Decked out in a slick looking pink No. 52 Federated Auto Parts Chevrolet Impala continuing to bring attentiveness to Breast Cancer Awareness month, Hessert looks to close out his first season driving for Ken Schrader Racing (KSR) with high marks.
In all respect, the former CARS Pro Cup Series pilot has had a respectable season. Filled with some bumps along the way, the Cherry Hill, New Jersey has still proven that he has the ability to get the job done even under the toughest situations. Entering the season finale, Hessert and his Donnie Richeson-led team have inherited six top-fives and 12 top-10 finishes including a season-best of second on the road course of New Jersey Motorsports Park (NJMP).
Victory had been in the clutches of the team on several occasions this year, but for one reason or another, the grasps of clinching onto a trophy or spraying champagne have been derailed. Still, one race remains and it comes at a track where Hessert has boasted success.
With his eighth start at the half-mile oval on deck for Sunday afternoon, the former NASCAR Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car ace is thriving on three top-fives including a then career-best of third in 2009 before mounting a third and seventh last year driving for Cunningham Motorsports. Despite an uncharacteristic 14th place run in May, the popular ARCA driver is eager to put his No. 52 Federated Auto Parts Chevrolet Impala back at the top.
“Overall, Toledo Speedway has been a relatively good track for me,” said Hessert, who finished 13th last Friday night at Kansas Speedway. “We didn’t quite have the run we were looking for earlier in the year, but we’ve worked immensely hard on our short track program since then and I feel we have as good of a shot as any to win on Sunday afternoon.”
“It’s truly been a blessing to work with the folks at Federated Auto Parts,” Hessert continued. “I’ve really enjoyed getting to meet all of the corporate representatives and a lot of their cliental. I know just like the spring race, we’re going to have a lot of support in the grandstands on Sunday, so hopefully with their cheers and chants, we can thank them for their support by being the first one to take the checkered flag.”
Mathematically, despite locking the seventh position in the ARCA Racing Series championship standings, just 125 points separate Hessert for leaping into the fifth position. With a grueling and expected 200-lap torrid battle set for Sunday, the 25-year old knows that he will need a picture-perfect day to bring that statistic to fruition but he’ll also need his competitors to have some misfortune as well.
“No one wants to see anyone have any bad luck, but that could be on our gain on Sunday,” Hessert humbling said. “It’s been a very competitive season, so finishing strong has been extremely important towards gaining those valuable crucial points. We’ve been plagued by some bad luck that has us ultimately sitting where we are now, but we’re going in to fight this weekend and whatever happens, we’ll take it in stride.”
In addition to Federated Auto Parts, Cherry Hill Classic Cars will serve as an associate marketing partner for Hessert’s 83rd career ARCA start. In his previous 82 outings, he has maneuvered one win, 18 top-fives and 42 top-10s.
The Federated Car Care 200 (200 laps / 100 miles) is the 19th of 19 events on the 2011 ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards schedule. The 70th ARCA race at Toledo Speedway is a two-day show. Practice begins Saturday, October 15 with a forty five minute practice session planned from 12:00 p.m. – 12:45 p.m. A final forty five minute “happy hour” session has been etched in from 1:40 p.m. – 2:25 p.m. Menards pole qualifying presented by Ansell is set for later in the day slated to begin at 4:00 p.m. A one hour on-track autograph session has been etched in from 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. on race day (Sunday). The contest will take the green flag shortly after 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, October 16. The event will be televised live on SPEED with additional race coverage including live timing and scoring throughout the 1,331st 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.
To join Hessert and Ken Schrader Racing in their plan to spread the message about Breast Cancer awareness and to order you own “Pink” KSR memorabilia, please visit SchraderRacing.com.
- Ken Schrader Racing Press Release
