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Rocket Hockett – Win Doubles Fun at Double X!
(Bill W) May 5, 2009 – Jesse Hockett captured his fifteenth career feature win at the Double X Speedway in California, Missouri on Sunday night. That followed a USAC foray on Saturday on the paved ¼ mile oval in Anderson, Indiana. The Warsaw, Missouri driver will again try to make three races this weekend, as he'll travel to Bloomington, Indiana on Friday to compete with USAC, then tow to Little Rock to compete with ASCS, before returning home to Double X on Sunday.
Several inches of rain didn't deter the folks in central Missouri from racing on Sunday night. An uncharacteristically heavy track greeted the hearty throng at Double X. Jesse started things off with a heat race win in the Jesse Hockett Racing #77. "We started fourth in the heat," he explains. "Randy Martin was in front of us, so we had to work for it, but we got through there."
The heavy conditions are unheard of at the California bullring. "It was definitely a curveball with the track being as heavy as it was," says Jesse. "It never gets that way. It got sticky and we were really rolling good."
You may as well have penciled in the "Rocket" after he was slotted outside row one for the main event. He powered by pole-sitter Curtis Boyer, and never looked back in lapping all but the top three. "We were able to lead the whole way," Jesse says modestly. "We were able to lap the whole field up to third, which was our second car (driven by crewman Andy Korte)."
USAC or NASCAR?
In the thick of the USAC National Sprint Car title outlook, Jesse headed for Anderson, Indiana on Saturday. There was little time to get his new Stanton Mopar 410's in a pavement car shipped from California by Ted Finkenbinder. "The motor was great," says Jesse, who timed in 16th out of 17 cars. "We had no issues there at all. That was one thing we didn't have to worry about. We didn't get much practice, because it was a last minute deal, and we spent the night tuning on the car and trying to get it better."
The team continued to tweak the car, and after a seventh place heat run, he finished sixth in the Semi-main. "We got the car pretty good for the Semi," he says. "We got around four or five cars. That got us excited for the feature."
The excitement turned sour almost immediately, as Jesse was in an accident he couldn't avoid when the 100-lap event commenced. "Dave (Darland) started in front of us and got on the gas too hard," he explains. "He spun, and I had nowhere to go. Then, another car piled into the back of me, and that bent the front axle."
Jesse found himself cruising around, hoping for some attrition. "We cruised about 90 laps with a bent front axle," he says. "We were just making laps and staying out of the way. The only way to gain positions was through someone else's wreck, and that never happened. It felt a lot like NASCAR. You never know when a big wreck is coming, so you have to stay out there."
Jesse will enter Bloomington third in USAC points, just two out of second, and 31 behind the leader, Darland.
On the Web
To learn more about Jesse "The Rocket" Hockett, including updated results and photos, visit http://jessehockett.homestead.com!
T-Shirt Trivia!
Last week's answer (explanation from Lonnie Wheatley): Robert Ballou and Tim Kaeding were declared co-champions in 2007 of the Sprint Bandits TNT Midwest Swing with Hockett third in points. Hockett was indeed the overall top point earner if you include the East Bay events, but those didn't factor into the point fund. Hockett was actually the declared TNT champion in 2006 when he topped the Midwest Swing Points, which was once again the basis of the points fund payout. In '06, Jon Stanbrough was the top overall point earner if you included the East Bay events, which once again didn't factor into the point fund.
So the answer was 2006!
Last week's winner: Bill Glasgow of Burlington, IA
This week's question: Who finished second to Jesse when he won the 2008 season finale at Double X?
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 on Friday following the release. 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 is looking for his first Bloomington win. According to www.OpenWheelTimes.com, he has run six features with a top five finish, and three top tens. His fifth place finish came in the 2007 Sheldon Kinser Classic behind winner, Jon Stanbrough, Brady Short, Chad Boat and Daron Clayton.
Partner Spotlight – Penske Shocks
Jesse says, "I got hooked up with Dave Reedy in Florida about four years ago. I've never ran anything else since. He's great to work with, and can build you what you need."
Penske Racing Shocks home office is in Reading, Pennsylvania. They support competitors in a number of racing disciplines including Formula 1, NASCAR, IRL, ALMS, Grand-Am, AMA, NHRA, IHRA, SCCA, Australian Touring Cars, BTCC, Moto GP, and of course the short tracks! Visit www.PenskeShocks.com today, to find out more!
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., Fischer 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!.
Hockett won again in Missouri in the JHR #77 (Paul Gray/STLRacing.com Photo)
Bill W MediaMonroe, IA USA[email protected]
If this post isn't results, stories or something c
constructive, it isn't me!
@BillWMedia
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