquite, Texas. They will then travel over on I-30 to Little Rock for Saturday’s event. “We ran decent at Devil’s Bowl with the wing car at the beginning of the year, and I’ve run quite a few times there now,” says Jesse of the ½ mile. “We’re always pretty strong at Little Rock. Obviously, we were third there a few weeks back.”
On the Web
To learn more about Jesse “The Rocket” Hockett, including updated results and photos, visit http://JesseHockett.com!
Rocket Rambles
This weekend will mark Jesse’s first ride around the red gumbo ¼ mile I-30 Speedway without the wing. In nineteen feature runs since 2002 in 360 winged competition, he has recorded four top fives and twelve top tens. The competition is always tough in Little Rock, and his best run other than his third place finish on April 10, was a fourth in 2006. Tim Crawley was the winner, ahead of Cody Gardner and Darren Stewart on that night.
Partner Spotlight – Spec Plating
Jesse says – “Spec plating provides a harder surface for the components on the car. That prevents the chips and dents that you get with debris while racing. They make all our aluminum components look nice.”
Spec Plating Corporation founded by Steve Forsythe (June 1944 - April 2009) began operation in 1993 providing copper, nickel and gold plating services primarily to those serving telecommunications applications. Then in 1998 fire brought the company into ashes. “Our mindset was that we were going to keep this thing going. We went around to used equipment people and got tanks and borrowed rectifiers and put things together. For the most part, we were able to continue to service our customers. Within two weeks we were back to three shifts of operation with most processes restored to at least minimal capacity.” said Steve Forsythe. Today, the company continues to operate three shifts 24 Hours a Day 5 Days a Week, employs approximately 200 people and has plants in Fridley, Minnesota and Lenexa, Kansas. Visit them on the web at www.SpecPlating.com!
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 #75 and the JHR #77 teams including Parker Store of Phoenix, Rod End Supply, M&W Aluminum Products, A.R.T. Speed Equipment, Don Ott Racing Engines, Gary Stanton Mopar, Vortex Wings, Penske Shocks, Butlerbuilt Professional Seat Systems, Diversified Machine, Inc., Fischer Body Shop, Simpson, SWE, Maxwell Shock Dynos, Spec Plating, 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, Engler, Weld Racing, Spike Products, Maxwell, Red Onion Lounge, Engler, Barnes Dry Sump Oil Systems, FSR Racing Products, Canyon Apparel, JEI, Total Seal Piston Rings and JE Pistons for all their help!.
[i Photo - Jesse at Houston Raceway Park (Carey Akin – www.ManvelMotorsports.com Photo)]
- Bill Wright on May 05, 2010
- Article Date: 5/5/2010