2010 - It want be long now!
Kenny and The #21c Racing Team has worked hard over the winter to change his Barry Wright Race Car from a crate car to a limited late model car. We are looking forward to the start of the 2010 season and plan to follow the Southeastern Limited Late Model Series as well as race at several local tracks. Continue checking back for updates and new photos!
News
We just received notification that Kenny is the Runner-Up in the Rolling Thunder Favorite Crate Late Model Driver awards! He wishes to send a huge thank you to all of his fans - racing fans are one the reasons racing is so enjoyable! Also - thank you to Bill Kellett for hosting the Rolling Thunder Favorite Driver Awards each year!
December 5 - Hartwell & Lavonia Speedway Points Banquet
Kenny received 5th place in the points this year. He was very excited to receive this honor and appreciates all of the support he receives from his sponsors, fans and family. Without everyone's support it would not be possible!
October 31 - Lavonia Speedway
Races canceled due to cold temps.
October 24 - Hartwell Speedway
After working all week and getting the back-up motor in the car, Kenny experienced problems during hot lap. The car was not running well and he pulled in. After Robin, Kenny and Darrell Garbiel checked over everything under the hood, they determined a carburator problem. It was fixed but it did not give him time to make the changes he needed to on the suspension. After a not so steller qualifying run, Kenny ened up with an 8th place finish.
October 16-17-18 - Lavonia Speedway - GA State Championship Weekend
Friday night - Practice only for the crate cars.
Saturday night - It rained and was cold. Late on Saturday evening, the managament canceled all racing for the evening and rescheduled for Sunday. We were already at the track and had carried extra clothes due to rainey conditions so we ended up camping out with the VIP Racing Team of Tyler Brown and family. It was a great time with some great friends and racers including Chad Hoopaugh, Ethan Hunter, Daniel Wilson and friends. Boy did it get cold when the sun went down!
Sunday - Kenny qualified and felt like his car was a little down on power. As the race went on, the car started to lose power and lose oil pressure. He ended up being credited with a 12th place finish.
October 10 - Hartwell Speedway
This was a special night for the owners of Hartwell Speedway and their family. This was the Tommy Roberts Memorial Championship Race. Kenny had a good qualifying run and finished 5th in the race.
October 3 - Modoc (SC) Speedway
Kenny traveled to Modoc Speedway on Saturday night to compete at one of his favorite tracks. Kenny qualified 7th out of a tough field of 19 cars. When the race began, Kenny was very pleased that he had qualified as well as he did against such a strong group of cars in only his 3rd time at the track. After the first few laps, Kenny found himself in 4th and was having a great run. Several laps after a late race caution, Kenny's car pushed up exiting turn 4 and several cars got by him dropping him to 8th place. With only a few laps reamining Kenny settled for 8th and was very disappointed after running in the top 4 for most of the night. Kenny and Robin looked over the car on Monday night and determined what they think caused it to push. The crew will make adjustments to the set-up and carry on to our next race.
3 Cars - 3 States - 3 Nights
That was the plan for the weekend beginning Friday, September 25th through Sunday, September 27th!
On Friday Night, Kenny and Chad raced at Westminster (SC). Kenny had a dismal qualifying effort and started the race in 14th. The car looked like pond water as it came off the turn - just wading a lot like water does in a pond. After making several changes on the car and dodging several wrecks throughout the race, Kenny finished the night in 6th. We were very pleased to start that far back and bring the car home without any damage! Chad finished 3rd in the Enduro car and our team arrived home at 4:15am. Robin, in the mean time, was in Phenix City (AL) for the Alabama State Championship event with the #27 Whitehead Trucking Limited Late Model car. He had several practice sessions and really liked the track! This was his first time to race at EAMS.
