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Rockford Speedway
Rockford, IL
October 1-3, 2010
The Kal Racing team visited the Rockford Speedway for the track’s
45th annual National Short Track Championships weekend, which was
highlighted by Sunday’s Budweiser 200 super late model stock car event. During
Friday afternoon’s practice, things got off to a bad start as Jack hit the wall
pretty hard between turns one and two of the high-banked quarter-mile
paved oval. After surveying the damage, Jack and Stan were off to Lefthander
Chassis in Roscoe, Ill. to get some replacement parts which were needed to
rebuild the right front corner of the Grand Prix No. 99. Apparently, a
newly installed left rear trailing arm shifted and was thought to be the cause
of the crash.
A lot of work by Mike Carpenter, Jr., Don Rich, Jack and Stan through most of
the day on Friday paid off on Saturday as the car was pretty much ready to go
for more practice. Saturday morning found the crew welding up some rear end
support brackets that were damaged in Friday’s wreck. Surprisingly running some
competitive practice laps, the team was shooting for a “Top 16” qualifying
effort to lock the number 99 entry into the starting lineup for Sunday’s 200 lap
main event. Jack turned in a good first qualifying lap (12.288 seconds), but
“bobbled” on the second lap and almost lost control of the car.
A third place finish in Saturday evening’s second 15-lap qualifying race put
Jack on the outside of the front row for Sunday’s 20-lap “last chance” race.
Jack ran a smart, smooth race in the 20 lapper and came home second. Earlier
Sunday morning, the team found that the left front wheel hub and brake rotor
were cracked with a hub assembly being borrowed from TK Racing (Eddie Hoffman’s
team) and a wheel spacer from Billy Knippenberg to get the car ready in time for
the qualifying race.
Jack lined up in 22nd in the 26-car field for the start of the 200 lapper,
running a conservative race at the beginning, hopefully saving the car, the
brakes, etc. for the final half of the contest. Running 13th as the race neared
the midway break, the oil pressure light came on and Jack shut off the engine
and coasted into the pits. Taking a look under the hood, the crew noticed that
the oil pump pulley belt was gone and the crankshaft pulley also missing –
ending Jack’s day and season of racing. Jack was credited with a 19th place
finish.
A rather tough three days of racing to say the least and the 2010 season was
over. It was definitely a long weekend for Jack, Jerilynn, Stan, Mike, Don and
Jack’s father-in-law Ray Vinicky. Jack and the entire Kal Racing team would
like to thank everyone who helped us this past weekend including Tom Kmak’s TK
Racing (including letting us borrow their welder on Saturday morning) and the
folks from Lefthander Chassis (Brad “BA” and Sue) for all their help in sorting
out the parts needed to get the 99 back on the track.
Thanks again to everyone who helped on the crew this season and for those that
gave us financial help and just plain old support (cheering at the races, etc.)
along the way. Aunt Donna was at the races Sunday at Rockford and we forgot to
wish her a Happy Birthday!
Kal Racing is already making plans for 2011. See you at the races!
Illiana Motor Speedway
Schererville , Indiana
September 11, 2010
Jack and the Kal Racing team competed in the 49th annual Tony Bettenhausen Memorial 100 presented by Schepel GMC Commercial Trucks with Jack coming home with a 14th place finish in the 26-car field. Trying several different combinations during Friday evening’s practice, Jack and the crew pretty much went right back the next day to a familiar setup for the Kal Racing Grand Prix. Getting in a limited amount of practice because of Jack’s work schedule on Saturday, Jack still qualified 15th fastest among a field of 32 qualifiers. Jack finished eighth in one of two 8-car, 8-lap “fast car” heat races and then lined up 11th for the 100-lap chase. Jack ran 11th in the early laps, but began to have to fight a “tight, won’t turn” handling car, but still finishing on the lead lap.
Illiana Motor Speedway
Schererville , Indiana
September 4, 2010
The Kal Racing team returned to its “home track” for Illiana’s annual Season Championship program. Jack and his No. 99 Grand Prix timed in with a lap of 19.732 seconds (91.222 miles per hour) to grab seventh fast time during qualifications. A third place finish in the 10-car, 8-lap “fast car” heat race put Jack starting outside row two for the 17-car, 40-lap championship race. After a little rubbing and grinding, Jack came home in sixth place when the checkered flag fell.
