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Rocket Hockett – Winning the Last Dance at Manzy!
(Bill W) April 16, 2009 – It was nearly a perfect weekend for Warsaw, Missouri sprint car driver Jesse "The Rocket" Hockett. He had the opportunity to race at two of his favorite tracks, finishing on the podium at both Eldora Speedway in Ohio and Manzanita Speedway in Arizona. He bounced back to charge through a USAC field to finish third at Eldora on Saturday, and then landed the final checkers in the storied history of Manzanita.
Manzanita was scheduled to run the Donnie Davis Memorial Saturday night, but was postponed to Sunday because of rain. A deal was struck for the Bob Ream wrenched #8 even after the feature at Eldora Saturday night. "Steve Stroud (Parker Store Phoenix) was calling me and congratulating me Saturday night on our run at Eldora," says Jesse. "He was saying Manzy was rained out. When I was on the phone with him, I asked him what he was doing with his car. I asked if he wanted me to run it, and he said he had to call Bob Ream because it wasn't ready yet. About eight hours later, I was down there and we were race ready."
Jesse's draw wasn't conducive to the daytime surface on Manzy's half-mile, but he overcame it. "We started fifth there in the heat, and had to really work for it," he says. "We were able to pass Nathan High there in the last straightaway of the race for the win. That was what gave us the opportunity to draw a good number for the feature."
He drew the pole. After leading early, Kevin Swindell took over by lap ten of the 25-lapper. The pair dueled through heavy traffic, until Jesse took the point with a handful of laps to go. The win brought the final checkers on a historic speedway. "It was special to win the last race there," says Jesse. "I've got a lot of good friends out there, and so many memories at that track. Capping it off with a win definitely makes it special. (The big track) was a monkey on my back, so it was nice to get a win there. I always felt good and did well there with the non-wing car, but we couldn't get the win. It was nice to get that done."
Eldora
Saturday night's race at Eldora was full of fireworks as well, but it looked for awhile that it may be a dud. "It didn't start out to be a good night at all," says Jesse. "We had problems with the valve cover gasket. We were in a transfer spot in the heat to get to the A main easily, and we started leaking oil. I had to run the last two laps with the visor up, so that dropped us back and we lost the last transfer spot on the last lap."
Starting fifth, Jesse ran second in the B, transferring to the main event. "We were probably better off running the B to be honest, because we didn't have the car balanced the way we wanted anyway," he says. "The car was really good in the B. Bernie from Indy Race Parts was helping out, along with Andy Korte and Tom. We worked together on setup, and got it really good for the feature."
Good it was, as Jesse stormed forward to finish third from the back. "The car was really operating," he says. "If it wasn't for the fact I hit the wall with about six laps to go, we may have had a shot at winning it. We bent the jacob's ladder after that, and I think we only moved up one spot to third, from there on. Before that, we were on the move and it was definitely a fun race."
Jesse had time to reflect on the weekend. "It was an awesome weekend. I got to run two of my favorite tracks in the same weekend, and to win the last race at Manzy…that's special."
With the Lucas Oil ASCS National series on Saturday at I-30 Speedway in Little Rock weathered out, Jesse will instead head to Gas City Speedway and Lawrenceburg Speedway in Indiana with USAC this weekend.
Jesse Appears on Lucas Oil ASCS Show
Jesse appeared on the Lucas Oil ASCS Show with the Racin' Boys on Tuesday night. To listen to the archive of the show, click on this link and scroll down…
http://www.racinboys.com/home/video_list
On the Web
To learn more about Jesse "The Rocket" Hockett, including updated results and photos, visit http://jessehockett.homestead.com!
T-Shirt Trivia!
This week's question: Where and what year was Jesse's first 410 win, and who finished second?
Each week, we'll be giving away a Jesse Hockett t-shirt to our trivia winner! We will draw a winner from the correct answers submitted. Submit your trivia answer, along with your name, address and t-shirt size to [email protected]! Put "Hockett Trivia" in the subject line.
Rocket Rambles
Jesse's win was his first on the half-mile at Manzy. He had won four times on the 1/3 mile oval, however. According to www.openwheeltimes.com, Jesse has competed in 34 features at the facility, with 16 top fives and 22 top tens. Bad luck has plagued him on occasion, including at last Fall's Western World, where he dropped out with mechanical problems after running up front. He was sixth in the 2006 Western World.
Marketing Partner of the Week – Butlerbuilt Professional Seat Systems
"I've had a lot of close calls in racing, and I won't ride in anything but a Butlerbuilt Advantage seat," says Jesse, who has used Brian and Jeannie Butler's seats on a permanent basis for four years now. "I had a car land on me and bounce off that seat. Without it, I'm not sure where I'd be right now." To learn more about the Butler Advantage, visit www.butlerbuilt.net today!
Rocket Hockett
"Rocket Hockett" is an up close look at the past, present and future of Jesse Hockett. To receive "Rockett Hockett", send an e-mail to [email protected] with "Hockett" in the subject line.
Jesse would like to thank the partners of the VKCC Motorsports/Tom Buch team, including Parker Store of Phoenix, AMS Waterfall Systems, Rod End Supply, LRB Manufacturing, Penske Shocks, Butlerbuilt Professional Seat Systems, Diversified Machine, Inc., Fisher Body Shop, Simpson, Hoosier, Conroy Bleeders, ARP Fasteners, Indy Race Parts, Massey's Truck and Tank Repair, RMS Racing Engines, Pro Powder Coating, Korte Transportation, Rocket Graphics, Lucas Oil, Weld Racing, Spike Products, Maxwell, Red Onion Lounge, Engler, Barnes Dry Sump Oil Systems, FSR Racing Products, RH2, Canyon Apparel, JEI, Total Seal Piston Rings, JE Pistons and Wings Unlimited for all their help!.
Jesse and crew in Victory Lane at Manzy (Terry Shaw Photo)
Bill W MediaMonroe, IA USA[email protected]
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