As we continue to tool around on this car we are trying new things every week.  This week we tried some new shock packages along with decreasing the front spring rates.  Next race we will be trying to improve our front and rear suspension geometry by repositioning the rear trailing arms for more forward bite and by running taller ball joints in the front to increase the control arm angles and help the moment center of the car.

Stay Tuned

Aaron Cain #5

 I did not know what to expect on Saturday at DRP but I knew it was going to be an experience.  First, it was going to be the first night race that I have had in a long time.  The vast majority of races at Slinger in the past have been during the daytime because the Thunderstock feature has always gone fairly early in the show.  I needed to change the visor on my helmet otherwise it would have been too dark to see.  I also could not help but notice how much faster the race speeds seemed to be at night rather than during the day. 

 During the course of the days events we qualified 9^th out of 18 cars.  I was a little disappointed in the time and knew that we were faster than the lap I turned.  But on a flat third mile track where passing is extremely difficult anything can happen.

 During the course of the 40-lap race I remember telling myself, “Man I haven’t had this much fun in a racecar in a long time.”  I was cruising around in the 4^th place position getting pressured from behind by the number 6 of Jason Tohma.  We were having a great battle as I clinged to the 4^th place position while he tried to work his way around the outside and occasionally tried to dig under my car on the inside.  I did my best to hug the inside groove knowing that passing around the outside was extremely difficult at the dells.  With 15 laps to left in the 40 lap feature I was approaching a lap car on the outside of the track meanwhile Jason Tohma snuck to the inside of me.  I decided to use the lap car as a blocker so I could retain my 4^th place position.  Jason thought he had my car cleared on the front stretch so he moved up the track to shoot the gap between.  I saw him moving up the track and in anticipation of a collision I moved down about a 2ft. to prevent myself from being pushed into the wall.  When our cars collided Jason’s car wrapped around the front of mine causing him to take the wall head on.  The thing that made the wreck even worse is that our cars hooked bumpers and dragged each scraping the front stretch wall.  I feel awful about the accident and in retrospect I wish I just would have let Jason have the spot.  We both would have finished higher than we did and we would have escaped with no damage.  But we both were playing a game of chicken where we expected the other to blink.  Instead we both ended up with tore up race cars. 

Lucky for me our car was not tore up nearly as bad as Jason’s and we were able to finish the 40 lap feature with a 9^th place finish.

 I really enjoyed racing at Dells this week and we look to make major improvement within the next few weeks because our next race is going to be the progressively banked half-mile track of Hawkeye Downs in Iowa.  We plan on making some significant geometry adjustments to the car that we have never done before.  Hopefully this will allow us to hold a higher corner speed and turn some faster lap times.

 Aaron Cain #5

This off-season we took on an incredible undertaking of converting our Thunderstock car of last year into the ASA sportsman it is now. On the surface it sounds like such a simple task. It’s already a racecar how hard could it really be? Well this is by far the largest project undertaking of my and my father’s life. The pretty much the only thing that was left on the car was the frame and roll cage. Everything was stripped down, frame X’d, front and rear hoops installed, new fabricated body, manual transmission, interior tined off, new exhaust, updated front suspension, new paint, new vinyl, the list goes on. All of these things took place over the course of an off season which sacrificed well over 1000 hours of mine and my fathers free time that would normally have been spent together. I can’t thank my Dad, Heather, Lincoln, John, Todd, Jerry, Joe, and Scotty for the support that they have given in my quest to take on new challenges and gain some more experience at driving on bigger, faster, different tracks around the Midwest.

Joe Shear Classic:

 When I first decided to compete in the entire ASA sportsman tour one of the tracks I was a little cautious and excited about was Madison International Speedway. A very fast ½ race track where you would be pushing over 100 mph before entering the corner. This is much higher rate of speed then I have raced at in the past and that I am used to. But after turning a few laps it was not nearly as intimidating as I thought it would be. The track is absolutely awesome and I can’t wait to come back in a few weeks. By the end of the 3rd practice we were turning very competitive times of 21.4 and I was having a blast. But when it came to qualifying we were actually only able to turn a 21.6 as I almost spun the car out coming out of turn one on my first qualifying lap. The car also was not handling the way I know it could. After a few adjustments I started on the pole for the 15 lap qualifier.  I got out to an early lead for a few laps when I cut into turn 3 a little earlier when I should have this caused me to push up the race track and allow the #3 sportsman to get underneath me while the #6 followed close behind. I finished 3rd in my heat race. During the feature I started in the 3rd position directly behind the pole sitter when the green dropped I was freight trained on the outside and went from 3rd place all the way back to 9th.as the lead pack of cars pulled away from the field I worked my way up back up to the 6th position where I finished the race the 17 mile 35 lap race. What makes my 6th place finish even more interesting, is that I completed the last 4-5 laps with no breaks. About half way through the race I started loosing the pedal and toward the end of the race they were completely gone. Needless to say we will be fixing this problem before the next race.

