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KEVIN PROBST TAKES THE WEEKEND IN PRO-2WD, WINS ROUNDS
9&10
BARK RIVER, MI. AUGUST 9-10
The team went north, once again, to Bark River, MI. for
rounds 9 and 10 of the 2008 WSORR season tour. With the
Oshkosh weekend bringing the team high hopes and
disappointing results, the team focused on getting back on
track to finish the season strong. The team brought in
Bill Smith from Pro Fab Motorsports to help on the setups
for the #99 and the #5, trying to get a jump on the rest
of the season. Bill was instrumental in the design and
shock setups on the new Pro 2wd truck that Kevin drives
and has been helping to get the Pro Lite up to the task as
well.
Fridays schedule was for a late practice session and both
trucks ran great. Kevin set fast time by 4 seconds over
the next truck. The trucks were ready for the races on
Saturday.
Saturday:
Saturday morning saw some early morning rain causing
practice to be cancelled, again. The team got the new Toyo
M/Ts on the trucks and waited for the afternoon’s races.
The first PRO-Light race of the weekend came to the line
ready to put on a show for the capacity crowd. When the
green flag dropped, Jon and his #5 E3 Spark Plugs/Lucas
Oil Nissan PRO-Light hit the turn in third. Jon was racing
with the leaders when a track rod broke ending the day.
The Pro 2wd race saw Kevin take the first turn in the lead
after starting on the #3 grid position. Kevin’s E3 Spark
Plugs Lucas Oil Toyo Chevrolet never had any challenges
taking a commanding 8 second lead by the end of the first
lap. Kevin kept a smooth but fast pace and had no
challenges on this day taking the win with a twenty second
lead. “The #99 took control and set the stage” Said Kevin,
“Everything went right and no one could catch us with the
Toyo Tires hooked up, the E3 Spark plugs getting power to
the engine, and the Lucas Oil keeping everything running.”
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The #99 set the fast lap of the day ahead of the Pro 4
trucks. “Our goal for the rest of the season is to win”
said Kevin, “ We cannot control Dan V and the points, but
we can do our best to win the remaining races, 1 down, 4
to go!”
No issues during the Sunday Morning practice and both
trucks were ready to fly.
Sunday’s Pro-Lite race saw Jon come through the first turn
in second. Going over the hill to the back section of the
track, Jon spun in the wet conditions giving up 5 spots.
The close racing had several lead changes with the top 7
trucks under a blanket. Jon kept pressure on the lead
trucks and ended the day in 4th with Jeff Kincaid the
winner. “I just could not get comfortable with the track
today,” said Jon, “My cornering was off and I could not
trust the corners like the last rounds in Bark River.” The
team readied for the last race of the weekend, Pro 2wd.
The last event of the weekend was the premiere Pro 2wd
Class. Kevin’s #99 was ready to rock and ready to repeat
the round 9 win. At the green flag for the land rush
start, Kevin was on the #7 spot of the grid. The flag
dropped and Kevin made turn 1 in second. Chasing Ross Hoek
for the lead, Kevin and Ross put on a great show for the
crowd. Kevin made a pass on the back section “Cemetery
corner” around the outside of Hoek. #99 never looked back
as the lead continued similar to Saturday. “Once I made
the pass, I could use my lines,” said Kevin. The lead
expanded again and Kevin ended the day with the win and
another lap record. Officials told the announcer that
Kevin set the second fasted time ever recorded on the
track at 1:23:09. It was almost 2 ½ seconds faster than
Saturday.
The next event is Crandon, Wi. For rounds 11 and 12 of the
2008 tour as well as the Decision at Sundown and the Borg
Warner Championships also on Labor Day weekend in Crandon.
