MWS: Colorado: Ryan Hemphill race notes

"Rookie Dominates For 3rd Straight Speedway Win"

June 7, 2004 (Kansas City, Kansas) 0x2022 Ryan Hemphill did what Smarty Jones failed to do on Saturday. In his own version of running for the coveted "Triple Crown", the 22-year-old rookie won his third straight ARCA RE/MAX Series speedway race at the ever popular Kansas Speedway. In dominant fashion, Hemphill led 69 of the 79 laps run in the rain-shortened Kansas Lottery $200 Grand event.

"My guys on this Braun Racing team gave me a car that was just flawless all weekend, stated Hemphill. "I told them once over the radio that they all should be proud because they did a tremendous job on this TRIMSPA DODGE. The car was perfect right off the trailer and what more can I ask for. Greg Tester (crew chief) and Bob Blount (team manager) have done a tremendous job with this program and Ernie Elliott always gives us strong engines 0x2022 and I think the results speak for themselves."

Earlier in the day on Saturday, Ryan earned his 3rd Pork Pole of the young season as he posted a time of 31.910 seconds for a speed of 169.226 mph. The impressive qualifying was a full two miles per hour quicker than the nearest competitor in the field and this would be an indication of things to come once the green flag dropped on the scheduled 200 mile event.

With rain looming in the Kansas area, the beginning of the Kansas Lottery $200 Grand saw Ryan and his #64 TRIMSPA DODGE dart out to the lead in impressive fashion. As the lap times reflected, the Apollo, Pennsylvania native maintained a healthy lead throughout the first half of the scheduled 134 lap event.

Hemphill relinquished the lead on lap 53 when he came down pit road for service from his TRIMSPA crew under a caution period. With the rain drawing closer, Hemphill re-started the race in the third position and quickly regained the lead. This proved to be timely as rain showers fell upon the track and eventually halted the race on lap 79.

After an hour of steady rain, the event was called official with Ryan earning the "trifecta" with his third straight speedway win. In a total of 5 speedway races this season, the impressive rookie has earned three Pork Pole awards, one track record (Nashville) and three wins.

"This has just been an incredible start to the season," said Ryan. "I knew we would be good this season but I am not sure anyone had these types of expectations. We just want to keep our focus on what we are doing here and I think the sky is the limit for me and this team. I wish we could run the rest of the races this season and see where we would stack up in the point's race 0x2022 maybe someone will come on board and take that ride with us."

Despite competing in one less event that most of the other drivers, Ryan sits 6th in overall driver's standings for the ARCA RE/MAX Series and a very close second in the battle for the Rookie of the Year honor.

Ryan and his #64 TRIMSPA DODGE will now turn their focus to the 2.5-mile triangular shaped superspeedway of the Pocono Raceway. The running of the Pocono ARCA 200 is scheduled for a 1:00 p.m. EST start on Saturday.

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Contact: Brent M. Bushu

Integrity Sports Marketing

(704) 947-2300

Bbushu@aol.com

------------------------------------------------------------ Brent M. Bushu Integrity Sports Marketing 8925 Deerland Court Huntersville, NC 28078 (704) 947-2300