Kaley Gharst – Huset’s Win Caps Great Weekend!
(Bill W) September 3, 2014 – It was a great weekend for Kaley Gharst and the Sandvig #7 team. After finishing second at the Jackson Nationals Saturday night, they capped off their weekend with a win in the 360 division at Huset’s Speedway Monday night. The team is searching for a 410 motor to run the finale at Huset’s this Sunday night.
With Jackson’s prelim rained out Friday night, Kaley was disappointed with a tough pill draw. The heavy, narrow track didn’t lend to much passing in Saturday’s Jackson Nationals. “I was a little worried,” he says. “We didn’t draw too well, and we started in the back of one of the heats. Luckily, a lot of drivers had their cars tight including us. Some of the drivers in front of us went into the first corner and pushed all the way up the track. We were able to slide underneath a few of them. (Jeff) Swindell lost a motor with two to go, and that gave us and extra spot and got us into the redraw.”
As the second high point driver, Kaley would pull the pole for the 30-lap feature. “We had a good redraw and that put us on the front row,” he says. “That was what we needed with all the rain that they had in Jackson. We just couldn’t get the jump on the start with Matt (Covington). I needed traffic to get him, but he was getting through traffic just as good as we were. We were a second place car. We’ll take that. We were in the top five in both of the big races at Jackson this year.”
The Decatur, Illinois driver would start third in his heat and run second at Huset’s on Monday. “We didn’t get a good start on the first try,” says Kaley. “We were back in about fifth. Fortunately, they called that one back. I wasn’t going to do that again. We were able to get up into second, and the way the redraw went for the feature, it worked in our favor.”
Kaley would start outside row one for the 25-lap feature. “We had a little luck with the redraws this week, but we’ll take it,” he says. “We were able to start beside (Ian) Madsen there on the front row. The track was pretty good throughout the night. They graded it before the feature. We were able to jump out into the lead.”
It was a bit lonely out front, as Kaley was deciding where he needed to run. “We were running the top,” he says. “I think there was a red about ten laps in, and I could smell rubber. I didn’t know where it was at. On the restart, I was searching around, and I still couldn’t find it. We had another yellow when Ian spun out, and on the restart, I knew I was going to have to find it or I was going to get passed.”
Mission accomplished. “I found it in the middle of the track, and that’s where I went,” says Kaley. “I was trying to take it as easy as I could on the tires, and we didn’t have too many laps left in them. I was glad it was only 25 laps.”
The win was a welcome one for Kaley and the team. “It felt good to get back in Victory Lane,” he says. “We hadn’t been there since our last win at Jackson (June 28). We hadn’t won at Huset’s in a couple years, so it was good to be back in Victory Lane there too.”
Kaley is hoping to find some action this weekend. “We’d like to find a 410 to run Huset’s this Sunday,” he says. “We don’t have one yet, but we’re looking around for one.”
Keep an eye on Kaley's progress this week and beyond at www.KaleyGharst.com!
If you would like to receive Kaley's weekly releases, send an e-mail with the subject line "Kaley" to[email protected].
Kaley and the Sandvig crew in Victory Lane at Huset’s (Doug Johnson Photo)
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