NEWTON (July 15, 2011) – Last weekend Jacob and the Ossenfort Racing team set out for a weekend full of excitement, little did they know their excitement would consist of the rough and tough part of the sport.

Friday night landed the #99J team in Jackson, Minnesota at Jackson Speedway, for the American Sprint Car Association (ASCS) Midwest Series show, and with the weather that has been passing through the Midwest lately, who knew what the track was going to look like. Jacob hit the track for hot laps and took his time to feel out the track. "It was still a little slimy and slick, but I found a line that was comfortable. I figured it would run in pretty good by the time the heat races were set to start." Jacob said.

Jacob started in third for his heat race and said that he "knew he had to run hard to make the A, since there were so many cars." Unfortunately, the race didn't start as he had hoped. "I was headed into the first corner and I tried to set my car for the corner, letting off a little, but the car still went in at full bore," said Jacob. As the team would find later, the throttle linkages were acting up, making it difficult for the Knology #99J the whole race. This also caused a good fight between the driver and the car for position. "I drove as hard as I could, but it didn't matter. The car was on its own," he said. Jacob finished his heat with a hard earned, but a little upsetting sixth place.

After some adjustments the team was ready to go at it again. Jacob's heat race finish placed him in the B-Main. Since there were so many cars entered for the night's event, the B-Main started 20 cars. "I knew that I was going to have to avoid some crashes. Nothing good ever comes out of starting that many cars, in a B-Main. Everyone is racing for the same thing and we all want to make it to the final main." Jacob had to say. The green flag was dropped and just as the drivers hit the backstretch a yellow flag followed. "I didn't see the light and there wasn't a word said across the radios. We all headed in to turn four and I was passing a few people. I wondered where all this was coming from and then I realized the yellow was out," said Jacob. Unfortunately though, by the time the #99J realized what was happening, he had absolutely no where to go. The night ended with a trip down the front stretch that caused the car to barrel roll three times before coming to a halt. "It was a pretty disappointing night. That's never how anyone sets out to finish. The only thing that I could do was to try to prepare myself for the next night." Jacob said.

It was a long morning for the team, as Jacob and his dad, Crew Chief Todd Ossenfort, started working on the car to get it into racing shape for their night at I-90 Speedway, in Hartford, South Dakota, for the second ASCS Midwest Series show of the weekend. Hot laps went well and it had the team's spirit back up for the evening. "I-90 is a nice three-eighths of a mile track. It makes for some fun times and a lot of action." Jacob had to say.

Jacob drew for his starting spot, saying "it wasn't too bad", it started him on the outside pole. Call it adrenaline or determination, but Jacob calls it racing. As the green flag was thrown, Jacob had a great start, the car took off on demand; the pole sitter however, had a slower start and this caused Jacob to stumble just a little bit. "I had to wait for him to get going with me. I didn't want to jump the start." Jacob said. Even though it was a slow start Jacob finished the race in second place, putting him in a fine position for the A-Main. "I was still in second, just waiting for the leader to make that one mistake. I ran out of laps, but it was still a good race."

The Knology #99J started the A-Main in tenth place. By this time the track had worn in pretty well, but it was still left with a pretty slick spot in corner four, this made for a pretty action packed race and according to Jacob, there were cars at the top and the bottom of the track. "It was just a little slick coming out of four and a couple of times I was afraid I was headed off the track. A few cars got by me when this happened and we ended up in thirteenth. I was a little disappointed but extremely relieved that it didn't end like the night before." Jacob said.

The team ended their weekend on Sunday, running the Don Ott powered 410 Knology #99J at Huset's Speedway, in Brandon, South Dakota. Hot laps started the night with a little trouble, as the car just wasn't turning down the track. They looked it over and didn't see anything of the obvious while the car was parked, so Jacob headed out to qualify and found that he was still dealing with the problem. "Brian Brown came over and pointed out that my shock had been bouncing up and down pretty ridiculously and we concluded that it was definitely bad."

After the shock change Jacob started his heat in eighth and finished with a top six finish, placing him into the A-Main event. "I knew I had to get at least sixth to get my qualifying time back. Even though I didn't qualify like I wanted to, it played a pretty important part in my starting spot for the main," said Jacob.

