Chad Hackenbracht Inhales Experience On ARCA’s Dirt Track; Grabs Top-10

Topics:  Chad Hackenbracht, Allen Crowe 100

Chris Knight
Knight Motorsports Management/CGH Motorsports
August 21, 2011

SPRINGFIELD, Illinois (August 21, 2011) - - There could never be enough learning or gaining experience for ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards driver Chad Hackenbracht in 2011. In his first full season of competition, Hackenbracht’s resume spiked to another level Sunday afternoon when the 19-year old tackled the Illinois State Fairgrounds (Springfield) for the Allen Crowe 100, the first of two dirt track races of the season.

Heading into the 14th race of the season with an open-mind, Hackenbracht and his CGH Motorsports team led by racing veteran Kevin Reed had a simple goal in mind; finish the race.

Sunday’s one-day show induced a hectic schedule which started with a one-hour practice session at 9:00 a.m. Hackenbracht in his No. 58 Tastee Apple Chevrolet Impala SS was one of the first half-of-dozen vehicles to take to the one-mile oval. After gathering stability and control around the Springfield, Illinois race track, eyebrows were raised in the garage area when the No. 58 shot up to the quickest time overall where he remained for the first quarter of the session.

As more cars tackled the track, the quicker the times became which eventually slipped the Mooresville, North Carolina-based team to eighth fastest overall. Considering his inexperience and outpacing those with experience, the effort offered a positive vibe to start off the day for the team.

The New Philadelphia, Ohio native was the 16th of 30 drivers to maneuver a qualifying lap just an hour upon the conclusion of practice. Hackenbracht’s lap produced the 11th quickest lap – a shade of disappointment for the rookie team. Though, the family-owned team would have little time to dwell on their time trials effort as the race stood just an hour and a half upon the completion of Menards Pole by Ansell qualifying.

Taking the green flag shortly after 1:00 p.m., Hackenbracht quickly found himself in a comfort zone maintaining his No. 58 Tastee Apple Chevrolet Impala SS securely inside the top-15.

The first yellow flag of the day would waive just after lap 35, allowing the CGH Motorsports team which had maneuvered into 11th at the time a chance to enter pit road for the team’s mandatory pit stop. Four tires, fuel and a chassis adjustment was the call from Reed on top of the box with Hackenbracht mashing the gas out of a tight pit lane, ultimately lining him up 11th for the restart.

Quickly, Hackenbracht entered the top-10 for the first time of the day by lap 45 where he locked the ninth position on the track. A caution just past half-way would pause the field.

The yellow allowed the up and coming driver to confer with his team about the handling of his No. 58 Tastee Apple Chevrolet Impala SS which continued to try and thwart them throughout the race. Restarting seventh on lap 56, Hackenbracht maintained his presence in the top-10 until a yellow would waive on lap 63. Two laps later, Reed brought his driver down pit road for tires and another chassis adjustment to try and combat their handling woes.

The field returned to green on lap 70 with Hackenbracht in 10th. Close racing with Chris Buescher and Grant Enfinger would slide the CGH Motorsports team back to 12th by lap 77.

Nine laps later, the former Legends champion passed the No. 36 of Enfinger to hold 11th. When another caution waived inside the scheduled final 10 laps of the contest, Reed knew he had nothing to lose by bringing his protégé driver down pit road for one more adjustment hoping to give the team their needed boost to propel back into the top-10.

Restarting 11th on lap 96, Hackenbracht would steer clear of a multi-car incident around him on lap 99 which rose him up to 10th. With ARCA rules mandating that the field finishes the race under the green flag conditions, Hackenbracht and the rest of the field would be thrown into overtime with a lap 105 restart.

When the white and green flags waived simultaneously, Hackenbracht attempted to work his way into ninth around the No. 25 of Josh Richards while fending off the No. 82 of Sean Corr. In the end, Hackenbracht held his ground and took the checkered flag in 10th.

“It was a huge learning experiencing for me,” said Hackenbracht. “We brought a new car to the track that we haven’t raced this year. It was quick off the truck, but ultimately as the track changed, our car changed too. Track position was key as was your line around the racetrack. We pitted a bunch to try and get the car handling right and I think the last time we were back to how it was in practice, but by then we just ran out of laps. We’ll be better going to DuQuoin in two weeks. For our first dirt race, we’re satisfied with 10th.”

Reed offered his thoughts on the Allen Crowe 100. “Chad did an awesome job from the time we unloaded to the time the checkered flag dropped in the race. Practice was flawless, qualifying, we all we’re a little disappointed. Track position proved to be vital during the race. We worked on the car throughout the race and brought home a solid finish. Undoubtedly, the laps Chad gained will help him immensely at DuQuoin in a few weeks. I’m proud of him and this team.”

The team’s effort on Sunday earned them their seventh top-10 finish in the last eight races and eighth top-10 overall which has resulted in Hackenbracht unofficially sitting eighth in the championship standings, just 90 points behind seventh place runner Tim George Jr.

Next up for the ARCA Racing Series is an overdue return to Madison International Speedway for the running of the Herr’s Live Life With Flavor 200. The one-day show is set for Friday, August 26 with the green flag scheduled to waive just after 8:30 p.m. local. The series returns to the half-mile short track for the first time since 1973.

CGH Motorsports still has marketing partnerships available for the remaining 2011 ARCA Racing Series schedule. Interested parties can contact Jordan Dahl at Jordan@cghmotorsports.com or 570.234.5449.

For more information on Chad Hackenbracht and CGH Motorsports, please visit ChadHackenbracht.com and CGHMotorsports.com.

To purchase the popular “What’s A Chad Hacken-Something” tee-shirt, please log on to store.cghmotorsports.com or CGHMotorsports.com.

Connect with Chad Hackenbracht and CGH Motorsports through Facebook by clicking here.

Tweet with Chad Hackenbracht through Twitter at @ChadH58 or CGH Motorsports @CGH5858.

About CGH Motorsports:

CGH Motorsports (CGHMotorsports.com), established in 2007 by Ohio entrepreneur Greg Hackenbracht is located in a 10,000 sq. foot facility located in Concord, North Carolina. CGH Motorsports is home of rising sensation Chad Hackenbracht, who competed in nine ARCA Racing Series races in 2010 after an aggressive ARCA testing schedule in 2009. Chad Hackenbracht is the 2008 National Asphalt Legends champion, winning 33 percent of his races and finishing in the top-10, 85 percent of the events he competed in. The team will step up their commitment from a partial schedule and prepare for a hopeful full-season ARCA championship assault beginning in February 2011.

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