The rest of the schedule for Kal Racing for the balance of the season includes…
September 11 – 49th annual Tony Bettenhausen Memorial 100 – Illiana Motor Speedway, Schererville , Ind.
September 18 – Welch & Wilson Motorsports Rock ‘N Race 100 (CRA Super Series) – O’Reilly Raceway Park , Clermont , Ind. (Have special rate $15.00 tickets if anyone is interested in purchasing them.)
October 2 & 3 – 45th annual National Short Track Championships – Rockford Speedway, Rockford , Ill.
Columbus Motor Speedway
Columbus , Ohio
August 28, 2010
Jack and the Kal Racing team went to Ohio ’s Columbus Motor Speedway to compete in another Champion Racing Association (CRA) Super Series event. Running two practice sessions, Jack and his Pontiac Grand Prix No. 99 were shown as the 15th fastest among a field of 27 cars. A poor qualifying run of 14.689 seconds (81.694 miles per hour) gave Jack 25th fast time. Jack lined up 25th in the 26-car starting field and moved to 17th within the first few laps. Fighting a “real loose” race car, Jack eventually lost a lap and was credited with an 18th place finish, officially shown as completing 124 laps in the 125-lap contest.
Jack and his No. 99 will be competing at Illiana Motor Speedway in Schererville , Ind. the next two Saturdays. Illiana will be hosting its 49th annual Tony Bettenhausen Memorial 100 on September 11.
Toledo Speedway
Toledo , Ohio
August 13, 2010
Jack and the Kal Racing team journeyed to Ohio ’s Toledo Speedway for a Champion Racing Association (CRA) Super Series event – the Klotz Synthetic Lubricants 100. The fast half-mile paved raceway saw Jack and his Grand Prix No. 99 qualifying 22nd fastest with a lap time of 16.626 seconds for an average speed of 108.264 miles per hour. Starting 22nd in the 24 car field, Jack “kept his nose clean” and finished in 14th position, completing 98 laps.
The next event for Kal Racing is another CRA event – a 125 lapper at the Columbus Motor Speedway in Columbus , Ohio on Saturday, August 28.
Illiana Motor Speedway
Schererville , Ind.
August 7, 2010
Jack and the Kal Racing team competed at Illiana as the track hosted its 10th annual RaceFest program. Only a 35-lap feature race was scheduled for the super late model cars as 19 cars were on hand for the action. Jack qualified eighth fastest during time trials as he circled the half-mile paved oval in 20.003 seconds for an average speed of 89.986 miles per hour. Jack started fifth in the feature field and ran as high as second until those old “loose race car” woes caught up with Jack and his Grand Prix No. 99. Jack came home in sixth place after 35 laps. Next Friday, Jack is scheduled to compete at Ohio ’s Toledo Speedway as he makes his first start of the season in Champion Racing Series (CRA) Super Car Series competition.
Illiana Motor Speedway
Schererville , Ind.
July 24, 2010
After more than a month off, Jack and the Kal Racing team got back to racing, competing at Illiana in the super late model division. Jack started off the night by setting fourth fast time with a lap of 20.129 seconds on the first lap, although he admitted that he “blew” the second lap of qualifying. The division’s 8-lap saw Jack grab a third place finish in his Grand Prix No. 99. The 25-lap race saw Jack start in the number six spot, fall back to ninth, but finish a “solid” second place at the checkered flag.
Tony Baranek of the
Southtown Star newspaper wrote, For Kalwasinski, it was a night of relief after
his two previous appearances at Illiana in 2010 ended in crashes.
"This was my first complete race (this season). I have to give thanks to my
team," said Kalwasinski, who inherited second place when Murphy spun out between
Turns 1 and 2 and kept it the rest of the way.
"The car was a little loose," Kalwasinski said. "If it wasn't, I probably could
have run with (Cannon). He's the guy to beat out here now. We've been working
hard in the garage."
