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| Fourth Win of the Season: Keith Butler wins at Citrus County Speedway |
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Date: April 25, 2009 Series: Checkered Flag Sprint Series Location: Citrus County Speedway in Inverness, FL Start/ Finish: 7th/1st (Running, completed 30 of 30 laps) Winner: Keith Butler This weekend the KJ Motorsports Team continued their asphalt season by competing in a Checkered Flag Sprint Series sanctioned race at Citrus County Speedway in Inverness, FL. This is the first race of the season for the KJ Motorsports team at Citrus.With no damage at the last event at Charlotte County, the team concentrated on maintaining the cars between races and changing the setup for a slightly different track. A total of 18 cars showed up for the Checkered Flag Sprint Series event. The 18 cars were broken up into 3 heat races. Keith was in the first heat and started 2nd. The heat was started with Jason Bradford on the pole. Keith was able to get by Jason early in the heat and was able to win with about a ½ a straightaway lead in the 8 lap event. Amanda was in the third heat and started 2nd. Amanda had battled a tight car through the practice runs and this continued in the heat race. Amanda had her hands full with the #20 car, the adjustment they made before the heat made the car drivable, but there was still something missing. This was also her second race ever at Citrus County Speedway. Amanda finished the heat 5th without any damage, but determined to find what was wrong with the car. Between the heat and the feature, the KJ Motorsports crew worked on both cars to get them ready for the feature. Keith's car needed an adjustment to the front panhard bar. Amanda's car needed both a wedge change. Trying to diagnose Amanda's cars problems, the team looked at the shocks and springs. It was found that the wedge adjuster nut had backed off on one of Amanda's shocks. This created quite a problem for the setup. The car could be put back on the scales, but the ground in the pit area did not have a flat area to get the scale pads set correctly.Eventually the ride heights were brought back to the setup-sheet heights. This was the best solution that was available at the track. With all these changes made, the cars were ready to roll for the feature. Seventeen cars were able to make it out for the start of the 30 lap feature race. As the cars lined up, David Slawiak and Jason Bradford made up the front row. Keith started the race in 7th and Amanda started in the 11th position. The green flag flew and the race started smoothly. Keith got a great start and was passing cars on the outside.By the end of lap 5, Keith had passed 4 cars and working toward the leader David Slawiak. Keith has a different way of getting around Citrus than other drivers. Keith is very comfortable at the top of the track. Many of the tracks at which KJ Motorsports competes, the upper groove is under used or very choppy, so running up there is not the preferred line. At Citrus, the upper groove is very smooth and Keith has loved to run up there for many years. In addition to being setup to run there, not having other drivers in your path is a great benefit. By lap 7, Keith had caught David Slawiak.Between turns 3 and 4, Slawiak's steering wheel came loose and he pushed up toward the outside wall, as he got it back on. With that opportunity, Keith drove to the inside of Slawiak and led lap 8. Although loosing a few spots, Slawiak was able to continue and no caution was thrown. Keith, now leading, was able to set sail and soon was lapping the back of the field. "I had to watch myself; the car was driving too good. I got out there and started slowing down. I got back on the wheel and started getting after it." Keith said. As the laps were winding down, Keith had lapped up to 8th place.Keith took the checkered flag in the 30 lap feature race that ran without a single caution. Amanda had a rough run battling the car all night. She stayed out of trouble and spent her time learning about Citrus County. Amanda brought the car home in 13th position. This is Keith's fourth win of the season. Keith is the Checkered Flag Sprint Series point's leader. KJ Motorsports will next compete, with the Checkered Flag Sprint Series race on May 2nd at the Charlotte County Motorsports Park in Punta Gorda, FL. Media Kits, Head shots and Car Shots are all available on request. Please Email Jenn at KJMotorsports@aol.com Also Check out KJ Motorsports at our web site: Keithbulter.homestead.com Based in Riverview, FL, KJ Motorsports fields the No. 19 Chevrolet Sprint Car. With Sponsorship from JB Banta Enterprises, Eagle Jet International, Gulf American Contracting, Four Star Products, Maverick Concrete Cutting and Core Drilling and Ram Engineering, the team will run a select schedule in Florida and the Southeast and and compete in national sprint car events. The program now in its 9th year utilizes racecars developed in-house and in conjunction with Shaw Racing Products. |
