Brett Hudson Fights For Top-10 At Kentucky Speedway

Topics:  Brett Hudson, Drive Smart! Buckle Up Kentucky 150

Chris Knight
Brett Hudson Motorsports
May 12, 2008

SPARTA, Kentucky (May 12, 2008) - Part time ARCA RE/MAX Series (ARS) driver Brett Hudson continued to show his strength after posting his first top-10 finish of the year and his second consecutive top-10 effort at Kentucky Speedway in Saturday’s Drive Smart! Buckle-Up Kentucky 150.

Unable to test at the 1.5-mile speedway prior to the series sixth race of the 2008 season, the Brett Hudson Motorsports (BHM) team knew they had their work cut out for them. However, they were coming ready to fight.

The BHM team rolled out their No. 39 Dodge Charger for the first time this season in time for the single practice session of the weekend. During practice, Hudson was able to post a lap of 31.308 seconds amounting to a speed of 172.480 mph locking the team 22nd on the rundown.

“We can’t get our car to turn the way we need to right now,” said Hudson . “I cannot believe how strong this series has gotten since I’ve been here last year. We have a strong car and motor but there’s a lot of great equipment here in the garage. We’re going to make some aggressive changes hoping it will pay off in qualifying.”

During his two lap tango with Kentucky Speedway in ARCA SIM Factory pole qualifying, Hudson maneuvered a lap of 31.292 seconds or 172.568 mph. The effort lined Hudson up 21st on the starting grid.

“We picked up a little bit,” explained Hudson . “We have proven it over the years in ARCA competition that we are a lot better in the race then qualifying. We feel that we’re in the same scenario this weekend. I’m confident in our Brett Hudson Motorsports team and we’ll go for our second straight top-10 finish here at Kentucky .”

At the start of the Drive Smart! Buckle-Up Kentucky 150 Hudson remained collective on the track trying to feel out his Fannon & Rice Cable Construction machine. When the first caution flag waived on lap five, Hudson had clicked off one position and held 20th.

Back to racing, Hudson remained easy on the car and had inched his way forward to 19th when the second caution flag flew on lap 12.

Showing signs of a heavy tight condition on the No. 39 Dodge, Hudson advised his team a chassis adjustment would help as the race progressed.

A caution flag waived on lap 27 with Hudson holding the 15th position. The team would opt to stay out until the next yellow waived.

Solidly into the top-15 and turning respectable lap times to the leaders, Hudson showed his mature driving style and bolted into the top-13 when the next caution flag waived on lap 38.

Hudson brought his Dodge Charger down pit road for his first stop where the team went to work changing four tires, adding Sunoco Racing fuel and a chassis adjustment to help the Owensboro , Kentucky native.

Back to green, Hudson showed that new rubber paid off, charging from the back and into the top-20, Hudson would find himself stalled in the 18th position with 76 laps complete.

The team knew they needed to make another trip down pit road but were contemplating with two tires or four tires and fuel in order to gain positions on the track. With the opportunity coming late in the race, Crew Chief Jared Bartlett made the call to take four tires and fuel. The call proved beneficial.

The final twenty laps of the event would be anything but interesting. A series of tangles, battered sheet metals and tempers would set up for a series of green-white-checkers.

Great driving and patience would see Hudson escape the major carnage and find himself locked into the top-10 heading into the final start of the night. A gallant charge by Bryan Silas and Patrick Sheltra would try and steal the sixth position from Hudson but to no avail.

Hudson crossed the line inches ahead of Sheltra to claim his eighth career top-10 finish in RE/MAX Series competition.

“That wasn’t easy,” said Hudson after the race. “It was a competitive race but became unglued at the end of the race. My spotter did a great job guiding me through everything and I’m happy to walk away with the finish we did. We did not have the best handling car tonight, but we’ll regroup and try and come back stronger in July.”

Hudson added, “Hats off to my all volunteer team. It’s because of them that we were able to finish sixth tonight. Jared ( Bartlett , Crew Chief) made a great call coming down pit road and the guys busted out a fast stop. I can’t thank them enough for giving me 110 percent all weekend.”

The BHM team would like to thank Hudson Machine Shop, G&A Trucking and Fannon & Rice Cable Construction for serving as sponsor’s on the No. 39 at Kentucky Speedway last weekend.

Hudson is next scheduled to compete in the Kentucky 150 at Kentucky Speedway on July 18.

Next up for the ARCA RE/MAX Series is a stop in the sanction’s backyard at Toledo Speedway for the running of the Hantz Group 200 by Federated Auto Care set for Sunday, May 18. The first of two trips this year to the half-mile oval concludes a stretch of six consecutive races for the series 21-race schedule. The green flag is scheduled to waive shortly after 2:00pm EST.

####