Leary Racing Products News
Good Luck to Gary Lewis...
For Immediate Release: Gary Lewis Racing LLC Media Relations Return to Montana 200 comes at just the right time for Lewis SNOHOMISH, Wash. (July 15, 2013)-As a four-time winner of one of the biggest late model races in the country, Gary Lewis knows how important the Coors Light Montana 200 is to any race team. Looking to rebound from a string of misfortune, this weekend's 200 comes at a perfect time for the driver of the Leary Shock Shop Chevrolet. "We've had a tough couple of outings that's for sure," Lewis said. "Running in the Summer Showdown (June 29) with a car capable of winning only to be sidelined with a broken trailing arm was not the way we wanted the night to end. We'd lost a motor the race prior in Wenatchee so this weekend's 200 is the best place for us to turn our fortunes around." While calling Western Washington home, Lewis has made Montana Raceway Park his home away from home race track. Lewis has not finished outside the top-10 in any of his Montana 200 starts and has victories on the NASCAR Northwest Tour and ARCA Late Model Challenge Series to his credit from the high-banked Kalispell quarter-mile. With MRP winnings approaching $60,000 since 1998, the Snohomish native knows what it takes to be successful when it comes to racing in the Flathead Valley. "This team always has a good car when we race there. Some of our biggest wins have come in Montana and it would be nice to get another one this weekend. To do so we'll work on our handling in both grooves and be sure to stay focused on one step at a time from qualifying all the way through to the end of the 200 laps," Lewis said. Lewis followed up his string of four straight Montana 200 victories with a top-3 finish in 2011 and a top-10 last year. Each of those runs came in different cars and the four-time late model champion will be in a new car again this weekend. That challenge will not be a distraction, according to Lewis. "Our Lefthander chassis has been on the track enough this season that the team and I have a good baseline developed for what it needs to be able to run in the front. That's shown in our strong qualifying efforts and good finishes until we ran into this little bump in the road. We have no doubt that this is a car capable of winning the Montana 200 and as a team have the experience needed to battle to the end for that goal." Being part of the great history of the Montana 200 is what drives Lewis to aim for a fifth title, he added. "This race is one of the biggest in the United States. Many of the best drivers in the country want to win it and when you look at an entry list from recent years they (drivers) come from all over to try. With NASCAR experience, track champions, touring champions and guys who just know how to race hard, the 200 is something that when you win it you know as a driver you've had an opportunity to be there at the end against the best racing has to offer. "That's what drives me to win the 200 again." Qualifying for the Montana 200 is set for Friday night with positioning races to follow. The 200-lap finale gets underway Saturday night with coverage at RacingWest.com |
Great Year for Jim Bailey
Thanks for your help in 2012. We had an awesome year that started out with a new track record and an award for "Best Appearing Car". We were quick time all but two nights (we were 2nd quick those two). We won 4 mains, had three 2nd place finishes and two 3rd's. We won the track championship and also were voted "Sportsman of the year". If that wasn't enough my pitman got an award for mechanic of the year. Thanks again for the shocks…they were great!!! The car handled really well all year. Jim Bailey |
Corey Seip 2012 I-25 Champion
Congratulations to Corey Seip on his 2012 championship at I-25 Speedway in Pueblo CO. Corey had a feature win and several third place finishes to claim the title. The Seip racing crew have kept the car competitive all season long, holding the top position in the Rocky Mountain Legends Racing Association points as well, with one race to go. He currently stands in 6th place at Colorado National Speedway. This adds to Corey's already strong accomplishments including 2008 Rookie of the year at I-25, CNS, and the RMLRA, 2010 Sportsman of the year in the RMLRA and 2008 State Semi-pro and 2010 State Pro champion. |
Leary Racing Products attends IMIS Trade Show
The main goal for this business trip was to meet face-to-face with a lot of our venders that we deal with on a daily basis as it really helps put a face to each person we talk to. Beyond that, Leary Racing Products established many new relationships over the weekend and look forward to announce their direct partnership with you soon.
Additionally, Mike Leary was asked by QA1 precision suspension to teach a shock seminar directed toward a packed room full of people. Based on the positive feedback that each person shared with us, everyone was excited to hear Mike’s take and philosophy on shocks. Mike shared the following; “I think this trip was extremely productive. I really enjoyed sharing the responsibility in teaching the QA1 seminar and was honored that they let me speak beyond their behalf. Not only was it a lot of fun, it was great for business as two new race teams approached me at the conclusion of the seminar and allowed us to drum up new business for the up and coming spring. I hope to build a new long-term relationship with these two race teams as well.”
Other seminars that our Leary staff attended included a hyperco seminar taught by Freddie Query explaining suspension technology which included jacking force, “rap rate,” spring preloading, bump stop timing, roll center/instant center and much more. The last seminar the Leary team attended was the Gale Force Seminar taught by NASCAR Camping World star Cale Gale as he and his father shared their insight on suspension technology and what has been successful for them in the past. Cale (Gale) also used Mike Leary to help explain certain aspects of shock technology that applied to the on-going discussion that occurred throughout the seminar.
