Weekly Notebook presented by FK Rod Ends
Notes: Kreke dials up victory with new number
Brent Kreke (9999) heads toward victory at Belle-Clair Speedway. (stlracingphotos.com)
After many years of using the reputedly unlucky No. 13 on his Dirt Late Model, Brent Kreke has changed numbers for the 2011 season. But don't think the 28-year-old driver from Lebanon, Ill. — who originally chose the number because he was born on Friday the 13th and frequently wore No. 13 on youth sports teams — is trying to shed a jinx. | Weekly Late Model results
"I'm not one to blame a number for having good luck or bad luck," Kreke said.
Either way Kreke's new No. 9999, seems to be working out pretty well as he made an impressive fifth-to-first charge in the final laps April 29 at Belle-Clair Speedway in Belleville, Ill., for his first victory of the season after just two starts.
The new number and redesigned decal scheme on his black, white and blue MasterSbilt Race Car came about because of new sponsorship from Vinson Mortgage Group. Owner Ray Vinson's prevalent advertisements always include a phone number that ends in 9-9-9-9.
"He's really well-known around here for radio and TV ads," Kreke said. "He thought it would be a good idea to change it up and put it on the car, and we said, 'Heck, yeah!"
Kreke, who mostly funds his own racing team, is glad to have a new sponsor on board, not to mention a sponsor that will be familiar to many fans.
"(Ray Vinson) has a real distinct voice. I can't even explain it," said Kreke, the vice president for marketing and sales of Marathon Administrative who met Vinson through business connections. "Everybody recognizes his voice around the St. Louis area, and he always ends his commercials with his phone number."
Kreke's No. 9999 may not hit the track as often as his No. 13 in years past because he's a new father. Brent and wife Patti had their first daughter, Peyton, on March 24. "It was a big change," said Kreke, who's been married about three years.
"She sleeps really good already and she's just a little over a month old," Kreke said. "She's slept seven hours straight the last four nights ... everybody I talk to says, 'Don't get used to it; it'll go the other way.' "
Peyton stayed home with her aunt Friday night, so she missed Daddy's impressive victory at Belle-Clair. Running fifth in the waning laps, Kreke came alive to get past Mark Voigt, Mike Hammerle, Aaron Kleine and Andy Pryor to grab the victory.
"I knew we had a real good car the whole race. I was just kind of waiting for everybody to get thinned out and race single file ... there wasn't anywhere to go for a while," Kreke said. "It all happened pretty fast. ... I was kind of shocked. I'm not going to lie." — Todd Turner
TRI-COUNTY PUTS BOUNTY ON LEDFORD: With Danny Ledford of Warne, N.C., winning the first three Super Late Model races at Tri-County Racetrack this season, the Ray Cook-managed oval in Brasstown, N.C., has put a bounty on Ledford for the May 6 event. Besides the $1,000 weekly purse, any driver who can knock off Ledford receives a $300 bonus sponsored by Circuit World. If Ledford can make it five straight victories, he'll earn a $400 bonus himself. The track runs every other Friday night. — From track reports
MARK PETTYJOHN CAPTURES DIXON MEMORIAL: Making his first start of the season, Mark Pettyjohn of Millsboro, Del., captured the April 30 Kyle Dixon Memorial at Delaware International Speedway in Delmar. Pettyjohn, who skipped hot laps, started on the second row and took the lead from Kerry King on the fifth lap of the 20-lap main event. “Everything just kind of worked out for us with the redraw,” Pettyjohn said. “I was actually here on time but I didn’t hot lap because I didn’t want to jinx anything.” Opening night winner Richard Jarvis Jr. finished second. — From track reports
SWEEPING MYERS WINS QUALIFIER FOR RAYE VEST MEMORIAL: Besides pocketing $2,400 for his April 30 victory at Winchester (Va.) Speedway, D.J. Myers of Greencastle, Pa., earned a guaranteed starting spot in the track's $10,000-to-win Raye Vest Memorial, an unsanctioned event scheduled for Aug. 26. Myers overcame being involved in an early caution to take the lead from Kyle Hardy on the 31st lap at the 3/8-mile oval. Myers also won the 20-lap Limited Late Model feature over Gerald Davis. — From track reports
COPEMAN GETS FIRST VICTORY AT THUNDER VALLEY: Making a rare start at Thunder Valley Raceway in Central City, Pa., Clate Copeman of Greensburg, Pa., raced to his first career Late Model victory at the half-mile oval in the April 30 opener. Copeman outdueled Chuck Clise on the first lap and pulled away from the field, slowed only by lap-12 yellow for a pileup that included Steve Gibney, Steve Everhart and Quint Weyant. While Copeman smoothly handled lapped traffic the rest of the way in the 25-lapper, Clise fought off John Britsky's late charge for the runner-up spot. Scheduled polesitter Chris Rhodes scratched. — From track reports
ODDS AND ENDS: Cleveland (Tenn.) Speedway, dark last weekend because of the devastating storms and tornadoes in the region, has rescheduled its Cleveland Fasteners Tennessee Spring Fling for Saturday, May 7. The event is highlighted by a $3,000-to-win Super Late Model event. ... Victorville (Calif.) Auto Raceway has its next Late Model event scheduled for June 4. ... I-76 Speedway in Fort Morgan, Colo., has added a bi-weekly Late Model program. Dylan Schmer won the season opener on May 1. ... Former East Bay Raceway Park Late Model champion Donnie Tanner of Tampa, Fla., died April 16 after a battle with cancer. He was 66. Tanner raced at many tracks across Florida during a long racing career that ended a few years ago. Tanner is survived by his wife Sharon, four children and six grandchildren. ... Larry Flaws of Webster City, Iowa, has been selected to manage Hamilton County Speedway for its 73rd year of racing. The track runs IMCA Late Models weekly. ... The dirt track in Butler, Mo., has changed its name to 71 Butler Speedway and plans to host weekly Late Model races on Sunday. Bob Kerbs is serving as promoter. ... Winchester (Va.) Speedway announced that, in the event of Saturday rainouts, the track will makeup events the following Sunday with racing at 5 p.m.
