Josh Hodges Scores Big ASCS Southwest Series Victory at USA Raceway
- Nov 14, 2011
No one was feeling it any better that night than 16-year-old Tijeras, New Mexico driver Josh Hodges. The K&N sponsored driver was able to work his way up from sixth place to ink his first American Sprint Car Series (ASCS) feature win of the year by topping Saturday night's 25-lap Sunoco Fuel ASCS Southwest feature event. This marks the young racers third career ASCS Regional win, driving the Wesmar-powered Hodges Automotive/Napa Auto Parts/Benic Enterprises No. 74x Maxim. "It was great to get the win in Tucson! USA Raceway is definitely the track that I have the most experience at and I'm really comfortable there, probably more than anywhere else," Hodges told K&N News. "We finally got back to the basics a little bit after trying some new things at the end of last year, and the beginning of this year, and it really showed on the track. I had a lot more confidence, and the car was really good. I have to thank Brad Benic at Momentum Racing Suspensions and Wayne Priddy for helping get our wing program turned around here lately." Overall Hodges now has four race wins for the 2011 season, the other three wins all coming in his non-wing car competing with the New Mexico Motor Racing Association (NMMRA). Two wins were at Aztec Speedway and the other at the Sandia Dirt Track in Albuquerque. "Both times in Aztec we had a pretty good car but I could have been better," said Hodges "and the one at Sandia ended up being a survival sort of race. All of them were on slick, dusty tracks, and we honestly could have been better in any one of them, but luck was on our side in all of them. This past win in Tucson was definitely our strongest and most dominant win of the year." Hodges says that although the season has had its ups and downs, he and the entire Hodges Motorsport team agree they are on an upswing, and getting back to basics has been the key. "I feel we've been more consistent, and at times better, in the non-wing car this year, but we've also showed some strength in the wing car at times. I think the biggest thing for these last couple of weekends will be putting everything together, and focusing on my driving more than anything. Our cars are good and have speed, but now I need to work on myself behind the wheel a bit." The only sprint car races remaining on the schedule this year for Hodges Motorsport are the ASCS National shows in Las Cruces, New Mexico (wing, Nov. 11-12) and Tucson, Arizona (Western World, wing and non-wing, Nov. 17-19). "I am really excited for Western World, because we can really test ourselves at our best in Tucson in both the wing and non-wing car," adds Hodges. "I will also be driving for Mike and Kenny Brewer in this year's Tulsa Shootout on New Year's weekend in a wing and non-wing mini sprint. I am also really excited for that, and I appreciate the Brewers giving me an opportunity to drive one of their cars." Find K&N products for your vehicle using the K&N application search then use the K&N dealer search to find a K&N dealer in your part of the world. |
