Shake Up Jacob – Steady As He Goes

NEWTON (August 4, 2011) – It was a giant weekend for Jacob and the Ossenfort Racing team. They didn't just hit up foreign tracks but foreign countries as well and it was all in four days!

Night one landed the Knology #99J crew at Red River Coop Speedway in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada to race with the All Star Circuit of Champions. No one on the team had any idea what they were getting into and everyone just went with a shot in the dark. Hot laps turned out alright. "We just kind of guessed the best we could. Turns out it wasn't such a bad guess." Jacob said. Jacob qualified eighth, which put him on the front row, outside, in second place for the start of his heat. "All I had to do was get my time back for a good starting spot in the A-Main, so I had to at least finish the heat. I spun my tires on the start and a few cars got by me, so I decided not to push it," said Jacob. The Knology #99J started eighth for the night's A-Main event and didn't even have a chance to get a feel for the race, because on the first lap there was a collision which sent Jacob into a 360; luckily Jacob was able to keep the car under power and drove himself right out of the spin. "I knew after that, that I had my work cut out for me!" Jacob said. The spin put Jacob and the #99J all the way back to seventeenth. Although the track turned out to be more of a one lane kind of race, Jacob found some magic as he came out of the corner and was able to start passing a few cars using his sweet spot. He finished the night with a hard fought eleventh place.

Night two took the team back to the States, where they stopped by the River Cities Speedway in Grand Forks, North Dakota. Their event was a points race for their weekly series, and because Jacob showed up by surprise, he had no point average to help him out. The best position that Jacob could get for the A-Main event, even if he won his heat, was ninth place. So, Jacob started in the back of his heat and worked his way through some traffic, passing a few cars to land him a fifth place finish, this put the Knology #99J in the eighteenth starting position for the A-Main. Jacob mastered the track, picking off cars one by one, as he reeled them in. "The whole race I was just trying to pick off cars as I went and trying to drive wherever I could. The track was really racey, so I just put my car wherever they weren't. I had no specific line, just a mission. I suppose my strategy paid off." Jacob had to say. And paid off it did. Jacob ended the second night with a very hard earned ninth place finish. "I was excited! The last time I ran up there was with the Outlaws and we were taken out in hot laps. I didn't even get to go back on the track. It was fund passing those nine cars, but someday I hope to get all the way to the front from way back there."

Night three took place at the Dacotah Speedway in Mandan, North Dakota for the Governor's Cup race with the Northern Outlaw Sprint Association series. All of the cars on the track for hot laps turned the track slick in no time. "I knew it was going to be interesting when I went out for hot laps and it was already spitting dust." Jacob said. The Knology #99J started fourth for his heat race, and knew his set up was going to be off just a bit. "The track was already taking rubber. I knew I wasn't going to tight enough," said Jacob. The Knology #99J fought hard to keep his fourth place position, but was unfortunately passed by one car just before the checkered flag flew. Jacob finished his heat in fifth place. "After the heat we made some changes and I was really confident. I like the tracks that you have to drive easy and smooth on, like this one." Jacob said. With all of the rubber already on the track, it was wise for Jacob to drive only as hard as he needed to and not too hard. "I was getting a little nervous when people started blowing their tires." Jacob found his sweet spot again, passing cars as he came out of the corner, by doing this he made his way up to fourth place, where he finished for the night. "It was a great race! And now I know what kind of car I would like to have when the track starts taking rubber like that too." Jacob had to say.

Night number four was the last night of the weekend. It ended at Huset's Speedway in Brandon, South Dakota, racing with the All Star Circuit of Champions one more time. As many of you know, Huset's is famed for its cushion and by the time qualifying was set to start, the giant cushion had already taken its place. "I was a little nervous. A car wrecked on the cushion in qualifying; but each time I go back to Huset's I'm always a little more comfortable, so I didn't let it get to me like it could have." Jacob said. The #99J qualified in twentieth fastest, which put him the seventh place starting position for his heat. Jacob had to get at least sixth in his heat to get into the A-Main. He was on his way to the front when all of the sudden the car just wouldn't turn. "I knew it wasn't good when it wouldn't go through the next corner either. I guess it's kind of hard to drive the car when the power steering isn't doing what it should." Jacob said. Upon review of things after the heat, the team discovered that the power steering fluid was low. With that minor setback, Jacob ran the B-Main where he finished fourth. The top six finishers from the B-Main were transferred to the A-Main, where Jacob started twentieth. The Knology #99J passed his way to sixteenth and fought for fifteenth for the last few of the laps, even making it three wide, passing both a lap and going for the guy in fifteenth. It came down the finish line, where Jacob came out just ahead, giving him the fifteenth finishing position for the main. "It was very exciting! It was just the way to end our weekend." Jacob said.

Jacob and the Ossenfort racing team will be taking the weekend off this weekend, but they'll be back soon! Stay tuned to www.ossenfortracing.com for the latest updates!

Online

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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 Dacotah Speedway in Mandan, North Dakota (2011)

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