To be honest I am pretty pleased with our performance over the weekend Madison is not an easy track to drive and it was the first time I have ever drove on the track. If we could take 6th place at every race I would be pretty happy. We still have a lot to learn on this ASA sportsman quest because It seems that we are about 3-4 tenths slower than the fastest Madison sportsman. Either way the next race is at Dells Raceway Park. I will keep you updated on our progress.

Aaron Cain #5

This year we wanted to try something that no one has ever done before. That was to race the Hobby Stock Division and Super Stock Division with the same exact car making no modifications. This was a pretty incredible challenge because most of the races were run back to back leaving very little time in between races and practice sessions. We had other things that we needed to worry about than tires throughout the day which included changing our transponder to make it easier for the tower to score me in both races. We also needed to constantly fill the car with fuel because we probably turned over 100 laps.

During practice it really turned out the car was pretty close now that we had fresh rubber on the RR. We brought three new tires that we changed throughout the day to give us a competitive advantage. The car did need to be tightened up slightly this we did by adding some sway bar preload. Looking at the weather throughout the week I was hoping for cooler track conditions but it turned out to be a pretty warm day which did make it slightly greasy as the track heated up in the afternoon.

We qualified pretty well as we were able to get fast time in the hobby stock division with a 13.6. The Car was fine I just don’t think I drove it in hard enough into turn number one. I was able to correct this problem when I qualified with the super stocks where I was about a tenth faster with a 13.5. To my surprise I qualified 4th overall with cars that should be much faster than me. These cars are from the neighboring tracks where they are allowed to be 100 lbs lighter, fiber glass bodies, and a significantly larger motor than we car running.

Both features were extremely exciting especially since they were back to back. During the Hobby stock feature I started in the 16th position. As the race progressed I was able to make a lane change to the inside which was the much faster lane. I was able to follow the faster row of cars passing some of the cars in the outside row. There we numerous cautions that made for some pretty close calls, but as I made it up through the field with about 12 laps left I found myself on the pole fighting neck and neck with Justin Poenitch. When the green dropped Justin was able to keep up for a few laps before he washed up the track and opened the door for Al Stippich to take over second place. As I led the last ten laps or so my car started to develop a loose condition that made it difficult to get on the gas hard out of turn 4 letting Al close in. At one point he got to the inside of me but I was able to use a lap car to hold him back. During the final of 30 laps some cars must have spun through some oil dry in turn 4 and kicked up a giant cloud of dust that I had to drive through not knowing what was on the other side. This was difficult but I just hammered down and drove through the cloud hoping for the best. I did win the feature but I had no time to celebrate because I had to race with the super stocks in the next race.

In the pits my Dad and John Daley did a masterful job of changing the RR tire, filling with fuel, and changing out the transponder in no time at all. At the start of the super stock feature I started in the 13th position and noticed right away my car was not handling as it was in the previous race. The car developed a slight push on the outside of the race track. I figured this was because of the temperature differences between the right side tires. When we changed the RR we got a lot more grip out of it than the RF causing a push. As the RR tire heated up the car became extremely good on the outside of the race track. I had another close call with a spinning car but was able to avoid it with only a trade of paint. As we restarted I again was on the outside of the track slowly creeping forward as I would get out motored down the straight-away and I would catch up in the corner. Eventually, I took advantage of another lucky opportunity as a lap car held up two rows of cars allowing me to sneak past them all. I pretty much spent the rest of the time on the outside of the track coming in an unbelievable 5th place. I will never forget what one of the sportsman drivers asked me before I went out and qualified, “Why are you guys running both divisions?” He said this in a way like I did not belong with the big boys. My response was simply “Because we’re fast enough.” It feels so good to be so right!
One final thing that I thought was incredibly interesting was the fact being in that car for two 30 lap features was pretty fatiguing. I don’t want to seem like a baby but I was pretty sore the next morning. I found that the entire left side of my body was sore from my neck to my lower back. I also found that my left bicep was sore along with my right tricep from turning left all day. I now have a huge respect for those late model guys who go out and turn 80 laps in a feature while pulling more than the 1.7 g’s in the corner that I am used to.