Illiana Motor Speedway
Schererville , Indiana
June 19, 2010
A “dumb” move by one driver left three race cars torn up pretty bad with a lot of time and money having to be spent to get them running again. Unfortunately, Jack and his No. 99 Kal Racing entry was one of the cars involved in a “last chance race” wreck as the team was at Illiana Motor Speedway Saturday, competing in the ASA Midwest Tour-sanctioned 9th annual Elmer Musgrave Memorial presented by Texas Corral.
Struggling during practice, Jack could only muster a 31st fastest qualifying effort among 37 entries during time trials. Jack circled the Illiana half-mile oval in 19.984 for an average speed of 90.072 miles per hour. Starting 13th in the 25-lap “last chance” race, Jack passed several cars and was moving forward until lap three when he was “chopped” by another car going into turn three, sending Jack spinning. In the melee, one car hit the wall as he attempted to get around Jack and another “t-boned” Jack in the side. In an instant, three cars wrecked! Jack was credited with a 17th place finish among the 19 cars that started the race.
Again, Kal Racing will “roll up its sleeves” and get to work, repairing the No. 99 Grand Prix. Right now, plans call for Jack and the “99” to compete again at Illiana on July 24, which will be “Kids Night” at the speedway.
Illiana Motor Speedway
Schererville , Indiana
May 15, 2010
Jack and his Kal Racing Grand Prix No. 99 finally made their first start of the season at the half-mile Illiana Motor Speedway in Schererville , Ind. Saturday evening. As usual, the night was full of some “highs”, but also of some “lows”. Jack qualified ninth fastest among a field of 18 entries, posting a time of 19.989 seconds for an average speed of 90.050 miles per hour. Making the 8-lap “fast car” heat race, Jack led a few of the early laps until a “loose all around” handling problem reared up with Jack settling for a seventh place finish in the 10-car field. Starting on the outside of the front row of the 30-lap super late model main event, Jack led the opening 15 laps and was still running in heavy “top five” traffic when suddenly he spun in turn one and hit the wall. “I don’t know what happened,” Jack said. “Off of (turn) four, I kind of got ran up real high (by another car) and maybe collected some “junk” on my tires. I went into (turn) one and the car just came around.” Jack was credited with a 15th place finish.
A lot of work needs to be done before the Kal Racing No. 99 gets to the race track again. Next Saturday (May 22) is very questionable, so check the site here to verify Kal Racing’s next race.
See you at the races!
March 1, 2010
Jack Kalwasinski will race his Kal Racing Grand Prix No. 99 in 2010.
Jack and the crew have been working on the “99” car for several months now,
getting it ready for a new season of super late model stock car action.
2009 marked Jack’s final year with Nick Trgovich and Trgovich Racing.
Driving the black No. 11 pretty much “full time” since 2004, Jack accomplished a
lot with the team scoring a total of 15 feature
victories, including a “very special” super late model victory at
Illiana Motor Speedway
(Schererville, Ind.) in 2008. Jack and Trgovich Racing teamed up in 2006 to win
Illiana’s Schepel Performance Limited Late Model
stock car championship, winning seven feature races along the way.
Sadly, Nick Trgovich passed away on January 12th at the age of
85. Some 50-plus years ago, Trgovich raced stock cars at Illiana, then known as
the Schererville Speedway, Gary’s Savage Speedway and 87th Street Speedway in
Chicago. It was an era of 1939/40 Ford coupes with Trgovich
winning feature races, dating back to 1950.
“Nick Trgovich gave me the chance to drive a late model-type car,” said
Jack recently. “We had a lot of success and fun together. I want to thank his
entire family for the opportunity of racing the No. 11. I’ll
never forget Nick Trgovich.”
The tentative schedule for Kal Racing in 2010 calls for about a dozen
races, pretty well split up among events at Illiana, the
Grundy County Speedway
in Morris, Ill. and several “out-of-town” races.
“We’ll see what happens,” Jack commented. “Hopefully, the 99 car, with
some improvements we’ve made, will run pretty good.”