(Photo by Lloyd Walls Racing Photography)
HAUBSTADT, Ind. – Some time away from nonwing racing appeared to be just what the doctor ordered for Hunter Schuerenberg. When he returned to the wingless ranks for “Indiana Sprint Week,” the Sikeston, Mo. native showed his prowess for more sideways action and less downforce, snagging a runner-up finish at Gas City I-69 Speedway and a fifth-place effort overall in the seven-race marathon week.
The 28th Annual “Indiana Sprint Week” got underway at the Gas City, Ind. oval on July 10, and was arguably Schuerenberg’s strongest night overall. A third-quick effort in qualifying via a 12.340-second lap was followed up with an extremely impressive charge from sixth in his heat race to finish second in a short ten laps. Six cars being inverted for the main event slated “Hunter Percent” to take the green flag from inside row three. Quickly, he attained the third spot just five laps in. Through the middle laps, much of the field was unable to make moves for position, including Schuerenberg. Finally, he reeled in Arizona native Jerry Coons Jr. and took over second with just two laps remaining. At that point, leader Chase Stockon was too far ahead, and though Schuerenberg was running much faster lap times, there were not enough laps left to run down the leader, and settled for a still outstanding second-place showing.
Kokomo Speedway was set to host Night Two, but rain just after the start of the B-Main washed away the night. Schuerenberg’s results from competition before the rains came included a 22nd-quick time in qualifying and a heat race win from the pole. The B-Main and feature were to be made up on Monday night, but another bout of rain forced another postponement, this time to a date in late August.
The rough and tumble Lawrenceburg Speedway just outside Cincinnati was on tap for Sunday night. The high-banked 3/8-mile was nicer to Schuerenberg in qualifying than Kokomo, as his 14.421 earned him 11th on the speed chart. Starting heat race action in the final transfer spot, he ultimately lost one position, heading to the B-Main. Fifth on the grid there was no issue for Schuerenberg, dispatching three competitors to finish in the second spot. Following that effort, the Epperson Painting No. 2e was set to begin feature competition from the inside of row number five. While many racers chose to work around the bottom side of the speedway, Schuerenberg was the high-side hustler of the main event. While he wasn’t any slower than his counterparts racing low, the cushion wasn’t much faster. Ultimately, he brought home the final top-ten finish.
With Monday’s Kokomo makeup date lost to rain, Schuerenberg competed in the Racers Make a Change Softball Showdown on Tuesday before taking on the hallowed half-mile Terre Haute Action Track on Wednesday. Qualifying there proved to be tricky, just 22nd overall, but a second-place finish in his heat race locked him directly into the feature. The qualifying struggle put Schuerenberg starting in 19th, but Tony Epperson’s strong car put him in position to make some moves. With just ten laps in the books, he had already attained the 12th spot and made another pass on the following lap. His high point of the race was moving into tenth just past the halfway point, but 16th-starting Brady Bacon made his way back by Schuerenberg moments later, dropping him back to eleventh. The final laps clicked off without incident, and he came home eleventh.
The next night’s events took place at Lincoln Park Speedway in Putnamville, Ind. Schuerenberg started the night off by taking the top spot in qualifying with a 12.953. His strong heat race run from sixth to third moved him to the feature, and his quick time paired with the top-six invert put him outside row three on the lineup board. While falling back to seventh early, Schuerenberg took over the fifth spot when Carson Short and Chad Boespflug tangled ahead of him on lap seven. A pass for fourth put him just off the podium when the checkered waved.
Another night shortened by rain came on Friday. Schuerenberg managed a transfer from the B-Main at Bloomington Speedway with a fifth-place finish before heavy rains took away the race. All teams scheduled to start the feature were given equal points for the night.
The week finale at Tri-State Speedway began with Schuerenberg’s 13.645-second lap in qualifying was 15th-fastest, putting him inside the second row of his heat race. Dropping one position to fourth wouldn’t cause any harm, as he was still locked into the main event. The Claxton-powered Spike Chassis rolled off from 15th, and remained within two spots of 15th for the entirety of the 30-lap race. The lower end would come early, falling to 17th on the opening lap. Soon, Schuerenberg battled forward into 14th, and eventually took the 13th position as the flagman signaled the race was half over. In the end, Schuerenberg wound up finishing where he started in 15th.
Schuerenberg would like to thank Roof Bolt Express, Nolen Racing, Mach 1 Chassis, Competition Suspension Inc., AFCO Racing, ButlerBuilt Professional Seat Systems, Hinchman Racewear, Keizer Wheels, High Side Design, and Ron Gorby’s Howard Johnson, as well as all of his fans for their continued support. Schuerenberg would also like to thank the Epperson team for the opportunity to drive the No. 2e machine for Indiana Sprint Week.
Schuerenberg is next scheduled to compete on July 23-26 for the Midwest Open Wheel Association Speedweek at Quincy Raceways, Tri-City Speedway, Macon Speedway, and Jacksonville Speedway, all in the No. 20N 410ci winged sprint entry.
Quick Results
July 10 – Gas City, IN – 410ci Wingless Sprint – Qualifying: 3rd; Heat: 2nd (6); Feature: 2nd (5)
July 11 – Kokomo, IN – 410ci Wingless Sprint – Qualifying: 22nd; Heat: 1st (1)
July 12 – Lawrenceburg, IN – 410ci Wingless Sprint – Qualifying: 11th; Heat: 5th (4); B-Main: 2nd (5); Feature: 10th (9)
July 15 – Terre Haute, IN – 410ci Wingless Sprint – Qualifying: 21st; Heat: 2nd (1); Feature: 11th (19)
July 16 – Putnamville, IN – 410ci Wingless Sprint – Qualifying: 1st; Heat: 3rd (6); Feature: 4th (6)
July 17 – Bloomington, IN – 410ci Wingless Sprint – Qualifying: 20th; Heat: 5th (2); B-Main: 5th (8)
July 18 – Haubstadt, IN – 410ci Wingless Sprint – Qualifying: 15th; Heat: 4th (3); Feature: 15th (15)
2015 Stats
28 races, 20 features, 1 win, 6 top fives, 11 top tens, 6 DNFs
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