Derek Hagar is working to improve the Paul Hart No. 44 sprint car on heavy track conditions.
Hagar was hampered by a mechanical struggle last weekend during the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series Spring Classic hosted by Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55.
“The track was heavy and that was the first heavy track we’ve run with this motor combination,” he said. “We talked to Scuba, who is (Donny) Schatz’s crew chief. This was one of their old motors. He was like, ‘This thing is made for a bigger track and not these smaller tracks.’ We kept having to throw gear to it. I was like 25 more points of gear than I normally run at Pevely.”
Hagar qualified 18 th quickest in his group on Friday before he hustled from ninth to seventh place in a heat race and from 10 th to fifth place in the Last Chance Showdown. That was tied for the most positions gained and was only one spot out of transferring into the main event.
“It played into our favor as the track slicked off later in the night so we could race,” he said. “We had the car rolling pretty nice.
“On Saturday the track had more moisture in it and we just couldn’t get going. Qualifying put us behind the eight ball. Having to start in the back of the heat race and deep in the LCS, it just wasn’t our weekend.”
Hagar timed in 36 th quickest overall and finished eighth in a heat race and 11 th in the Last Chance Showdown on Saturday.
“I’m going to A.G. Rains’ today for the chassis dyno,” he said. “We need to get more bottom end out of it to make this thing run on heavy tracks. It’ll run good on a slick track. Pevely is the first track we’ve run that has had moisture and it really slowed us.”
The team is going to forgo racing this weekend. Next up for Hagar will be a Kubota High Limit Racing event at Riverside International Speedway in West Memphis, Ark., on Tuesday.
“We’re getting ready to race with guys that have raced 20 times already this year,” he said. “It’s my home track so I feel like I have somewhat of a home-field advantage, but these guys are on kill every time they unload. They have a good baseline and I’m trying to find a good baseline for this No. 44 car. I have high expectations as a home-town boy trying to compete with these guys.”
QUICK RESULTS –
April 12 – Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55 in Pevely, Mo. – Qualifying: 18; Heat race: 7 (9); B Main: 5 (10).
April 13 – Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55 in Pevely, Mo. – Qualifying: 36; Heat race: 8 (9); B Main: 11 (13).
SEASON STATS –
3 races, 0 wins, 0 top fives, 0 top 10s, 0 top 15s, 0 top 20s
UP NEXT –
Tuesday at Riverside International Speedway in West Memphis, Ark., with the Kubota High Limit Racing series
ILP PR
