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The Stories |
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Joe 3rd at Berlin to End 2008 Season
10/18/08
Joe and his Port City Racing Team decided to join the other competitors for the re-scheduled Boyne Machine 100 at Berlin Raceway on Saturday, October 18. He had not previously participated in the qualifying for this race as we was racing elsewhere on the original race date. He was allowed to start the 100 lapper at the back of the field as he hadn't qualified. He did very well, though, and took home a third place finish to end his 2008 race season.
Joe competed in 22 races in 2008, winning one, finishing in the top 5 12 times and in the top ten 15 times. He attended events at five different race tracks in Michigan and Ohio. He extensd a huge thank you to Port City Racing, Barrix Law Firm and Weller Auto Parts for their generous sponsorship throughout the season. He also thanks his loyal crew, Denny, Eric and Jason for their tireless efforts to make it a great year. Racing plans for the 2009 season have not yet been finalized. As soon as plans are announced, they will be posted here. Meanwhile, Joe and his team wish you a great off-season and hope to see you again next year. This winter Joe will be busy supporting his daughter, Lauren, in her new racing venture in the Arena Racing Series. Her results will be posted here throughout her season. Back to top
Joe's Daughter, Lauren, To Make Racing Debut
10/14/08
Joe has announced today that his oldest daughter, Lauren, will be making her debut in the Arena Racing Series this weekend on Saturday, October 18. She will be piloting the neon orange #101 car in this new series backed by NASCAR drivers Tony Stewart, Denny Hamlin and J.J. Yeley. The series will consist of 15 races to be held between October 18 and March 28 of 2009. Each of these races will be held at the DeltaPlex Arena in downtown Grand Rapids, Michigan. If you would like to learn more about this series, go to www.arenaracinggr.com.
The team is currently looking for sponsors. If you are intested in supporting this exciting new racing series, please contact Joe at 616-765-5497 for more information. Good luck to Lauren in her new venture!! Back to top
Joe Fifth at Main Event
09/28/08
Joe arrived in Columbus with an ill-mannered race car and the team worked feverishly to make the changes necessary to prove her to be fast during qualifications for Main Event XXI. That she was, as Joe ranked third during the time trials on Saturday afternoon. With the inversion, he began the 100 lap feature event in 8th position. He had a good run during the first half and was passing for the fourth position around lap 54. He had moved inside of his competitor and had easily shown him he was there and passing when the other driver bumped him and took both of them out with spins. His competitor would not accept the fault for the incident and, thus, both drivers were put back to the rear of the race to begin all over again. Joe ran a great race and did very well to gain all the positions he did, eventually finishing the race in fifth place. These things happen in racing but are still a disappointment to the team.
Joe has decided, at least tentatively, to compete in the Boyne Machine feature race which has been rescheduled to Saturday, October 18, at Berlin Raceway. Hope you can be there to see Joe and the Port City Racing Team complete their 2008 season. Back to top
Fast Time for Joe at Toledo Glass City
09/20/08
Joe began the day very well at Toledo Speedway Saturday. He first ran the fastest laps in practice and then followed up with the fastest time during qualifying for the Glass City 200 outlaw late model race held annually. He drew a 10 before the race which put him on the outside of the 5th row to start the 150 lap race to be held in two segments. Joe finished the first 75 lap segment in 9th position and was ready to begin the last half after the break. However, only about 5 laps into the 2nd half, Joe was involved in an incident involving other racers which damaged the right front of his #101 Port City race machine. He dove into the pits to make repairs but the crew couldn't complete them on time to get back into competition.