A few reputable people had the following to say about the IMIS Trade Show: Yates Racing Engines “When Robert Yates Racing Engines:
“When you talk about performance and racing, you're talking about Daytona or Indianapolis. Indy is where I love to come. This is where you come to do business and we do more business here than anywhere else. We were so excited about last year and we're happy to be here this year!”
Winters Performance Products:
“Being back in Indy again is where we want to be. Geographically it’s a great experience. You can come from every different direction and Indianapolis is fabulous. We’re already signed up for next year, paid our money and saved 10 percent, ready to go!”
Overall, the whole Leary Racing Products team thought this weekend was very worth their time in effort to help bring Leary’s customers the most up-to-date shock and suspension technology as well as the most innovative and price competitive products. Everyone here at Leary’s wants to thank all of our loyal customers for a great 2011 year and can’t wait to see what 2012 brings us.
Please don’t forget to bring in your shocks to have them dyno'ed and freshened up before the beginning of the season as February through March get well booked up! Many customers bring their shocks in with skepticism thinking there is nothing wrong with their shocks and then soon find out in many cases, their shocks have bent shims causing the shocks to dyno out off the charts and can be the driving force behind an ill-handling racecar. |
Scotty Scott Finishes 4th at Nationals!
Scotty Scott, driving the number six Lariat Professional Software 34 Ford Coupe, made the haul out to Las Vegas Nevada for the Legends car nationals and brought home one of his most successful finishes in his career; and one he will never forget. Scotty's success started before he made the trip to nationals. Late in the season, Scotty was leading both the Colorado National Speedway Championship points along with the RMLRA region tour points. After missing the last race of the season at CNS to attend one of his son's hockey tournaments, Scotty fell to fourth in CNS points and finds him self currently in third in the RMLRA tour points; but still has a chance to take home the big trophy at the banquet depending on the races that will be drawn and counted for this 2011 seasons year end championship points.
After having some strong finishes late in the season, Scotty said he was very excited to make his first trip to the nationals. He said he didn’t have extremely high hopes for a stellar finish; he more or less was going there for the experience and opportunity to expand his horizon to compete with different drivers.
Scotty certainly did so, and did it in fashion. Scotty started the Legends Master Main Event in the 15th starting position. Just before the race started, one of his crew guys leaned over and asked Scotty what his goal in mind was for this 40 lap main event. Scotty replied confidently: "since were starting toward the middle-back of this field, I would like to finish no further back than 15th and would like to moved somewhere forward." However, I don’t think Scotty believe he would end up as high as 4th in the final stages of the race.
After making a hard charge to the front during the entire race, and with the help of a few cautions, Scotty wound up coming home with the best Legend car national finish for any Colorado driver this 2011 season. Scotty had this to say, "I had a lot of fun this weekend and learned a lot. I first would like to thank all my guys that came out here and supported me and helped work on the car all week long. I thought we were going to finish in the top three as the third place finisher and I came across the line; I missed him nearly by a bumper. However, Legends tech tore the top three down in each division, so it wasn't a bad trade off; fourth instead of third and allowing me to load up my car in one piece with out having to be torn down."
Scotty Scott ran a brand new 1250cc INEX motor purchased from Leary Racing Products just weeks before the nationals as well as a brand new set of Gary Cagle Camber Cut tires which both helped enable him to compete in this years Legends national event. |
Steve Smith Wins 2011 Rookie of the Year!
Steve Smith, from Colorado Springs, CO won this years El Paso County Speedway Rookie of the Year in the Stock Car Division. Although some bad luck overtook Steve throughout the year including several flat tires and mechanical problems, Steve was able to crack the top five in the overal points earning an impressive 4th place in the overal standings. Steve said: "Although for our bad luck, coming over and racing on the dirt for the first time this year, this past season has been one of the funnest seasons in my career. It wasn't like past race seasons where you almost dread going to the races, I actually had fun everytime we raced and felt like I learned alot as well."
Steve is already gearing up for the 2012 season and was just in buying a new nose and fenders to fit his 81-88 Chevy Camaro here at your local Leary Racing Products and Shock Shop. |
Roger Avants holds of Dan Savage winning Chick-Fil-A Night at CNS
Good Luck to Chris this weekend...
Chris Eggleston and his Team will be traveling out to Newton, IA for the ASA Midwest Tour Race @ 8pm (CT) on Fri. 8/5; and as of today there are 30 cars registered. Then immediately following the race they will pack up and drive back to Colorado where Chris will be piloting the #14 K&N Pro West Car @ CNS, which is usually driven by Travis Milburn. Updates should be posted on Chris Eggleston Racing Facebook page. |
Good Luck In Montana
Good Luck to Gary Lewis, Chris
Eggleston, Trevor Edmond, Jared Vorse, Bill Royce, Mike Longton, Mark
Sundberg, and Pete Harding this weekend at the Montana 200.
Great customers and fun to work with! Make Us Proud!! |