August 2 2008
"Little Bit Better"

Saturday July 26th was a better week for Team 117. After a few weeks of struggles the car was back performing at an acceptable level. The car isn't 100% perfect, but its getting closer to where it needs to be for the drier track conditions.

With an 7th place starting position and a mid race caution,  Hirthler was able to pick up the heat race win. Come feature time, Hirthler started 8th on the grid. A early race duel with Craig VonDohren, seemed like the race for the win. VonDohren won the race to the front and stayed there throughout the feature which gave him better position on the restarts. On a lap 21 restart, Hirthler tried a bold move for the lead on the outside of turn 1 & 2, however dry conditions limited traction for the Doug Meyers powered Bicknell,  which dropped Hirthler back to 4th where he remained till the checkered flag flew.

Look for us this week to be back in action at Grandview Speedway tonight August 2nd for the Forrest Rogers Memorial. Stop back in the pits to say hi, meet Team 117 and get a Photocard & Autograph

July 21 2008
"Houston We Have A Problem"

All Joking aside, as of late Team 117 is in a midseason slump.  Its an out of character struggle for the normally fast and competitive team. The feature performance Saturday pretty much is a recap of the last month. The car is about average in the qualifying races, track position hasn't been a problem, but the car just has not been performing up to Team 117 standards. Due to the double night racing and midweek shows Team 117 has competed in, the car has not been givin our total attention. We'll be revamping the car front to back and if all goes well, the car should be a different animal next week. However, can't make any promises, this is dirt track racing and that means a a lot of things got to go y our way to be the car in victory lane.

Wednesday the 16th Team 117 competed at the Super DIRT Series show at Grandview speedway, a bad time trial led to qualifying via consolation win. A flat right rear tire on the first few laps hurt Hirthler right away, after a quick pit stop Hirthler continued to race, but left with bad track position the leaders were knockin on the door within 10 laps. After being lapped Hirthler retired from the event to save the car, tires and fuel for another day. Which turned out to be a smart decision.

Saturday Hirthler transferred through the heat race which put him 10th on the starting grid for the feature. After a early race surge to 5th the car went away and left Hirthler hangin on for a top 10 finish. A lap 22 cut left rear tire retired Hirthler from the event early. Which left him with a 23rd place finish.

Due to the struggles with our Saturday night program, Team 117 will be cutting back on other racing ventures until we get things straightened out.

Pictures are included from the July 16th race at Grandview from the Pre-race autograph session on the front stretch, and post race with fans in the pits. Hirthler is always a fan favorite and always makes sure kids get their autographs. Team 117 also got new photocards (see below) last week, so stop back in the pits, meet the Team, and get one signed. 

Look for us this week to be back in action at Grandview Speedway Saturday the  26th.

Front & Back of 2008 Photocards courtesy of www.4starlettering.com

July 8 2008
"A General Story"

Team 117 has been racing alot the last few weeks, running double duty at BDR and Grandview. Team 117 Also competed in the Thunder on the Hill race on July 1st picking up a 6th place finish on the dry smooth track.

This passed Friday at Big Diamond Raceway Hirthler was wheeling the Bicknell around the 3/8 mile, heat race struggles led to qualifying through the consolation race. That put Hirthler in the back of the starting grid, he raced hard and moved into the top ten around lap 20. Hirthler had to pit with 6 of the 35 laps remaining and was unable to rejoin the field.

Saturday night Hirthler again had heat race struggles while running 5h with 2 laps remaining a lapped car slowed on the bottom of the track which left Hirthler nowhere to go sending him spinning. Hirthler aka "The General" rebounded to qualify through the consolation race and that started him 28th in the feature event. Hirthler began his charge to the front when a left front flat sidelined him on lap 5. On the restart, Hirthler began slowly working his way toward a top ten finish and with 5 laps remaining he moved into 10th position where he would stay until the checkers flew.

Look for us this week at Big Diamond Raceway Friday July 11th and Grandview Speedway Saturday the 12th. Team 117 has been slowly making a season turn around and is working towards making the car better for the end of the year shows.

