HMS Parker 425 Race Report

*Hostyl Motorsports Press Release*

February 7, 2008

FINALLY!

After much drama, hard work and money well spent, Hostly Motorsports would like to announce their first podium finish in the 2008 Jeepspeed Series.

February 2, 2008, the first race of the jeepspeed series for 2008. The race was the Best in the Desert Parker 425. The Team HMS was a late entry and was given the last starting position in the class. We were placed 25 out of 25 in class, we got a nice long wait in the jeep watching basically all of the 290+ cars leave the start line that nice cold morning. As we creep up to the start line, we are confident. I, Bryan Dodge and co-driver for this race Jesse Martin have put in countless hours, and with the help of Dodge Concrete LOTS of funds to get the jeep ready for the 2008 series. In the offseason we were able to get a new motor built by Hesco Performance (http://www.hesco.us/) out of Alabama that we were very confident would finally get us into the top runners of the class. This new motor as well as a new transmission after granading the last transmission in our last race of 07 we knew we would be able to push like no time before.

We get off the line in downtown Parker, Arizona and were off. The motor is a night and day difference in performance and it was obvious. At this point they are allowing the prior entrants a 20 seconds per car gap to help with congestion. By the end of the mile or so stretch of pavement we are on the car ahead of us. Through the first dirt section, we are on it, at mile 2 we try and go left to pass again and get into some soft dirt on a small hill and bury the jeep. Issue number 1, we try backing up and start to dig, go forward, dig, back and forth for what seemed to be an eternity as several cars pass us. Finally with the help of onlookers we are pushed out and off we go. From this point on we are going for the finish. Don’t get me wrong we are still pushing hard, but not being stupid and letting my adrenaline get the best of me, which it has been known to do once or a million times previous.

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We begin a nice steady pace again with the race letting us get our Radflo shocks up to temp and ready for the 280 mile beating that they are about to endure. As we get into the was section a couple miles down the course we start to see other jeeps again, take a line and start the passing sequences one by one, but maintaining a steady pace. Through the course we are smooth and steady, taking the beating of a lifetime but making it through the course, ever watching our rearview mirrors for the countless cars and trucks that are much faster than we are. At midway pit, which was actually mile marker 91 we pitted for our first gas stop. The jeep took roughly 22 gallons of gas, the crew quickly checked over the jeep, and we were off again.

Another 40+ miles we endured until we made it back to the main pit area and infield. Through this time we were stuck behind a couple of slower trucks that were giving us a nice dust bath. Eventually we worked our way past the first truck, then with only one truck making dust we sat back and watched the rough lines that he was taking and decided to find a smoother route. Into the Gauntlet infield section we went, still behind this truck, then it was time to use that nice new little straight six we had and passed that big V-8. Over the numerous jumps and around the large bermed corners and through the very deep ruts, we finally made it to our pit half way through the infield. We get there, the crew once again drops another 8+ gallons of gas, check out the jeep and Jesse and I get out of the jeep to have a much needed restroom break. Get back in the jeep and we are off.

Now back into the infield we are passed by a couple cars in faster classes and back into the desert we go. At this point we believe we are in fifth place in class due to the amount of cars that have either broken or pulled out of the race for one reason or another. Through the washes, rough sections and high speed roads our little jeep was actually able to get up to 93mph and it still had more to go. Not one issue was happening, besides loosing one of our front bumpstops. The BFGoodrich tires were amazing, Radflo shocks were spot on and the AEM air filters were keeping the jeep running amazing. We continued again to the midway pit for yet another 20+ gallons of gas for the final stretch to the finish line.

Within the next 30-40 miles the course was the roughest of the entire lap, it was so bad at one time that I actually became nauseous and threw up inside my helmet from motion sickness and lack of airflow through my fresh air system. Let me tell you, if that were to never happen again I would be completely satisfied. But on the other hand, it does give me a nice excuse to get a new helmet. We continue through the course not really seeing anyone or having any issues until about 10 miles from the finish when we finally see another jeepspeed belonging to Tom Barnett of T&Js offroad. Able to get by him due to him being stopped to talk to course official about his brother being stuck in a wash a mile or so back. Continuing on, we head into a rough section of the course called the goat trail. We try to kick up as much dust as possible making him back off so we could stretch out our lead on him. We did this on and off depending on how close he was getting until about 4 miles to the end. Once he was safely out of our mirrors we kicked it into finish mode and got us going at a smooth pace.

We reach the split in the course which sent us to the finish line, we were on it again to put on a good show for those that were watching from the overpass as well as other areas. We hit the last stretch of course that was actually paved, a God sent, and were on the gas as hard as we could, once again hitting that mark of 93mph. We fly through the finish line, stop at the stop sign just ahead, when Jesse and I finally realize we are done!

We meet Casey Folks, the owner of Best in the Desert when he tells us good race. He asks us a couple of questions and tells us to pull forward onto the podium for our interview. At this point we believe we are still in 4th or 5th place. We shut the jeep down and ready ourselves for the interview when the mc tells us congratulations on being the second jeepspeed to complete the race behind Jeff Knoll and the Dust Junkies team. At this point we begin to laugh and celebrate because we had no idea that we had done as well as we did. They ask us the questions of how the race went, if there were any issues and who we would like to thank. Get done with all of that, get off the podium and then get sent to post race tech for the jeepspeed class. At this point we are asked to give a fuel sample which we do, and continue to relax and just enjoy the moment of having our best race ever in the jeep.

The following Monday we come to find out that they say that our gas does not fit within class rules and that the gas, although street legal and from a pump, has too much color and also an additive that comes premixed in the gas, just like all other Arizona gas from the pump with a certain amount of ethanol. Due to this we are penalized even though we were very upfront on what fuel we were running with the new motor. Because of this infraction we were penalized 10 points out of the 65 given to us for our second place finish. With this we went from solely holding second place in the series to being tied for 3rd. Think of it as you will, but realize that Hostly Motorsports will change its fuel being used, fit right into the little rules that the series enforces at will and will come back next race and make up those 10 points and be right back in the race for the championship.

Being that this was the first race of the 2008 series, we would like to thank our continuing sponsors that are helping us, Dodge Concrete, Radflo Suspension Technology, Rain Tunnel Carwashes, AEM Dryflow Technology air filters, Durka-Durka.net digital media, BFGoodrich Tires and Camburg Engineering . We would also like to thank the new additions to the HMS sponsors for the 2008 series, Racer Offroad, Rainwipes microfiber towels, Copperstate Nut and Bolt, Trailmaster Suspensions for all of their help to this point and continuing for the remainder of the season. HMS would also like to take time to especially thank our families and friends as well as the entire HMS crew for the countless hours and hard work over the last several months.

Our next race in the 2008 Jeepspeed series will be the Terribles Town 250 in Primm, Nevada on April 18th and 19th. Look forward to a prerace update and post race recap. Thank you very much Bryan Dodge, driver of the Hostyl Motorsports Jeepspeed #1788