Jimmy Kouba - Journal Archive

This year has been the tale of seasons. Our first half of the year was not our best. Heck, I don't think I've had a string of finishes and DNFs like it in nearly 10 years. But the second half of our season has really turned around. With one race remaining (barring rain or SNOW off the chilly Superior shores in mid-October), our season is starting to feel more like a good one.

At my last writing, we were headed to Wissota's Western 100 event at Aberdeen, SD. Aberdeen must have appeased the rain gods, as the various storms moving through the upper mid-west all avoided that area of north-eastern South Dakota, while thoroughly soaking parts of North Dakota and Minnesota. Sprints only ran on the last day of the Western 100's three day program. We ran a full show of heats and features, while the other classes ran their A and B main finales. The sprints came out in force, fielding 33 cars. The field included many of the best racers in the upper mid-West.

We drew a 2nd row outside spot in the 4th (and last) heat. In an effort to keep the track from becoming too slick or rubbered-up, officials opted to water it down just before the our heat pushed off. After running the slime off the surface with many parade laps and a few hot laps, our heat had the stickiest surface of any of the sprint heats. This was not quite what we had set-up for... but the car was comfortable and fast enough to earn a 3rd place finish. This qualified us for the A main, but would mean a 6th row start.

Even back in the 6th row, we were in fast company for the start of the feature. Brad Pake was behind us and I could see Micah Schliemann and Greg Nikitenko from my cockpit. Again track officials opted to water the track right before our event. Now, when I say "water" I mean water. This wasn't a fine misting to damp the surface; it was a good soaker. The full field of 24 sprints spent multiple laps packing in the slime and then proceeded through a very hairy 24 car hot-lap session. Our car felt good and I knew we'd be OK, probably not too fast at the start when the track would have a little tack in it, but we'd be strong at the end when it slicked up a bit. However, I didn't hold a lot of hope for a miracle win. During our hot laps Pake motored by me on the cushion like he was shot out of a cannon. I tried the line and while it was good, I had nothing compared to Brad. Neither did anyone else from what I could see.

At the drop of the green, we all hauled down the short front straightaway. Nearly the entire outside column misjudged the corner entry and 4-5 of us headed over the turn one bank. I was the last one over (I think). The dust and dirt were as thick as a London fog; I couldn't see a thing. Thinking I was likely going to hit someone, I looped the car and slammed the brakes, stalling my mount out somewhere behind turn two. As the dust cleared, I was surprise to see only the car of Scott Butz nearby. (I found out later Scott was the only car I came close to hitting, but luckily for both it was a miss.) Because of our stalled condition Scott and I went to the back of the 24 car field, while Roger -the racer - Rager and others retook their original spot (they had not stalled and by Wissota Sprint rules were not sent to the back). What looked to a promising chance at a top 5 was looking pretty dim. But the car was still in good shape with no bent parts, so I hunkered down in the seat and threw up my elbows for what I thought would be a challenging 30 laps. The car was great. We moved up through the field fast and soon found our way to 12th. Then something happened that I haven't had happen in 9 years or so... Coming off turn 2 with another car set-up to pass, my trusty motor let go. Not a big smoke-filled bang, but a little clunk. Powerless, I tried to keep the car straight and hoped for everything I was worth that everyone would miss me. The field had cleared me by turn 4, so I coasted the car off the track under the flagstand. There I sat like a sitting duck for 2 laps until an on-track incident brought out a yellow. Officials discovered my presence during the yellow and I was pushed back to my pit. The final diagnosis: a broken rod. The oil pan developed a few holes, looking like a load of buckshot went off from the inside. After 30+ shows (this year since its freshening), my mighty motor had retired. Who can complain after that many races and that many years without any significant motor problems? Not me! Brad Pake went on to take the win by a HUGE margin over second place (and second starting) Loren Langerud.

We debated whether to call it a season, swap parts on to the partial motor we have for a spare, or put in the Woodke ASCS motor we had borrowed for Knoxville. After a brief call to L.L. Woodke, the debate was over. As soon as I said that our motor had expired, Loren’s said, “Well it’s a good thing you’ve got another to put in.” That settled, Jamie and I swapped motors. But we still had to cure our fueling problems that plagued us at Knoxville. We poured over our motor’s settings and found a few things we had neglected to adjust before going to Knoxville. With our fingers crossed, we were ready for the inaugural Mighty Axe Nationals at North Central Speedway in Brainerd.