Joe's next and last race of the season will be in Columbus, Ohio, for the annual Main Event. This will be the 21st annual event and practice and qualifying will be held on Saturday, September 27 and the big Main Event will be held on Sunday afternoon, September 28. Joe is a previous winner of the Main Event. Back to top
Joe to Run in the Glass City 200 Saturday
09/16/08
Joe and his Port City Race Team will travel to Toledo Speedway for its annual Glass City race this weekend, Saturday, September 20. Joe has a history of racing well in Toledo and enjoys competing there. This year the format will be a little different as the event will be held on one day only. Practice, qualifying and racing will be held on Saturday. Actual race time for the big race is 5:00 in the evening. A rain date of Sunday, September 21, will be used if necessary. Back to top
Joe 7th at Berlin Saturday, September 6
09/06/08
Berlin Raceway hasn't been good to Joe and his team lately. On Saturday, he was only able to qualify 18th and thus began the 50 lap feature race in that same position. He struggled to a 7th place finish for the night, put the day behind him and the team began preparing for their next event, the Glass City 200 on September 20 in Toledo, Ohio. Back to top
Joe Struggles at Berlin Saturday Night
Aug. 23, 2008
Joe and his race team competed at Berlin Raceway Saturday night and had to battle the weather as well as his competitors. He qualified 6th fastest in time trials during the time trials and when feature time arrived the track was very moist and dewy from an earlier rain around 5:00. Fog was moving in and caused the track to be quite slippery. Joe began the 50 lap feature in 7th position, but steadily lost ground, only able to finish 18th for the night. His next race date is scheduled for Saturday, September 6 at Berlin Raceway for its Fall Classic, a 50 lap feature event for the late model racers. Back to top
JOE WINS KALAMAZOO KLASH POINTS CHAMPIONSHIP
Aug. 20, 2008
The Port City race team had a fast car for this annual event and Joe qualified second best out of the 51 drivers making their appearance at Kalamazoo Speedway Wednesday evening. With the inversion, Joe began the big 150 lap feature race in 7th place on the inside of the fourth row. After the first 100 laps, there was a 15 minute break for drivers and their teams to change tires and make any other changes necessary for the final 50 laps. Joe finished the first 100 laps in third position.
With the roll of the dice by Terry Senneker, Joe began the final run of 50 laps in third position. He led for 31 of those laps, battling neck and neck with Terry Senneker, who finally overtook Joe at lap 131. Even then, it wasn’t a breeze for Senneker as Joe was not willing to give up the lead. With lapped traffic figuring in the finish, Joe was not able to get the pass made around Senneker and took home the 2nd place prize money, $5,000.
He did earn the Series point championship, winning it by 62 points over Andy Bozell to take home the $4,000 points prize money. All in all, it was a VERY good night for Joe, bringing home a total of $9,000 for the day’s hard work. Back to top
Fourth for Joe in Chet 100
08/09/08
Joe and his Port City Race team came to Berlin Saturday night to compete in the annual Chet memorial race. He qualified his red #101 machine in 11th position and also began the 100 lap feature event on the inside of the 6th row. He was able to gain 7 positions to finish that race in 4th place. His next race will be the big Kalamazoo Klash at the Kalamazoo Speedway on Wednesday, August 20. He is in second place in the point standings in the Klash series and hopes to bring home the points championship, along with doing very well in the 150 lap series finale. Back to top
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JOE WINS AT BERLIN!!
08/02/08
It was Joe's night at Berlin this evening! He drove to victory with his first win of the season at the Marne track. It was a hard fought battle between Joe and Ross Meeuwsen for nearly half of the 58 lap feature with Meeuwsen nipping the heels of the #101, trying hard to make a pass. Joe successfully held his own, though, and took home the win. He had timed in 7th earlier in the day and began the late model feature on the outside of the third row. It didn't take him long to make his moves with his car tuned in perfectly on this race night.
Thanks to Barrix Law Firm, Port City Racing and Weller Auto Parts for their loyal support to this #101 Port City race team. And a big congratulations to Joe and the whole crew tonight!! Next up for the #101 team is on Saturday, August 9, for the big Chet Memorial race, a 100-lapper held annually. Tonight was a great warm-up for the big one this weekend!! Back to top
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4th for Joe at Berlin
07/19/08
Joe drove to a fourth place finish in the 50 lap late model feature this evening at Berlin Raceway. He had qualified 12th earlier in the day and began the late model 50-lap feature in 12 place as well. He moved ahead to fourth by midway through the caution filled race and took the checkered flag in that position. The #101 Port City team's next race will be Saturday, August 2, at Berlin Raceway for their annual Anniversary program. The late models will run a 58-lap feature race that evening. Back to top
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#101 Port City Team at Berlin Saturday
07/12/08
Joe and his team appeared at Berlin Raceway Saturday evening for Late Model night with a 100-lap feature for the late model drivers. He took home a seventh place finish in that event. More details to follow.
