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(Photo courtesy L&J Photography)
Wes Gutierrez Hangs Tough despite Obstacles
By Gary Costa
Watsonville, CA – Tulare, CA (June 26-27, 2009) – Wes Gutierrez and the WG Motorsports team made the short haul to Ocean Speedway to compete in Round No. 6 with the GLR Investments 360 Sprint Car Series. The young Lion who hails from San Martin recently returned from an Indiana Midget stint.
After getting himself reaclimated to the brute force of a Winged Sprint Car, Wes went out and put the power down into the Ocean Speedway clay clocking in with a 12.085 in the No. 007 Maxim. Gutierrez would then charge to fourth in his heat race.
Wes was slated to start on the outside of the front row for the 30 lap main event. When the green came out, Wes immediately began running wide open on the cushion. However a flip ensued and race officials deemed that Gutierrez drove past the wreck. He and fellow inside front row starter Mike Henry would be forced to tag the rear of the field. When the green flew once again, Gutierrez was quickly moving forward in the WG Motorsports Maxim working the top of the race track, with Gutierrez working himself into ninth. When the checked flag flew, Gutierrez eventually finished 13th.
"We started out good, and I wanted to win that race so bad. It took me a few laps to get used to the Sprint Car again, but it really wasn't all that difficult," Gutierrez said. "It was tough being sent to the back of the pack, but I'm not complaining, that's racing."
Fellow WG Motorsports stable mate, Adam Kaeding competed in the Spec-Sprint division on this evening as well. Kaeding went onto finish fifth in his heat race and place seventh in the main event after charging from the back.
The following day, the team ripped off the wing to compete at the Tulare Thnderbowl to run with the 360 Bandit Non-Winged Sprint Cars. Wes qualified sixth then spun in his heat race, and was drilled by another driver. The frame was bent approximately 6" over, so the team decided not to take any unnecessary chances and save the car for another day.
"It's very disappointing to end our evening like this," an honest Gutierrez explained. "It was all my fault. I was trying something different on the car and I lost it, no excuses."
Wes and the WG Motorsports team will be in action this Friday at Petaluma Speedway for Civil War action. The team then will be headed to Santa Maria to race with the West Coast 360 Non-Winged Sprint Car organization.
The team's racing efforts are supported by ButlerBuilt, Kaeding Performance, Advanced Racing Suspension, Diversified Machine, Inc., FK Rod Ends, Simpson Racing Products, defNder, DWT Racing Wheels, Hertz Rental Car, PPG Automotive Finishes, Lemon Motorsports, Styles Collision Center and Gilroy Collision Center.
Learn more about Wes Gutierrez Motorsports online at www.stylesmotorsports.com
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