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Tom Hessert More Than Ready To Defend Iowa Title

Topics: Tom Hessert, Prairie Meadows 200

Tom Hessert More Than Ready To Defend Iowa Title

Chris Knight
Knight Motorsports Management
Ken Schrader Racing
July 13, 2011

NEWTON, Iowa (July 13, 2011) - - If there has been an event that Tom Hessert III has been patiently waiting for, Iowa Speedway ranks at the top of his list. After notching his first career victory in the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards in last year’s Prairie Meadows 200, Hessert returns to the site this weekend armed and ready to defend his race title.

On the heels of a solid sixth place finish at Berlin (Mich.) Raceway last weekend, a win in Saturday afternoon’s Prairie Meadows 200 would be a boost that Hessert in Ken Schrader Racing’s No. 52 Federated Auto Parts Chevrolet Impala would be more than glad to welcome.

“I have been looking forward to returning to Iowa Speedway all season,” offered Hessert, who will make his third career start at the .875-mile paved oval this weekend. “Even before we scored our first win there last year Iowa was one of my favorite tracks on the ARCA tour. Going back as the defending race winner makes my team and I very excited to get back there.”

The odds of pulling off his second career ARCA win in the 11th race of the 2011 season are grand. Adding ammunition towards the field for yet another victory at Iowa Speedway will come with the guidance and helm of crew chief John Monsam.

“Our car was virtually perfect,” Hessert recalled. “We made some adjustments from practice to qualifying and in the race we just found our niche. John Monsam is a large part of the success that we had all of last season and having him with us this year is awesome. He and I communicate very well and have a great place to start with the car based upon last year’s set up. I feel that with the information we have and with the strong team at KSR we can certainly contended for another win at Iowa Speedway.”

He continued, it’s been too long since Ken Schrader Racing and Federated Auto Parts have been to victory lane, so hopefully we’ll be able to turn that around this weekend.”

Grabbing his seventh top-10 finish in 10 races last weekend places Hessert eighth overall in the championship standings with just nine races remaining. Trailing sixth place competitors Tim George Jr. and Matt Merrell by 95 points and fending off Chad Hackenbracht in ninth whose just 25 markers behind; points are crucial as ever with the series beginning to make a dent in their second half.

“If we can continue our solid finishes, hopefully we can chop off some of our deficit to some of the other drivers and teams and move the KSR team up the ladder,” sounded Hessert. “The competition is tight, maybe even a little tighter than last year, so we just have to remain focused and hope in the end, the points will take care of themselves and we’ll be in the hunt.”

In addition to Federated Auto Parts, Cherry Hill Classic Cars will serve as an associate marketing partner for Hessert’s 75th career ARCA start. In his previous 74 outings, he has maneuvered one win, 14 top-fives and 37 top-10s.

The Prairie Meadows 200 (200 laps / 175 miles) is the 11th of 19 events on the 2011 ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards schedule. The sixth ever ARCA race at Iowa Speedway is a two-day show. Practice begins Friday, July 15th with an hour and twenty minute practice session planned from 3:00 p.m. – 4:20 p.m. A final fifty minute session has been etched in from 5:30 p.m. – 6:20 p.m. Menards Pole by Ansell qualifying is slated for race day, Saturday July 16th set to begin at 12:10 p.m. The event will take the green flag shortly after 4:15 p.m. The event will air live on SPEED. Additional event coverage including live timing and scoring throughout the 1,323rd race for the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards since it was formed in 1953 will be available through the ARCA Racing Network (ARN) online at arcaracing.com presented by ARCANation.com. All times are local.

For more on Tom Hessert III, please visit tomhessert.com.

MEDIA CONTACT: NAME: Chris Knight, Knight Motorsports Management PHONE: 239.834.9797 EMAIL: chris@chrisknightpr.com