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M-40 Wreck Takes Joe Out of Late Model Jones
07/05/08
Joe and his Port City Race Team had the car to beat on Saturday night at M-40 Speedway. He knew it was a winner and had no problem taking his heat race earlier in the evening. He began the 100 lap late model feature in 11th position after qualifying 6th fast of the 25 drivers taking times. He planned to be patient and let things get sorted out before making his move forward as there were 100 laps of racing. However, on the third lap, someone else was not so patient and there was a spin in front of Joe, another race car hit his left front and sent him hard into the wall, putting an end to his hopes of taking home the victory in the Late Model Jones annual event. He was extremely disappointed, of course, and his car was damaged badly. Joe's luck has not been good at M-40 in 2008.
Now, his team will ready their car for racing at Berlin Raceway this Saturday, July 12 for Late Model night. The late model racers will compete in a 100 lap feature that night. Back to top
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Joe Only Nine Points From Klash Series Lead
06/28/08
Joe finished the big 100 lap Kalamazoo Klash Series race at Kalamazoo Speedway Saturday night in fourth place, moving him even closer to the Series Points lead, only nine points behind current leader, Andy Bozell. He had qualified fifth out of 25 drivers there to compete for the $7500 prize to win this event. He began the 100 lapper in 12 position with the inversion and climbed to fourth at the final checkered flag. The team has one more chance to take the series point battle this season, with the big Klash finale to be held on Wednesday, August 20. They are looking forward to that date already.
Meanwhile, this week Joe and his Port City Racing team will travel to Jones, Michigan for the 3rd annual Late Model Jones, a 100 lap, $10,000 to win, race to be competed on Saturday, July 5. Back to top
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Joe 5th at Berlin
06/28/08
Joe and his Port City #101 Race Team appeared at Berlin Raceway last Saturday and had a top five finish in their feature. He qualified in 10th position and began the 50-lap feature in that spot. He took fifth place in that race. Tonight, Saturday, June 28, he heads down to Kalamazoo Speedway for the third in the Kalamazoo Klash Super Series events for 2008. This one is a 100-lapper and pays $7500 to the winner. Joe is currently 2nd in the Series point standings and hopes to get a win in Kalamazoo tonight.
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Rain Washes Out Program at M-40 Friday
06/13/08
Tonight's racing program at M-40 Speedway has been cancelled due to rain. Joe's next racing date is scheduled for next Saturday, June 21, at Berlin Raceway for a regular racing program for the late models.
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Joe's Appearance Saturday Night at Berlin
06/07/08
The #101 Port City Team raced at Berlin Raceway Saturday evening, amidst threatening, hot weather. Joe qualified 16th during the time trials and then also began the late model 50-lap feature in 16th position. Joe had advanced to 11th place when after about 30 laps a wreck occurred and he ran over debris on the race track. He then was forced to dive into the pits for the crew to replace a flat tire and then rejoined the action. With only 20 laps remaining, he was still able to regain all of his lost positions and finish the race in 11th place.
Joe's next racing date will be at M-40 Speedway on Friday, June 13 for a regular late model show there in Jones, Michigan. He will use that date to tune up for the Late Model Jones Special on July 5 which will pay $10,000 to win.
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Joe Second at Berlin Saturday
05/31/08
Berlin Raceway was the destination of the #101 Port City Racing Team Saturday evening and the weather was made to order for everyone. Joe began the day with a fifth place qualifying effort and started the 50 lap feature late model event on the outside of the fourth row after the inversion of qualifiers. He quickly gained three positions early in the race and drove steadily through the mid-point, in fifth position at lap 25 of 50. Through some exciting action during the last five laps, Joe was able to gain another three places and finish under the checkered flag in second position.