On Saturday night, the plan was for Kenny and Chad to race at Hartwell (GA) and Robin would practice and qualify at EAMS (AL). Rain changed all that. Kenny and I had our bags packed and ready to head to EAMS cause the skys were looking rough over GA. As soon as Hartwell canceled due to bad weather, Kenny, Chris and Kim headed to Alabama. We arrived around 7:30 pm after driving in a huge rain storm. Robin had already qualified and failed to make the main event by a couple of positions. This would require him to run a consi on Sunday morning. All racing at EAMS was postponed Saturday night due to a heavy rain storm. After Kenny bought and cooked a huge tenderlion between rain showers, Kenny, Chris, & Kim headed to the hotel for the night. Robin stayed at the track in Pete's toterhome.
Sunday morning came and so did the sun!!!! Robin ran in the first consi and had a very good run finishing 2nd and making the big show. We were all excited for him because this was his first time to race at EAMS. Kenny once again cooked for us - this time hot dogs on the grill. 45 Limited Late Model cars attempted to make the show and 24 of them were successful in doing so including Robin. Robin started the main event in 21st. He passed several cars on the outside and had the #27 Whitehead Trucking machine on a move. Robin had just passed Parker Herring for 14th when a caution flew for a car that ran off the track. The caution put Robin back in 15th and for some reason the car that ran off the track would not go to the rear after being told to do so several times so he started basically along side Robin when the green flag dropped again. (Still not sure why they dropped the flag without putting him where he went!) After several laps, he made contact with Robin's left rear tire causing it to go flat and caused Robin to back into the wall. The car overheated at that point and it ended the night for Robin. Although, we were disappointed with the way things ended (and not appreciative of the way the other car run all over Robin!), we were very pleased that Robin made the show on his first attempt! Robin was credited with a 20th place finish. Kenny, Chris, and Kim did not stay for the last 5 main events. After checking on Robin and making sure he was ok, we headed home because Kenny started his first day of classes at Athens Technical College. It was a fun and exciting weekend to say the least. We traveled close to 600 miles in 3 days (Kenny drove) and were already making plans for our next racing adventure while driving home!
September 18th & 19th - Lavonia Speedway
The Georgia State Race was rescheduled due to heavy rains so no racing this weekend.
September 12th - Hartwell Speedway
Kenny qualified 6th and ran 6th. Good close race between the top 7 cars.
September 7th - Toccoa Speedway - Labor Day Monday Night Event
Kenny qualified 8th and finished 6th. A lot of tough cars were on hand for this special labor day event.
September 5th - Lavonia Speedway
Kenny qualified 5th and finished 4th.
September 4th - Modoc (SC) Speedway
It was a tough night for Kenny and the #21c racing team. After having a fast car in hot laps and high hopes of a good qualifiying run, the drive shaft broke during the 2nd hot lap session ending our night. A special thanks to the Parker Herring and the Michael Akeson racing teams for their assistance in trying to help get a replacement drive shaft in the car.
August 29th - Hartwell Speedway
Kenny qualified on the outside pole next to Brandon "Cornbread" Haley. It took several starts before the green flag fell due to cars spinning on the first couple of starts. Kenny gave it all he had on each start but just could not make the outside row work to his advantage. On the final start, Cornbread managed to pull ahead and brought Grant Jordan with him. Kenny fell in behind them and finished a very respectful 3rd place against a very tough field of cars.
August 22nd - Lavonia Speedway - Summer Shootout
Special races always bring the best cars! Lavonia is known for having one of the toughest field of cars in this area. Kenny could not get his #21c machine to be as fast as he wanted duing qualifying and had to settle for a dismal 13th place qualifying position. After making changes on the car and a lot of hard work by the entire team, Kenny drove the wheels off and finished 7th! It was a good run against a lot of very fast cars!
August 21st - Westminster (SC) Speedway
Kenny pulled in due to a mechanical failure.
August 15th - Hartwell Speedway
Kenny qualified 3rd out of 12 cars. He drove a very consistant and good race to bring his car home 3rd!
August 14th - Westminster Speedway
Kenny qualified 10th out of 17 cars. After making some passes and missing a wreck, he finished 5th.
August 8th - Hartwell Speedway
Kenny qualified 3rd and was running 4th out of 19 cars when contact from the car behind him sent him spinning. After completing a few more laps, he retired for the evening and was credited with a 13th place finish.
