Rob Held returns to racing, makes both ASCS features at Medford

It was a difficult and trying off-season for Rob Held. In two big crashes last year, he lost most of the equipment he had. He had already spent most of the money he on that equipment. After driving someone else’s car at the Fred Brownfield Memorial Sprint Challenge in September, Held’s 2008 season over.

All winter and early spring, Held scrounged up whatever he could and took all the help he could get. Held wanted badly enough to race in the ASCS Northwest Region’s season opener this past weekend. At Southern Oregon Speedway on Friday, Held and crew were still working on the car in the pit area. But they made it, as the Held Racing No. 68 A.R.T. sponsored by John Carroll Construction, Powell Plastering and Double R Powder Coating was finished and somewhat ready to race.

Having driven a different chassis in the past, Held was now racing with a new A.R.T. chassis. Held said everything squared up nicely, but with limited time work on setting up the car, handling was an issue all weekend for Held, who struggled before finally getting close to figuring it out later on Saturday.

On Friday, Held wasn’t done any favors by the pill draw, which had him starting dead last in the evening’s second heat race. Fighting the car and finishing seventh, he was forced to race in the B-Main. Held was able to hold onto to a transfer position to secure a spot in the A-Main. Starting 19th, Held’s issues continued in the feature event and he finished 17th.

Not ones to stay down, Held and team kept at it on Saturday. Held again had to race in the B-Main, but after making several adjustments beforehand, Held almost had it figured out as he drove from the eighth starting spot up to finish fourth and secure a transfer to the A-Main, turning a lap of 12.732 seconds around the 1/3-mile, semi-banked clay oval on Lap 9. Even though he had the B-Main’s fastest lap according to the transponder system, Held said the car still didn’t feel right.

Knowing he was going in the right direction with the car, Held and his crew made a few more adjustments before the A-Main. Starting 18th, Held was hoping that with the car he had he could have a decent run despite starting in the next to last row. At the start of the event however, cars were tangling in front of him and Held had nowhere to go, sliding into one of the crashed cars.

Held’s car suffered repairable damage, but it would’ve been taken too much time to do in order for Held to make it back out on the track for a restart. His weekend suddenly coming to a disappointing end, he was credited with 19th place. In the end, at least, Held was able to get a sprint car on the track and eventually got the car close to the proper setup.

Held currently sits 14th in the ASCS Northwest Region points standings with two races down at 16 remaining. With it being very early in the season, Held is only 60 points out of the lead. Rob would like to thank everyone who stepped up and gave him a hand in building the car or helped with sponsorship. Rob now hopes to make it to the next ASCS Northwest Region events, scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, May 23rd and 24th at Grays Harbor Raceway in Elma, Wash. Held is looking for additional sponsorship to make the trip from Sutherlin, Oregon.

Rob Held is one of the up and coming sprint car racers in the Pacific Northwest. More information on Rob and his team can be found online at http://www.robheldracing.com.

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Rob Held’s sponsors

John Carroll Construction
Powell Plastering
Double R Powder Coating
PDM² Machine Works
FK Rod Ends
Bell
Yarbrough Ranch
CARS (Custom Automotive Reconditioning Services)
Taco Bell of Sutherlin and Roseburg
Oregon Aero Inc.
NAPA Auto Parts of Sutherlin
Independent Motor Rebuilders
Murphy Plywood
Barnes Fuel Oil
Chris Pattenaude Racing
Osterman Race Wings