Joe and his team plan to return to Berlin Raceway on June 7 for another regular race night for the Coors Light Late Models.
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Overheating Takes Joe Out at Toledo While Running for the Lead
05/25/08
Joe arrived in Toledo on Sunday with his #101 Port City Race Team to appear in the first of three races in Toledo's 2008 Gold Cup Series. It was another warm, beautiful day and he did well in qualifying, finishing third, and began the feature for the night in sixth position. He was challenging Harold Fair, Jr. for the lead with just two laps to go when his race car overheated, taking him out of the competition. He had to settle for a 10th place finish for this one but the team looks forward to its next appearance in Toledo in June.
Now, the race team prepares for Saturday at Berlin Raceway and a regular racing night which will include a 50 lap feature for the late model drivers.
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Joe Takes Fourth at Kalamazoo
05/24/08
It was a beautiful day at Kalamazoo Speedway Saturday, just what the drivers ordered for the second race in the Kalamazoo Klash Super Series. Forty-two drivers were there to see how they could fare in the 100 lap feature race, paying $5,000 to win. Late in the afternoon, the teams qualified their race cars and Joe placed 8th in that pursuit. With the inversion, he began the highlight of the evening on the outside of the third row. He drove his #101 Port City race machine into fifth position by the second lap and rode there until lap 36. Joe explained after the race that he just didn't quite have enough power to advance enough to win the race. It was quite an exciting race to say the least and on lap 94, Joe was able to take fourth from Ryan Wheeler and drove under the checkered flag in that position.
The team's next race date is Sunday, May 25, at Toledo Speedway for their first in the Gold Cup Series. Check back for those results early in the week. Back to top
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Good Night at Kalamazoo
05/17/08
Joe's Port City Race team came down to Kalamazoo Speedway Saturday for a tune up in preparation for this week's second event in the Kalamazoo Klash Super Series and had a good night there. During practice, the team struggled with a slow machine and made several quick set-up changes. That led them to a great qualifying effort as Joe raced to the second fastest time of the 31 drivers attending Saturday night's competition. He began the feature in 7th position and ended the evening with a fourth place finish in that race. The team feels ready and satisfied with its race car, looking forward to Saturday's big $5,000 to win 100 lap feature back at Kalamazoo Speedway. See you there to cheer on Joe's #101 team.
Joe will also race at Toledo Speedway on Sunday night, May 25 for their first Gold Cup Series race of the 2008 season. Back to top
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Saturday Night at Berlin
05/10/08
The #101 Port City Racing Team made its second appearance at Berlin Raceway Saturday night with a brand new race car after a crash took Joe out of competition at M-40 on Saturday. The team worked with the car during practice, making slight changes and then qualified during the afternoon. After qualifying, they made more changes and did very well in the heat race. They are quite happy with the car and will continue to make minor key adjustments, confident the car will be very competitive. Joe began the 50 lap feature race in 17th position and gained a few spots in a caution-filled event to finish 12th.
Joe's next race is tentatively set for Saturday, May 24, at Kalamazoo Speedway for the second of the Kalamazoo Klash Super Series, The Holley Carbs 100. This big one will pay $5,000 to win.
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Crash Takes Joe Out at M-40
05/09/08
The Late Model Jones series began at M-40 Speedway Friday evening and Joe's #101 Port City team traveled to Jones, Michigan to compete for the first time in 2008. He did well in qualifications, turning in a 6th fast time. With the inversion of 16, Joe began the 50 lap feature event in 11th position. He said he was just biding his time, racing in the middle of the pack, when about halfway through the race, several cars were involved in a melee, unfortunately taking Joe out of competition as well. His car was finished for the night and the team had to load her up and take her home for repairs.