This was by far the most successful day of racing in my career. I am really on top of the world right now and I don’t know how this racing stuff can get any better. After talking it over with my family it looks like we are hanging it up for the year. I would love to race La Crosse or Rockford but I feel like I should quit while I’m ahead and spend some quality time with the family. I won’t be idle during the off season as I will bury myself in Milkens “Racecar Vehicle Dynamics” along with other books and articles, and try to learn something that may make us faster. Finally, I could not be more proud of my Dad and John Daley for being there to perform the maintenance on the car between races. I could not have done it without you guys.

Aaron Cain #5

 I started the feature in the last position as I won the week prior and because a few unfortunate caution laps I was able to slowly make my way to the front and it also allowed my tires to cool down during cautions. During the race the car was still completely awful. Accept now it seemed we had absolutely no side grip at all. I was spinning the tires on exit at the same time the RF also had no traction, a total 4-wheel drift. Eventually we somehow we finished in the 4th place position.

After the race we discovered our problem while waiting for championship pictures to be taken. Our RR tire started hissing and loosing air. Upon closer inspection we found that the RR was completely down to the cords. I am not sure why this tire wore away so much faster than any other tire we have had on our right side. I personally think that it was a manufacturing defect with the tire. We were incredibly lucky that tire did not blow and ruin next weeks plans for the futures instead it just ruined the qualifying streak.

Next week at “The Futures” we are going to attempt something that we have not done before. We are going to run both street stock divisions. If you look at lap times we should be one of the faster cars in each class provided we qualify well. This gives me the chance to race a ton of laps and potentially make some pretty good money while doing it. We anticipate a crazy day of adjustments and a tire changing frenzy between races. Who can go wrong with 80 laps of racing!

This past Sunday is a day that I have been hoping for a long time. Earlier in my racing career I did win a couple of Thunderstock championships, but the class was more of a hobby stock division and we were extremely limited on what we could do with the cars. This championship really means the most because of the amount of research, time, and effort that we put into our program over the last 12 months. Over the last year I have read every article, book, and manual that I could get my hands on that had a chance of getting us around the racetrack faster. We have tried to locate the lightest and best stock suspension components to improve weight distribution. We did extensive sponsor hunting in an attempt to keep our hobby financially neutral and provide those who we sponsor with the best service available. It has simply been a great year and any other success that we have from this point forward is a bonus to us.

My wife and kid have really had to make some sign cant sacrifices so I can go play NASCAR on Sunday. I would like to especially thank them for making this dream of mine come true.

Aaron Cain #5

During qualifying I had the best first lap of qualifying I have ever had. Out of the gate we had a 13.8 and the car felt great on the first lap. On the second lap I just over drove the car and really screwed it up. I qualified with a 13.61.

The race was one of the most memorable races that I have ever been part of. I started in the 9th position and initially I had trouble breaking out of the pack. I was pinched behind Dan Wood on the inside and Stephanie Lozinecki on the outside eventually Stephanie faded back and gave me the opportunity to move to the outside. I thought I could get underneath Dan Wood but he did a great job of holding the bottom. I accidently got into the back of Dan Wood causing him to get loose and slow up. This allowed Stephanie close the gap on the outside. I thought I had Stephanie cleared so I moved to the outside were she graciously did not put me in the wall. Toward the end of the race I was in third position when Rick Schafer had mechanical problems leaking lubricants on the track. I hit the slick and slid the car into the wall in between turns 3-4. Somehow there was enough grip to slow me down where It caused little damage. I got extremely lucky! On the restart I was supposed to start in the 3rd position with 2 laps left, except the second place car Ryan Farrell was having transmission problems and was forced to retire early. This moved me up into the second position alongside 2008 track champion Al Stippich. During the last 2 laps the car was better than ever on the outside. I think the tires really needed to cool down a bit to regain some grip that the caution provided. I eventually was able to hold Al to the inside where it appeared he was pretty loose off of turn 2. This gave me the opportunity to take home the win.

My Dad has always told me, “I’d rather be lucky than good any day.” In this case I see his point, many things must go your way to win a race. It did not matter how good the car was I won the race from the misfortune of others. I could have easily knocked down the wall twice on Sunday and not finished the race. Ryan could have avoided mechanical problems and finished the race and I could have took 3rd. Either way I am truly blessed to take home another victory. Next week we will be in survival mode as we will start the race from the rear and do the best we can.

