Forbrook replaces Gerken as Kinser's Crew Chief

Forbrook Replaces Gerken as Kinser's Crew Chief By Richard Day WEST FARGO, ND (July 13) - Scott Gerken resigned as Steve Kinser's crew chief after Saturday's Duel in the Dakotas finale at Red River Valley Speedway so he could spend more with his family. "I have a lot of different emotions," Gerken said. "I've been around sprint car racing most of my adult life, but there comes a point in time where you have to move on. I have my wife, Sharon, and my Sarah and Samantha, at home. I need to spend time with them. "It's just come to the point in my life where I need to do something different. I started on the road with Mark Kinser (in the early 1980s). I can't picture me removing myself totally from racing. Right now, I just want to go home and spend time with my family. Who knows what the future might hold. In the winter, you spend a couple of months at home and you're ready to go again." Gerken, Kinser's crew chief for 3 1/2 years, maintained the #11 Quaker State Maxim with the help of Jimmy McBee this season. Through the first 34 events, Kinser finished all but one "A" Feature while recording 30 top-10s and 19 top-five finishes. "Scott and Jimmy have done a tremendous job keeping the Quaker State car prepared," Kinser said. "We haven't fallen out of hardly any races. We always make it to the checkered flag. I wish I could keep the team together. I hope Scott will give it some thought, but that's his choice." "We've got a great team and I'd hate to see any of it go. I might have to do some serious talking with Scott. I hate to see him leave. He's done a tremendous job for me. "I'd like to keep Scott aboard, but I can't make that choice. All I can do is offer jobs. We're running really well right now." Guy Forbrook was the crew chief for Jack Elden's Pennzoil team for the last 1 1/2 seasons before leaving in early June. He started working with Kinser at the Iowa Ethanol Classic at Knoxville Raceway during the Independence Day weekend. "Steve and I talked a little after I went home and I wasn't sure I wanted to do it," Forbrook said. "I still want to start my own team in the future. When I went home, I just wanted a break and to see what my avenues are. I want to get a corporate sponsor and run my own team. "Scott's a really sharp guy and Steve's a great driver. This is a really good team. I wish Scott would stay. It would be a really good team then. He wants to go home, so Steve and I are going to give our best shot." Although he hates to loose Gerken, his friend since high school, "The King of the Outlaws" is confident in Forbrook's ability. "Guy is good with everything," Steve said. "He grew up around racing. He's good with the chassis and engines. Forbrook believes the move from the Pennzoil team to the Quaker State team will be smooth. "One good thing about this transition is we used Maxim cars on the Pennzoil team Steve uses Maxims, too," Guy said. "It's a pretty easy transition. I'm basically doing the same stuff." WoO