Jacob started the A-Main in fourteenth. "At one point, I was up to about eighth and I knew that we had the right kind of car to get to where I needed to be, but a red flag was thrown and with that break in the action, the track and my tires cooled down. That was all it took." Jacob said. Once the race restarted, Jacob tried to keep the #99J toward the top of the track, feeling like he had better grip around the track there, but as he tested the waters a few cars got by. "When I tried to change my line, I ended up hopping the cushion a bit and just got myself out of the zone. I was really frustrated with the last mess up and another car or two got by me." Jacob had to say of the main. Although he wasn't excited about how the race went, Jacob still finished the night with a solid twelfth place. "It was a rough weekend and although I had bigger plans for Saturday and Sunday, I'm just glad they didn't end like Friday."

Thankfully the team toughed out the weekend and now they are prepared to head back to Huset's Speedway, in Brandon, South Dakota, on Sunday. Be sure you get out there to cheer them on!

Online

To keep up with Jacob and Ossenfort Racing, check them out online at www.ossenfortracing.com!

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Knology

Life is about connecting. Person to person. Business to business. To help, Knology has developed the industry's most advanced fiber network, along with the services that bring it to life. Helping you connect with all the people who are important to you. For more information, go to www.Knology.com.

Super Clean Tunnel Wash

Located at 1501 Cambell Street in Rapid City, SD, Super Clean Tunnel Wash is proud to sponsor the #99J Sprint Car. The Super Clean Tunnel Wash, "Home of the $5.00 Express Wash", offers Free vacuums, Free use of drying towels, in addition to the 6 high pressure self serve bays where you have the convenience of paying in the bay with cash, coin or credit card. The 120 foot exterior express tunnel wash uses "Third Generation" foam along with the finest chemicals available to the car wash industry, to not only get your car clean, but Super Clean! If you have 3 minutes and $5.00, stop by and let them wash your car!

DonBar Cars

DonBar Cars has over 35 years of experience in the automotive industry. DonBar Cars specializes in Quality Vehicles priced under $4,000! They now offer financing! Let them help you with your next pre-owned vehicle purchase. For more information, visit www.DonBarCars.com or call Don at 605-393-CARS (2277)! Located at 3788 East Hwy 44, Rapid City, SD 57703.

BankWest

At BankWest, their goal is to meet all your financial needs, every day. They are ready with financial solutions for any stage of life. Whether you're just starting out, raising a family or nearing retirement, they have the tools to help you reach your short- and long-term goals. Located in Pierre, Mitchell, Rapid City, Vivian, Kadoka, Kennebec, Onida, Selby, Gregory and Winner. Call them today at 1-800-253-0362 and go to www.BankWest-SD.com.

Black Hills Powersports

They are a full service dealer of new and used powersports vehicles. Their new vehicle brands are YAMAHA ATV, motorcycle, utility vehicle, watercraft, snowmobile, scooter, KAWASAKI ATV, motorcycle, utility vehicle, watercraft. For more information, go to www.BlackHillsPowersports.com or call Todd at 605-342-5500. Located at 3005 Beale Street, Rapid City, SD 57703 (South side of I-90 between exits 60 and 61).

Vortex Racing Products

Vortex Racing Products is the industry leader in Sprintcar Wing design. From humble beginnings in 1995 where we began producing wings for our own use we quickly became engaged in producing wings for other race teams. Inspired by a life-long background in racecar design and manufacturing from our Dad, we (Paul and Lynton) continued to evolve into a company known for producing a product a little different from the rest. This ability to manufacture a Wing that is unique in design is what has been our success. With the use of our own race teams in Australia and America, we continually push the boundaries of design with an extensive testing program of our products each and every year. It is with our understanding of chassis design and manufacturing that we are able to communicate with our clients and tailor a wing package that best suits their driver, team and make of chassis. We call this," The Vortex Advantage". http://www.vortexracingproducts.com.au/

Ossenfort Racing would like to thank the following product sponsors; Weld Racing (www.weldracing.com), Rosenbaum's Signs (www.rosenbaumsigns.com), Wesmar Racing Engines (www.Wesmarracing.com), Don Ott Racing Engine (www.donottracingengines.com), and Maxim Racing Chassis (www.raceMaxims.com)

Jacob at Huset's Speedway (2010 Laca Ossenfort Photo)

KayLea Zumbach
KZ Communications
Newton, IA USA 
[email protected]