Aaron Cain #5

We qualified with one of our best times of the year 13.510 but as I mentioned earlier I probably could have drove it faster. Stephanie Lozinecki becomes the 5 person in Thunderstock history to enter the 13.6 club with a 13.673.

The race was quite interesting because I made a choice that really did not work out they way I anticipated it. Looking at the line up you always make predictions on what lane of cars is going to take off faster. I thought for sure the inside groove was going to be faster so I bailed out on the top side and tried to follow the inside row to the front. Adam Peschek was able to maneuver to the inside of the track allowing Eric Lingford a clear lane around the outside to the lead where he claimed his division leading 5th feature win of the year. I had the opportunity to stay behind Eric and potentially challenge for the lead but I was worried about getting freight trained by the inside row of cars. Instead I had to methodically pass cars and settle for 2nd place.

Aaron Cain #5

I qualified first with a 13.651 while a new driver joins the ranks of the illustrious 13.6 club. Congrats to Eric Lingford for becoming one of 4 drivers to turn a lap in the 13.6’s

The race was a good clean and fast race where the inside lane took off and left me stuck on the outside eventually I was able to make it to the inside and follow the leader for awhile until I was able to break free and begin to whittle the distance away between the first and second place. I eventually ran out of laps to even attempt a pass. With the loose condition that my car developed I most likely would not have been able to make the pass for 2nd or 1st.

Next week we will be trying a more conventional setup that should hopefully make us more consistent and faster than this past week. We need to learn as much as we can before we take on the big boys of the sportsman division.
Aaron Cain #5

There was some confusion about qualifying this week but I never heard them call for us to line up. Next week I will make sure to be down there much earlier than last week .

The race was one of the most fun races of the year. I started in the 7th place and only got up to 3rd but it was a back and forth battle from start to finish. There were a few close calls avoiding accidents and was just an incredible adrenaline rush. Late in the race I was able to get to the bottom of the race track and pass a few cars in the last laps taking 3rd place. The big news of the night was Stephanie Lozinecki’s #27 first ever feature win. It was just a matter of time until she became the first female ever to win a thunderstock feature. Congrats Stephanie you earned it!

Aaron Cain #5

This week the track did something that I have never seen done in years past.  In an effort to make the racing better, the track closed down the lower groove of the race track forcing all divisions to only drive on the high-side to lay down more rubber for added traction.  This gave us an opportunity to see exactly how the car was going to handle and what kind of lap times we could turn all by ourselves using nothing but the upper line.  A 14.1 was the best lap we could turn on the outside, the car was a little loose and it was a little strange dodging orange cones but we discovered that we were a little loose and after a few adjustments we were able to turn a few 13.7’s during the second session.  The car still was not what I wanted and seemed a lot faster than the times I was turning.  But going into this week it was our 5^th week on the RR tire and it was showing signs of wear and was significantly harder than the other tires.

During the race I just plain got lucky a few times that led me to the front.  After an early caution I was placed in the low side behind Stephanie Lozinecki  #27 and Ryan Farrell #80 on the pole.  So for most of the beginning of the race I just followed the fast guys in front of me.  Later in the race I was able to negotiate myself around a lap car I think Jake Larson thought I was going to come up into him and put him in the wall.  But I tried to leave as much room as I could on the outside.  I then was able to sneak to the outside of Stephanie and Dash winner Ken Schraufnagel #29.  By this point in the race the car turned to junk and I just could not get very much grip on the outside.  I again caught a lucky break as I was able to use a lap car to slow #29 enough to pass him on the outside.  The last few laps I was able to make some modest gains on the #80 car of Ryan Farrell but he still finished over 2 seconds in front of my second place car.  Congrats to Ryan Farrell and all the teams that were able to get him back out there after he damaged his rear-end and axle during qualifying. 

Usually we can get 5 good weeks out of a right side tire it was not the case with this particular RR tire that was giving us fits all day.  We think one of the reasons that we had problems was because that particular tire was on the RF of the car two weeks earlier.  Since the RF wheel has a significant amount of camber in it we figured that it may have wore unevenly leaving us less of a contact patch on the track.  Next week we will be putting a fresh RR tire on the car and should see a significant decrease in the poor lap times of the past 2 weeks. 

On a final note congrats to Dylan he was the kid that won this year’s customized bike for the great bike give-away. 

Congrats Dylan!

Aaron Cain #5