August 7th - Westminster - Due to a curfew at the track, the main events were canceled.
August 4th - Westminster Practice
Kenny was very pleased with the way the car ran. It responded to the changes that were made throughout the night and gave Kenny a boost of confindence for the upcoming race. A lot of improvements have been made at the track and we are happy that it has reopened!
August 1st - Hartwell Speedway
After having a throttle issue on the first lap of qualifying (which caused Kenny to spin), he pulled out a decent qualifying run with 8th. As always, there was plenty of competition and a large field of cars in the crate division. Kenny managed a 7th place finish on a very dusty but smooth track. It was determined the breather had moved out of place and dropped down on the throttle linkage causing the throttle to stick on lap 1 of qualifying. It was still trying to hang up on lap 2, but Kenny was able to work with it so it would not hang wide open.
July 25th - Lavonia Speedway
19 Crate cars qualified and Kenny found himself on the outside pole next to Brandon Haley. Kenny had a great run and finished the night in 3rd behind Brandon and Parker Herring. Tonight was also special because we had the chance to participate in a special event where children 12 and under were allowed to ride on the race cars and make a lap around the track!
July 18th - Lavonia Speedway
After taking a couple of races off while on a family vacation, Kenny qualified 10th for tonights feature. Kenny made several good passes and ended the night with a 7th place finish.
July 4th - Hartwell Speedway
Fastrak Southeastern Touring Series Firecracker 50 - $5000 to win!
Kenny qualified 10th out of the 33 car field. The top 6 were locked in so this put Kenny on the outside front row in the first heat. Kenny had a flat tire while in the transfer spot and had to pull in. After having to start 7th in the 2nd consi, Kenny worked his way to 2nd and this allowed him to have a starting spot in the main event. Kenny started 19th out of a field of 24 cars and bided his time to work his way up to a 9th place finish with no damage to the car! This was Kenny's first topless race!
(Photo by KK Whitlock)
July 3rd - Toccoa Speedway
Kenny qualified 3rd out of 17 cars behind Ty Lowe and Seth Wimpey. Got into 2nd on start but contact by another car caused a flat left rear tire. After re-starting in the rear, Kenny ended the night with an 8th place finish.
June 27th - Lavonia Speedway
$1000 to win race. Qualified 9th out of a tough field of cars and finished 8th. Kenny raced hard all night behind Cornbread Haley and in front of David Smith.
June 20th - Hartwell Speedway
Thanks to family and friends, Kenny purchased some new shocks for his car with some of his graduation money! That is how he chose to spend it and it paid off. He had a good qualifying run and the top 5 cars were very close with their times. Kenny started 4th and finihsed 4th. It was a positive night for all!
June 13th - Lavonia Speedway
Mud Mud Everywhere. The track was extremely muddy and the drivers worked hard each time they were called to the track in hopes they could make it a good racing surface. 8th out of 16 cars.
June 6th - Hartwell Speedway
Still trying to get car to qualify better and handle better. 10th out of 16 cars.
May 30th - Lavonia Speedway
Huge holes and a rough track did not make for a good night for the #21c. Kenny had a good qualifying run. He qualified 6th out of 18 cars. When the green flag flew and the first lap ended, Kenny was running 5th and putting pressure on 4th. After several laps and a few cautions, the lift bar brace broke sending the lift bar into the drive shaft and almost cutting the drive shaft in half when a lift bar bolt made contact with it while it was turning. The handling immediately went away and Kenny was forced to retire for the night. The #21c suffered expensive damage, but the crew (Robin, Johnny, and Cy) worked hard during the week to repair the car and have it ready for the next weekend. Kenny headed to Myrtle Beach on a much deserved rest and realxing high school graduation senior trip!
May 25th - Toccoa Speedway - Memorial Day Race:
The night started off great. 25 cars qualified and Kenny qualified 6th. Kenny was very pleased with the handling during the hot laps and qualifying and had his sites set on a good run with some very talented drivers and fast cars! Due to various reasons, it ended up taking 3 starts before they got the green flag and Kenny was caught up in a first lap accident which ended his night. They race went on and it was a night filled with many caution flags.
