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2012 Season Wrap Up

With the holiday season in full swing we are in the midst of our short off-season looking forward to 2013. This past year was a good one for us at Hodges Motorsports, and I think there was a lot of growth. The bulk of our schedule was raced with the ASCS National Tour with a handful of additional events in the ASCS Gulf South, Southwest, and Canyon regions. For the first time I was able to repeatedly make ASCS National A-features and race on the lead lap consistently. It went on to show in the winged regional races, where I was able to get a win and a 3rd place finish in the two I finished. The other two winged regional races I had DNFs, one was a flip on the first lap and the other a blown RR on the last lap running 2nd. The non-wing racing we did in the ASCS Canyon region had some ups and downs with one strong run in particular with Rickey Hood, Charles Davis, and Jeff Swindell were I placed 3rd. I was able to do some 410 racing, as well, for the first time in my career. We raced in 4 World of Outlaw events and also in the 360 and 410 Knoxville Nationals. My proudest moment in the 410 with the wing this year was being able to make the feature in my prelim night of the Knoxville Nationals after coming close to winning the heat race with an ailing motor. I was also able to race in my first USAC National events this year and the first night I came home with a 9th place finish. I feel like the 410 complemented my driving style and I felt very comfortable behind the wheel with the limited experience I had so I’m looking forward to doing more of it this next year. Our strongest event of the year, I believe, was the final one, Western World. Racing with and without the wing I was able to make both of the A-features on the day of the finale. My non-wing prelim night we admittedly struggled a little bit getting the balance on the car but we learned a lot. In the wing car I felt confident and we had speed from the get go. I was able to make the feature and was running 4th, looking to capture 3rd on my prelim night before cutting a RR tire down, ending my night early. This meant that I had to race heats and B-features to get in the show for both cars and we were able to do so. Overall, while the statistics do not suggest it, I believe it was my strongest year behind the wheel of a sprint car and next year we look to build on it even more. It looks like we will start our year in Casa Grande, AZ on January 12 & 13 with the wing and we also hope to race in the Winter Challenge at Canyon Speedway Park at the end of January and the beginning of February.
I feel it is important to thank Napa Auto Parts, Momentum Racing Suspensions, Mesilla Valley Transportation, K & N Filters, ButlerBuilt Seats, Hinchman Racewear, Ortega’s Appliance, FK Rod Ends, The Oil Medics, Conroy Pneu Control, Smiley’s Racing Products, Wilwood Brakes, Wesmar Racing Engines, Ostrich Racing Engines, Keizer Aluminum Wheels, Tim Palmer Graphics, Chuck Jackson, Mike Campbell, Maxim Chassis and all of my sponsors for their support this year and in past years. I also need to thank Joe, Martha, Johnny, and Carla Herrera along with Manny, Annette, and Derrik Ortega and Mark Rosborough for their tremendous support throughout my career. I’d also like to thank Ryan Linder for the opportunity he gave me at Western World this year and also Chuck Whitney for his help as well as Calvin Landis and his family for their terrific help and hospitality at the Knoxville Nationals. Thank you to all the fans, as well, who support us through the racing season. It’s been a great year and we are looking forward to an even better 2013. Happy Holidays to all and safe travels during this time of year.

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