Even with Friday's evening's accident, Joe and his crew still plan to appear at Berlin Raceway this evening, Saturday, May 10. This will be the team's second trip to Berlin this season and they hope for a good night of racing. Joe wishes all Mom's a "Happy Mother's Day" on Sunday and would like nothing better than to take home a win for his Mom! And it would also be great to take home a win for the wonderful sponsors and team owners as well. We wish them the best tonight. Back to top
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First Appearance of Year at Berlin for Joe's #101Team
04/26/08
Joe and his #101 Port City Racing Team made their first appearance at Berlin on Saturday and joined 24 other late model teams to compete in their 50-lap feature. Joe qualified 19th and thus began the main event race in 19th starting position. Joe said the car was pretty quick during the beginning of the race but became tighter as time progressed, causing him to bring home an 11th place finish. He is not unhappy with the car and expects improvement in coming appearances at Berlin this season. Thank you again to #101 sponsors Barrix Law Firm, Weller Auto Parts and Port City Race Cars.
The team's next race will be at M-40 Speedway in Jones, Michigan on Friday, May 9, for its first Late Model Jones Challenge of the year. This is a series of three races, one of which (July 5) pays $10,000 to win. Then, on Saturday, May 10, Joe and his crew will return to Berlin Raceway in Marne, Michigan for its Spring Showdown. Back to top
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Good Start to Joe's 2008 Season - 2nd in Klash #1
04/21/08
Joe's season began well on Saturday night at Kalamazoo Speedway. It was the first of four Klash Super Series races and he was well prepared, though still sore and recovering from surgery only a week earlier. Qualifying for the starting positions in the 100 lap feature race was held in the afternoon and Joe took the 7th fastest position among the starters. He began the main event of the evening on the outside of the third row.
Halfway through the race, Joe had moved ahead to third and was working on passing the second place driver when Terry Senneker inadvertently bumped Joe's #101 Port City Racing machine and nearly caused Joe to lose control. Senneker did spin and also his Gentry Racing teammate, Steve Needles, unfortunately ending hopes of a good finish for either of the Gentry team drivers. Joe then battled for several laps with second place Bubba Brooks, finally getting around him with just a few laps remaining to finish in second place. Joe was happy with his team's performance and looks ahead to a good season of competition. The team will make its next appearance at Berlin Raceway on Saturday, April 27 for a 50-lap feature race on All Faiths Night. As always, we wish them the best and congratulate them on their fine effort at Kalamazoo Speedway Saturday night. Back to top
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Joe to Open Season at Kalamazoo Saturday
04/17/08
Joe is continuing to heal from his surgery last Friday and is feeling well enough to schedule his first appearance of 2008 at Kalamazoo Speedway on Saturday, April 19. Kalamazoo's season opener is "The Allstar Performance 100", the first of four Kalamazoo Klash Super series races which will end with the big annual Kalamazoo Klash on August 20. The Allstar Performance 100 pays $3500 to win and the big Klash in August will pay $10,000 to win. Joe is anxious to get back behind the wheel of his #101 bright red Port City racing machine and begin what the team expects to be a great 2008. Hope you can make the #101 team "opening day". Good luck to you, guys! Back to top
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LET'S GO RACING!!!
04/09/08
The time is here again to ramp up for the smell, sounds and excitement of Port City Bush Racing to hit the pavement at race tracks across the region. Joe and his #101 Port City racing team are prepared and set to go on Saturday, April 19, at Kalamazoo Speedway for its season opener, the first of four races in the Kalamazoo Klash Super Series this season. Joe had planned to open his season at Berlin Raceway for their season opener this Saturday, but circumstances prevented that from happening. Joe is scheduled to go under the knife for hernia surgery on Friday, April 11. We wish him well for that surgery and a "speedy" recovery. He plans to be well enough to take the seat in his red racing machine the next Saturday at Kalamazoo.
Joe's race team this 2008 season consists of Denny, Eric, Jason and Ben, his talented crew from last season. Jason joined them last season after working with Lee Anderson, who tragically lost his life last summer. They tentatively plan to visit several tracks this season (See Schedule Page), including Berlin Raceway, Kalamazoo Speedway, Toledo Speedway, M-40 Speedway, Columbus Speedway, etc.
Joe wishes to send thanks to his generous sponsors for 2008. A huge thank you to Barrix Law Firm, Weller Auto Parts, and Port City Racing. Without them, there would be no #101 Port City Race Team. As always, Joe's team will do its best to represent you well. Back to top
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