Prior to the season, the Hard Eight Racing team which is owned by Jon Kantor moved from Oklahoma to Ohio and now operates out of Kemenah’s shop. They also hired veteran crew chief Mike Cool to turn the wrenches and that has quickly began to pay dividends.
“That’s been the biggest thing no doubt,” Kemenah said of Cool’s addition to the team. “He is good at what he does. He has this team turned around and right now we are competitive. It feels good to get to the track each night and know that you are competitive.”
Just like every other driver competing with the World of Outlaws in 2008, Mother Nature has been Kemenah’s biggest opponent this season. Having some new variables on the team, each time they are able to race helps lessen the learning curve and build momentum. During a couple of breaks in the World of Outlaws schedule this spring, the team competed in Central Pennsylvania to get more track and to prepare for the series always tough races at Williams Grove Speedway.
“It’s hard to stay active, when you are sitting around watching it rain,” he said. “There has been a lot of that this year. Hopefully that’s all past now and we can get some racing in. It’s tough racing once then going back to the shop for two weeks. Mike (Cool) doesn’t get to see what I like and we don’t get to see what he likes and doesn’t like when we are not racing. Hopefully we can get all of that figured out pretty quick when we get back to racing.”
For Kemenah, the race at Virginia Motor Speedway will be his 12th on a half-mile this season. He finished sixth in his last start on a high-banked half-mile, which came at Eldora Speedway at the end of April. In his career, he has five wins on half-mile tracks, both at Eldora and at Volusia Speedway Park in Florida.
“The race track is a little bit differently shaped,” he recalled of Virginia Motor Speedway. “It was a little slick as well. Turn two seemed liked the one that everyone had a little trouble with. There should be some good racing there.”
After a podium finish at Lernerville Speedway last week, Kemenah had a strong run at Williams Grove Speedway, coming from the 27th starting spot after taking a provisional to finish in the Top-15, against one of the toughest fields of cars the series will face all season. He looks to keep this early season momentum going on Friday night at The Dirt Track @ Lowe’s Motor Speedway followed by the series inaugural stop at Virginia Motor Speedway on Saturday night.
“Anytime you run in the Top-Five makes it a good night,” he said. “Hopefully we can get better than the Top-Five and get a win.”
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