Not only is the 19-year old determined to strut his stuff on the DuQuoin turf, but he is also serious about bouncing back from last Friday night’s misfortune at Madison International Speedway where an engine failure relegated the team to a 23rd place finish.
“I’m going into DuQuoin with the same outlook that I had for Springfield,” said Hackenbracht, a native of New Philadelphia, Ohio. “This dirt racing has the ability to be pretty intense. I learned that in Springfield. In a way though looking back at a couple weeks ago, I’m sure what I gathered there can help me on Monday.”
When asked about his thoughts of dirt racing being included in the ARCA Racing Series schedule, he said. “It’s something that I’ve never experienced before, that’s for sure. If everything is going right, it can be a lot of fun. I had a lot of fun, but I’ll admit, I was disappointed with a 10th (Springfield). Realistically, I think we can improve on that immensely at DuQuoin.”
In order to stay in contention, the rising phenom knows that tire conservation is crucial to success. Hackenbracht explained, “It was interesting how the lap times dropped and the car’s handling changed as the tires became worn. I’ve done a lot of talking since Springfield with some more drivers hoping to learn just a little more about this dirt racing and hopefully it will pay off.”
Knowing that the historical events on the dirt bring all sorts of racecar drivers out of the woodwork, the rising phenom will grip onto their footsteps and see if he can’t learn even more before taking the green flag in the 16th race of the season.
“Ron (Cox) was someone I learned a lot from,” Hackenbracht recalled from Springfield. “He didn’t have the fastest car in the field, but he knew what he was doing. Looking at the entry list, there’s going to be some new players in the mix, so maybe I can learn something from them too.”
Just four races remain on the calendar in 2011 with the CGH Motorsports team occupying eighth in the championship chase. Hackenbracht in the back of his mind has set a realistic goal for season’s end. “I’m hoping to fight our way into the top-five,” he said. “I know our setback at Madison has tried to thwart our goal for the end of the year, but we’re fighters. We’re just going to keep racing as hard as we can and let the points fall into place.” Entering DuQuoin, Hackenbracht stands just 235 points from locking the fifth position.
The family-owned CGH Motorsports led by 2010 ARCA Racing Series crew chief of the year Kevin Reed has elected to bring the same No. 58 Tastee Apple Chevrolet Impala SS they competed with in the Allen Crowe 100 at Springfield. At one time, the same vehicle was driven by NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Jeff Gordon. The former Phoenix (Ariz.) International Raceway and Martinsville (Va.) Speedway automobile has been specifically transformed to handle the adverse conditions of the DuQuoin State Fairgrounds.
“I have told Chad we were ok at Springfield,” offered Reed. “He got a lesson in dirt racing and we have gone back to work and fine-tuned a few things and are prepared and ready for a solid top-five run. We have had a run of bad luck here over the past few weeks and looking to turn our season back around on Monday and finish out the last four races in preparation for a 2012 championship effort.”
Starting this past Tuesday, Hackenbracht and the Thunder Crew will offer a question that pertains to Hackenbracht or the CGH Motorsports team every Tuesday until the end of the 2011 ARCA season. The first contestant who correctly emails in the answer will win a “What’s A Chad Hacken-Something” tee-shirt and a box of apples courtesy of Tastee Apple.
Hackenbracht sees the game as a way of opening his waive of communication with his fan-base which he realizes is crucial as he tries to climb the ladder in Motorsports competition.
“I enjoy hanging out with the fans. Without them, there is no racing and that’s a fact. What I love about the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards is at almost every event we try and have an autograph session either at the track or near the track.
It’s great to interact with new fans and see the old ones keep coming back. After a while you build a relationship with them and while that’s important to them, it’s even more important to me. Hearing the crowd cheer as your name is called in driver introductions makes us realize how truly lucky I am.”
The Southern Illinois 100 presented by Federated Auto Parts (100 laps / 100 miles) is the 16th of 19 events on the 2011 ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards schedule. The 29th ARCA event held at the DuQuoin State Fairgrounds is a one-day show. Practice begins Monday, September 5 with a one hour practice session planned from 9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. Menards Pole by Ansell qualifying is slated to begin at 11:00 a.m. The field will take the green flag that afternoon shortly after 1:00 p.m. The event will not be televised but race coverage including live timing and scoring throughout the 1,328th 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.
CGH Motorsports still has marketing partnerships available for the remaining 2011 ARCA Racing Series schedule and all of 2012. 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 Mooresville, 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 has stepped up their commitment from a partial schedule in 2010 to a full-effort in 2011 with the prospects of a two-car operation in 2012.
- CGH Motorsports Press Release