The Mighty Axe Nationals were a two-day event and would wind up a mini-series of Wissota Sprint events held at North Central Speedway throughout 2002. As a bonus incentive, both nights of racing were sponsored by Bud Jones and Sons Auto Salvage out of Onamia, MN, which, if you didn’t know, is where I grew up. Mike and Bill Jones now operate the business on behalf of Momma Marian. Besides that fact, Mike and Bill have been my friends for about as long as I can remember (that may not say much now that I’ve turned 40 and my kids believe me to be senile). In any case, next to Dad’s memorial race, this was one event I really wanted to do well at (not to mention it paid very well to win). On Saturday, the track conditions looked to be heading in our favor for first time this year at Brainerd. It was going to be dry slick. With 30 cars present, we would need all the help we could get. We started 4th in our heat. Despite being a little conservative in our set-up, we ran up to 2nd behind Larry Ball Jr. I made a couple moves on the high side, but couldn’t quite pull off the pass. We settled for a comfortable second that put us in the redraw for the feature line-up. By virtue of his 5th place finish in his heat, Joseph Kouba was relegated to the B-main to attempt to earn an A main start. Joseph jumped into the lead from the get-go. Driving a smooth and steady line, he stretched out for a comfortable win; the first feature win of any kind in his young career. Congrats Kid!!!

You just gotta love starting on the pole. We drew #1 for the feature. Knowing how slick it had been in the heat, Jamie pulled out all the tricks for the feature. With Jerry Richert Jr. on my flank, we sailed in for the green flag. It was a drag race to the first turn, but knowing how well our car was stuck, I took it in harder and deeper and snatched the lead. Now if I could only hold it for 30 laps!?

Soon into the race, I was into lapped traffic. With my loss of the lead at Watertown still fresh in my mind, I was sharper and more aggressive in traffic. It didn’t hurt that the car could work anywhere on the track. I began working through traffic, not quite sure who would be on my tail ready to take advantage of my mistakes. It went well until I came up on a group of three cars battling hard for position. The back car was Rob Caho Jr. My usual outside pass wasn’t working, so I decided to charge in low to slip by in the middle of the turn where most of the guys, including Rob, would drift out a little. About that time, Rob was forced to check up as the guys in front of him had a bit of trouble. I was too committed to move and going too fast to miss. So I lined Rob up as square as possible for the inevitable plug to his rear bumper. As I hit, I popped a little wheelie and got more then a little out of shape. The car and I managed to straighten out. Rob, fortunately, handled his mount well, and made room for me down the front straight. That was way to close. Figuring I had squandered any lead I may have had, I stepped up my efforts and moved through the next batch of cars much faster (and safer). Just after lapping the 12th place car, the yellow flew. Dang-nabbit!!! Any cushion I had made through the lapped cars would be gone. My car was starting to loosen up and all the fast guys would be right on my tail at the restart. I felt better after finding there were only 2 laps to go… time to be heads up. The restart was anti-climactic. We held first and stretched it a little, bringing home our 3rd win of the season. Jerry Richert Jr. was second followed by Roger Rager, Larry Ball Jr. and Tony Hargrave. You should see the trophy: a gold-plated double-bit axe with “Bud Jones and Sons” emblazoned on the axe head. This one’s for you Bud. Thanks!

The second night didn’t shape up well for us. We drew about the worse start we could get. Plus, in an attempt to overcome the over-slick problems of the day before, the track was wet and rough at the outset. After much rework of the surface, the track was in good shape for the heat, but I just couldn’t tell what it was going to do. From our tail-end start, we managed to sneak up a few spots to 5th. Thanks to the failed mount of Wade Nygaard, we snuck up to 4th and a A-main transfer by the drop of the checkered. Although in the A, we would be starting 16th.

The car was good, but not great. Both Jamie and I expected some stick in the track, but little was there. We were further confused during close inspection of the track during a first lap red flag. The accident happened off turn 2 when 4-5 of the mid-pack cars got heavily tangled causing at least one roll-over. We had narrowly squeaked by the accident in progress, through a small gap next to the wall. Jamie checked the track over while the wreckage was being cleared. The straightaway was sticky, very sticky, except for a narrow path next to the wall. Not wanting to put on a wheelie exhibition, we made a few changes, but stayed conservative in set-up for the restart. That appeared to be the wrong choice. We moved up a lot due to the wreck, but only advanced a few spots on our own. The final finish was 8th. Brett Geldner took home an impressive win reminiscent of the night before. He was followed by Joe Kouba who had out-dueled Rager for second. Ball, Rager and Curt Lund rounded out the top 5.

But wait there’s more to the story… North Central Speedway had put together a point fund for their mini-series of sprint races, sponsored by WW Thompson Concrete Products. Going into the week-end we were 6th in points for the series. Our solid runs this week allowed us to catch and pass the series leaders of Chuck Swenson and Loren Langerud. The 2K can again claim victory as we brought home the championship and the largest share of the $3000 point fund. Thanks to Jamie and crew for a great weekend with a happy ending.

WW Thompson Concrete Products Sprint Series champion, sounds pretty nice…

Next up (weather permitting). Superior Speedway in Superior, WI for the Wissota Race of Champions on Oct 11.