Jimmy Kouba - Journal Archive

We went back to school for the Fourth of July extravaganza at Red River Valley Speedway’s annual World of Outlaws show. We learned a ton and had some minor bad luck, but all in all we came out OK. We were even drafted as a result of our efforts.

To get a jump on the July 4th I-94 traffic, we headed out from home Wednesday night. Deciding the Twin Cities traffic and road construction would be too much to handle, we ventured across the Minnesota countryside for a more sedate and scenic drive. The Holiday Inn parking lot was already loaded with Outlaw rigs. After a great night’s sleep (we woke up sometime around noon J), we were ready to apply all our newfound knowledge.

The Fargo track greeted us with the best news all season, a front starting spot for our heat. WOW!!! The track was heavy, smooth and consequently very fast. We blasted off the line to grab the lead. Despite a couple of cautions, we were able to comfortably hold off area hot foot Jake Peters. Even better news came down after the race; we had the faster times of all 360s in all heats. In a very close second was Jake Peters. Our times were in the 17.20s and 17.30s. That sounds really impressive until you compare it to the Outlaw times. A new track record was set in the high 14 second mark. That is movin’!!!

Onward to the feature, luck was not quite with us as we drew a 3rd row start as a reward for our heat win. Worse though was our misread of the track. We thought it was drying out some during the Outlaw feature. So we tightened the car a bit. This was a bit too much as the Fargo water table was drawn back to the surface making the track very tacky once again. That was when our bit of bad luck hit. While battling back in the 8th to 12th area, the car decided to shed its right front torsion arm. I managed to keep the car under control, but even better everyone else managed to not run over me. Our night was done with a DNF and a 21st out of 29 cars. Jake Peters took the win.

Round two began Friday with more good fortune, a second row start for the heat. Wanting to keep the car loose and therefore hopefully fast we charged out for another go. On the start, we briefly held second, but then managed to work our way back to fifth. Through the mystery of the lineup process we started 6th row outside for the feature. By feature time, the Outlaws had used up the track and deposited a fair load of rubber for us to run on. The track was rubber-fast, a tricky combination, but one we are used to and usually like. After having moved up to 8th (roughly), I missed the groove heading into turn 3. A close brush with the turn 3 wall left me dogging about 7 spots further back. Yuck and dang-nabbitt (or something close to that any way)! I managed to retrieve a couple of those spots but could only eek out an 11th place finish. Jake Peters again took the win.

The third and final round didn’t start off well. We drew the donkey spot in the last heat. Although the car felt good, I couldn’t find a line fast enough to pass out of the tail end spot. Had I listened to my mechanic and made the change she wanted, I believe we would have had one heck of a car. Trailing near the tail I pulled in after what I thought was the checkered. Usually, I always stay out for an insurance lap, just in case I misread the flag…usually, I stay on the gas as long as I see the green light. Usually… but not this time. Pulling in a lap early we were credited with last in the heat. This meant we were to start 26th out of 28 cars for the feature. We had a good car and did move through the field. Good, but not great (I still wasn’t listening to my mechanic. I think she would have had me fired if I didn’t know the car owner so well.) We had a good run finishing 15th. More was possible as Roger Rager started behind us and managed to find his way up to 7th. Next time I’ll listen. (What’s that movie line, “Don’t think Meat, just drive”…). Loren Langerud took the win in a home town kind of night. North Dakota’s own Donny Schatz finally bought home the big one at home in Fargo.

So what’s this about being drafted? Remember, we were attempting to qualify for an invitation to the Brodix Tournament of Champions (ToC). To do this we needed to move up to third in points from our current 4th place. Well we didn’t get that job done. WISSOTA’s representatives will be Chuck Swenson, Loren Langerud, and Rob Caho Jr. We did stay in 4th and that qualified us as the WISSOTA alternate. Here’s where the draft comes in. The Empire Super Sprints (out of the east coast area) were allocated 10 spots in the ToC roster. Only five drivers from that sanctioning body entered the event. I, along with three other alternates, will fill out the ESS field for their qualifying races, making the 4 of us temporary ESS cars. I can’t wait to meet my new compatriots. I can hear it now, “Jimmy who???” The ToC event will be held in Knoxville, Iowa on August 4th. This is the weekend before the infamous Knoxville Nationals. Come early and catch the best of the 360s in action, then stay for the granddaddy of big-time sprint car racing.

Next up… a weekend off. Then we head to Alexandria, MN on July 20, followed by Watertown, SD on the 21st. One of these days we WILL have the whole picture together.