June 23 2008
"Mr. Outside"

Team 117 made a return trip to Big Diamond Raceway on Friday night. The night started out rough with 117 getting sidelined after the 1st lap of the heat race, however Kevin did transfer through the consolation race and started the feature in 25th spot. At the drop of the green flag Hirthler began making moves towards the front and was utilizing the outside high grove to pass cars. When the checkers waved the lime green machine placed 8th, which was a great run for the first time back after not competing at BDR for the last few weeks.

That was only the beginning. Saturday night Hirthler made his way into the feature during the heat race action finishing 4th. That put him 8th in the starting grid for the feature. When the green flag waved  "The General" was bouncin his bicknell chassis off the cushion and making his way to the front, when the caution flag flew on lap 8. During the restart Hirthler made a bold move to the outside from his 4th starting position taking it 3 wide out of turn 4, Hirthler made it stick and charged into 2nd position down the front straight away and charged into the lead off turn 4, the move had people on their feet only to be wiped away from a second caution flag as Hirthler came off turn 4. He restarted in 4th and charged into 3rd where he ran for most of the race using the high side of the track, Meme DeSantis and Jeff Strunk passed Hirthler in the closing laps as the car "went away". Team 117 was happy with the 2 top tens one being a top 5 and look for more good finishes in the coming weeks.

Look for us this week at Bridgeport Speedway Tuesday the 24th and Grandview Speedway Saturday the 28th. Team 117 will be taking Friday the 27th off at Big Diamond Raceway, hopefully Team 117 will make a return Friday the 5th for the Georgie Stevenson Memorial

June 14 2008
"Coulda been a Contenda"

 Team 117 has been having a few problems in the last few weeks, 3 flat tires and a 2 broken shock mounts have sidelined the potent 117 in 3 out of the last 5 features. The car has been fast and drivable, but the finishes haven't been coming.

With the rising fuel prices and recent struggles for top finishes, Team 117 has decided to postpone its weekly racing program at Big Diamond Raceway. Hirthler commented" We appreciate the great work they are doing at Big Diamond Raceway and hope to make appearances at select races throughout the year".  The time off will also help the team concentrate on the Grandview program, getting back to the basics,  while also trying to turn things around in the coming weeks

Look for us tonight, at Grandview Speedway for the Modified and URC double header

May 13 2008
The Occasional Provisional

 Rain forced the cancellation of the races at Big Diamond Raceway on friday night May 9th.

Saturday night was alright for Team 117.  After starting deep in the 1st heat with extremely heavy track conditions Hirthler only made it to 8th position before the checkerd flag flew.  Started out 7th in the consolation race only to make it to 5th before side by side racing of the 3rd and 4th place cars left Hirthlers hands tied as he couldn't advance into a qualifying spot.

Hirthler however had a provisional to use since he was currently top 10 in points. He started deep in the feature and began to work his way to the front when he had to go pitside on lap11 for brake issues. After some thrifty repairs, he returned to the track and showed great progress and salvaged a 9th place finish. During a post race check of the car Team 117 found that a deflating right rear tire limited the ability for Hirthler to advance positions in the closing 5 laps.

We will be back slingin clay this Friday night at BDR and Saturday night at the Hill

May 4 2008
ONE OF THOSE WEEKENDS

 The weekend started out with a DNQ at BDR, after a heat race spin & collision, which left the 117 sidelined for the rest of the nights action. The car is being repaired and will be back in action this Friday night May 9th at the fan friendly Big Diamond Raceway.

The action got hot right out of the box for Team 117. After starting 9th in the heat race Hirthler advanced into 6th by lap 3,  after a restart Hirthler roared to the front and took over the lead by lap 7. Hirthler lead till the finish, which marked his 3rd heat race victory of the season. The feature was a different story. Kevin started off in the 10th position and was holding steady and patient, when a 3rd turn tangle sent the 117 into a spin on lap 4. Hirthler restarted at the rear of the field in the 26th position and began using the high side of the speedway to come through traffic. Kevin took home a respectable 10th place finish, which moved him into 9th position in the point standings.

