OAKLAND, Ont. (July 4, 2016) – A challenging night for Elastochem Insulthane Extreme Spray Foam sponsored drivers Brad Herron, Alex Schuts and Karl Sault has produced the first mountain of adversity for the team in 2016. All three drivers, along with a dedicated crew, are determined to return to action next week.
Karl Sault was among the fastest drivers in attendance for the $2000-to-win 50-lap Brock Leonard Memorial for the Thunder Stock division. Sault started on the pole for the main event. A caution-filled start led Sault to relinquish the second position on lap 19 in order to refuel.
“We have too small of a tank to make it the full 50 laps. It was a scheduled stop,” Sault explained. “We were going to change the fuel cell for this week, but we had to change the motor instead.”
Restarting at the tail of the field, Sault didn’t appear to have any issues with the traffic in his Great Lakes Beer/Waterous Holden No.81 and quickly began working back to the front. Twice, however, he was turned around by contact with another driver and had to bounce back. Sault wouldn’t be knocked down and charged back to third with five laps to go. A handful of late race cautions were ultimately Sault’s kryptonite.
“I had to go to the back two or three times. I got back up to third, but with two laps to go we ran out of fuel, unfortunately,” Sault said disappointedly of his 11th– place finish. Sault will take consolation in knowing his car is working among the best and is in contention for a win every week.
Brad Herron and Alex Schuts took to the track in Crate Sprint Car competition on a very rough racetrack later in the night. Herron started 10th in the Climatizer Cellulose/Miska Trailer Factory No.12 while Schuts was 12th in his Insulthane Extreme/ Middleport Mechanical No.5.
Herron methodically advanced through the field and on lap nine caught sixth-place runner Ryan Hunsinger. Herron got an excellent run in to turn one, but a brake failure resulted in his No.12 flipping upside down.
“I got a good run on Ryan going down the front straightaway. The closing rate was really fast and I went for the brake pedal, but had no brakes,” Herron explained. “I knew I was going to run him over if I didn’t do something, so I tried to spin the car. I hit a rut and started tumbling.”
“It was like slow motion. I felt every impact. I took my hands off the steering wheel and just rode it out. The wing absorbs a lot of the pressure, but it was a hard hit,” Herron said.
Schuts, meanwhile, battled the choppy racetrack and settled for an 11th-place finish, but was happy to see rookie driver Jesse McDonald earn a victory.
“When you get a track like that, you can’t run very hard. You have to pick your spots. Jesse picked his spots the best tonight. I’m happy for the guy. He’s new to the division like me,” Schuts said. “I don’t understand why there were so many ruts and so many holes in the track, though.”
All three drivers remain upbeat entering the new week, knowing they can draw on previous experiences to help their bounce back effort.
“To say you’re not going to have adversity in racing is foolish. It’s par for the course. We have a good guys and a good crew. We’re pretty familiar with this,” Herron remarked with confidence.
“We’ll be fine. We have the parts to fix this car of Brads,” Schuts said. “It’s going to happen to every team. We’ll get through it.”
The team returns to action next Friday, July 8 for Frankie Turkey Memorial night. Racing is scheduled to begin at 7:30pm.
SEASON STATS
Brad Herron: 7 Starts – 0 Wins, 5 Top-5s, 6 Top-10s
Alex Schuts: 7 Starts – 0 Wins, 0 Top-5s, 2 Top-10s
Karl Sault: 7 Starts – 0 Wins, 5 Top-5s, 5 Top-10s
FOLLOW US
Website: www.instainsulationmotorsports.ca
Facebook: facebook.com/HerronRacing.
The Insta-Insulations Motorsports team is proud to partner with a dedicated group of sponsors, including Elastochem Insulation Extreme Spray Foam, Miska Trailer Factory, Middleport Mechanical, Climatizer Cellulose, Great Lakes Brewery, Insta-Insulation, Insta-Panels, Lake Erie Warehousing (Simcoe), Insight Graphics, Millards Chartered Professional Accountants, Expressway Volvo, Waterous Holden Amey Hitcheon LLP, Fence and Deck Perfection, Action Transmission, Baeumier Approved, Hotline Apparel, Lintec Label and Print Solutions, Brant Auto Painting, Rondex, Brantford Nissan and NAPA (Brantford, Tilsonburg, Delhi, Norwich).
Prepared By Clayton Johns Media
Photo Attachment: Brad Herron went for a wild ride during the Crate Sprint Car feature on Friday night at Ohsweken Speedway. (Dale Calnan/Image Factor Media photo).
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