(Photo courtsey of Picture Guy)
May 23rd - Hartwell Speedway: Rained Out
May 16th - Lavonia Speedway: Rained Out
May 9th - Hartwell Speedway:
After a long hard week in the shop and a lot of new changes on the car, Kenny had a successful night! 18 cars qualified for the night's feature and Kenny qualified 3rd behind Royce Bray and Brandon Haley. On the start of the feature, Kenny fell into 3rd spot behind Brandon and in front of Hot Rod LaMance. About half way into the race, Kenny passed Brandon to take over 2nd spot. Brandon ended up having a mechanical problem and retired for the evening leaving Hot Rod in 3rd. When the checkered flag fell, it was Royce Bray, Kenny, and Hot Rod LaMance. Kenny drove a very consistant race and was pleased with the car's handling and the changes made.
May 3rd - Lavonia Speedway (Sunday Afternoon):
Kenny qualified 9th in a large field of cars and finished 10th. Kenny was running in the 6th position when a combination of a dry slick track and a ruff spot in the track caused him to spin with only a few laps remaining.
April 25th - Hartwell Speedway:
Kenny qualified 8th and got through a huge wreck that started up front in the crate race. He had minor sheet metal damage, but managed to keep the car out of most of harms way. He finished the race with a 4th place finish.
April 18th - Winder Speedway:
Kenny raced in the Limited Late Model Division with his Crate Car at Winder on Saturday night. He qualified 6th and finished 6th out of 13 cars. We were very pleased to have a good finish since we were running with cars with a lot more motor than he had!
April 17th - Lavonia:
The crate division at Lavonia Speedway is one of the toughest and most competitive around. It is combined of veterans with a lot of experience and young guns on a mission! 19 cars qualified and took the green flag. Kenny qualified 8th and finished 8th. It was a nose to tail race for the most part with no one pulling away from the field.
April 11th - Hartwell Speedway:
It was a great night for Kenny! Kenny qualified 4th and finished 3rd in the crate feature. Kenny was able to get by Bubba "Hog Rocket" Russell during the early laps of the feature and was consistant throughout the night to bring home a 3rd place finish ahead of Bubba and behind race winner Royce Bray and Parker Herring who was 2nd.
April 4th - Lavonia Speedway Fastrak Challenge:
31 crate cars qualified for the Fastrak Challenge on Saturday night at Lavonia Speedway. Kenny qualified 19th and finished 13th in the main event. We will carry what we have learned from the 3 special events we have entered so far when we travel to Hartwell Speedway this coming weekend.
March 28th - Hartwell Speedway (GA) - Rained Out
March 21st - Lavonia Speedway Late Model Mania:
Kenny finished 4th in the Fastrak Bonus Main Event. During the first part of the night, he had a very loose race car. They worked on the car throughout the entire night and made a lot of changes that seemed to help the handling of the car by the end of the night. Although we were one of many that did not make the Fastrak 50 lap main event, we once again learned a lot about the car and how it reacts to changes and was able to start the bonus main event resulting in a 4th place finish. The Fastrak series had a total of 53 teams sign in for the event and had the largest field of cars of all 3 of the series in attendance this weekend.
March 14th - Hartwell Speedway (GA) - Rained Out
March 6th and 7th - Modoc Speedway (SC):
Although Kenny did not make the 100 lap feature event, it was a successful weekend of racing. He learned a lot about the car and gained valuable seat time. By the time the consulation feature rolled around on Saturday night, Kenny had the track figured out and was moving through the field until he was collected by another car and the result was a flat tire which took him out of competition. Everyone was sitting on the edge of their seats as the consulation race was very competitive and sometimes 3 wide racing. A total of 68 cars signed in for this race. We enjoyed our first visit to Modoc Speedway and had a great time spending the weekend with other racing teams from our local area.