Catch Team 117 again this weekend circling the Diamond Mines May 9th and the High Banks May 10th

April 28 2008
HIRTHER POSTS A DOUBLE TOP TEN WEEKEND

Friday night at Big Diamond Speedway Hirthler, while moving towards the front from his 11th starting spot, was involved in an early race incident. Following a pitstop, the lime green 117 raced back through the field to captured a 7th place finish.

Saturday night at Grandview could only of been better had it ended with a feature victory. Hirthler walked away with a heat race victory after a crowd pleasing 10 lap battle with Craig VonDohren. Hirthler started the feature in the 12th position, he stayed steady and patient in the beginning circuits around the high banks. After lap 10, Hirthler had the Bicknell chassis working all over the race track and began to march through the field. A late race caution tightened up the pack and Hirthler was able to advance from 4th position, to pick up a year high 3rd place finish at Grandview Speedway.

Team 117 will be back in action this friday night May 2nd at Big Diamond Raceway and again on Saturday May 3rd at Grandview Speedway.

1.Kevin Hirthler
2.Pat Ward; 3.Danny Johnson; 4.Duane Howard; 5.Rick Laubach; 6.Matt
Sheppard; 7.Todd Burley; 8.Craig VonDohren 9.Jeff Strunk; 10.Billy Van Pelt;
11.Steward Friesen; 12.Jimmy Horton; 13.Keith Hoffman; 14.Ryan Godown;
15.Willy Decker; 16.Mike Storms; 17.Ryan Watt; 18.Brian Kressley; 19.Jordan
Umberhaver; 20.Ronnie Cartwright; 21.Rick Scagliotta; 22.Bobby Lineman;
23.A.J. Romano; 24.Ray Swinehart; 25.Richie Pratt Jr. ; 26.Billy Pauch;
27.Ryan Grim; 28.Sean Merkel; 29.Wade Hendrickson; 30.Chad James; 31.H.J.
Bunting III; DNQ - Gary Smoker, Doug Manmiller, Larry Wright, Paul Kenney,
Jr. Heffner, Brian Weaver, Shawn Reimert, Norman Short Jr., Mark Forte Jr.,
Dave Calaman, Colt Harris, Gary Wagner Jr., Darwin Greene, Mark Frankhouser,
Bryant, Brown, Matt Howsare, Derek Rodney, Chris Ostrowsky Jeff Shaffer,
Ryan Forte, Brad Brightbill, Kenneth Eckert, Rick Ryder, Ron Hartrum, Roger
Hartrum, Amanda Spotts, Tom Miller, Garrett Krummert, Jeff Brown, Keith
Brightbill, Tom Hager, Kurt Spotts, Rodney Cordrey Jr.  

BIG BLOCK MODIFIEDS:

46 cars, 100 Laps, (Heat Winners: Pat Ward, Richie
Pratt Jr., Jeff Strunk, Wade Hendrickson) (Lap Leaders Pat Ward 1-14; Jeff
Strunk 15-60; Richie Pratt Jr. 61-78; Wade Hendrickson 79-100):

1.Wade
Hendrickson; 2.Willy Decker; 3.Ryan Godown; 4.Jamie Mills; 5.J.R. Heffner;
6.Brian Kressley; 7.Danny Johnson; 8.Jimmy Horton IV; 9.Chic Cossaboone;
10.Sean Beardsley; 11.Craig VonDohren; 12.Del Rougeux; 13.Rich Scagliotta;
14.Richie Tobias; 15.Mark Forte Jr.; 16.Richie Pratt Jr.; 17.Jeff Strunk;
18.Kevin Hirthler; 19.Duane Howard; 20.Chad James; 21.Skip Moore; 22.Billy
Van Pelt; 23.Sean Merkel; 24.Jimmy Horton; 25.Matt Sheppard; 26.Pat Ward;
27.Ronnie Cartwright Jr.; 28.Rick Laubach DNQ- Doug Manmiller, John Marsh,
Shawn Reimert, Bruce Kline, Vic Coffey, J.J. Bunting, John Willman, Brian
Berger, Bob Kristyak, Kyle Ebersole, Billy Pauch Jr. Darwin Greene, Keith
Hoffman, Jeff Brown, Dave Stonebraker, Brian Weaver, Glenn Reed, Michael
Storms.