LIONHEART RACING SERIES
  • Home
  • Open Wheel
    • 2023 Schedule
    • Race Results
    • 2023 Standings >
      • Rookie Standings
      • Team Standings
    • Series Drivers
    • Oval Championship >
      • Oval Race Results
    • Road Championship >
      • Road Race Results
    • Triple Crown Points >
      • Triple Crown Race Results
    • Historic Standings
    • Rules
  • Lotus 79
    • 2023 Schedule >
      • Upcoming Race
    • Race Results
    • 2022 Standings >
      • Rookie Standings
      • Team Standings
    • Series Drivers
    • Oval Championship >
      • Oval Race Results
    • Road Championship >
      • Road Race Results
    • Triple Crown Points >
      • Triple Crown Race Results
    • Historic Standings
    • Rules
  • Sportscar
    • 2023 Schedule >
      • Upcoming Race
    • Race Results
    • 2023 LMDh Standings >
      • Team Standings
    • 2023 GT3 Standings >
      • Team Standings
    • Series Drivers
    • Rules
  • News
  • 2023 Sponsors
    • Become a Sponsor
    • HyperX
    • BMW Performance Center
    • ButtKicker
    • Next Level Racing
    • Gomez Sim Industries
    • Guys Games and Beer
  • Contact
  • Registration

wednesday night short track showdown in phoenix

4/10/2019

0 Comments

 
Picture
All around America, short tracks around the country rumble every Wednesday throughout the summer with the sound of race car engines. From midgets to late models to modifieds nothing is better then spending the night at your local short track. Now it’s time for the Lionheart boys to get in on the action. It’s short track racing Lionheart style from ISM raceway for the Thumbs Up, Cancer Down Phoenix 200!

Last week at Kentucky, we had a first a first-time winner with Scotty Johnson taking his first ever Lionheart Victory. Johnson had stayed out as the caution came out at the tail end of the final pit cycle when Connor Harrington turned Jason Galvin down the back straight. The two had been running at the front for most of the race and would have cycled back to the front, however Harrington misjudged it as he tried to dive under Glavin, and turned the California driver into the wall. Ken Hacker also had his best ever Lionheart finish with his 2nd place effort, while reigning champ Adam Blocker turned a 41st qualifying position into a 3rd place result, showing the form that made him a champion last year. Dan Geren led the most laps, but only managed 4th after the late caution forced him to use his tires up just to get through the field to the leaders. Tony Showen rounded out the top 5.

In contrast to the high banks of Kentucky, the D shaped oval at ISM presents the next challenge Lionheart drivers will have with a short track. Last year it was Brian Yaczik tasting his first Lionheart victory at ISM. With 2 first time winners in 3 races already in 2019. The odds are in favour of another new winner happening a second time in 2 years at ISM.

Bryan Carey is so far the cream of the rookie crop. The Canadian has demonstrated that he can run consistently on ovals and is a threat on road courses. With 200 tricky laps at an oval where lifting will be a factor, maybe Carey will be able to apply his road course speed to his oval consistency and take the checkered flags at the end.

Or maybe it will be Michael Goodman. Goodman has been one of the most consistent drivers in Lionheart history, constantly knocking on the door of wins with top 5’s and top 10’s galore on his resume. Goodman has qualified at the front in all 3 races this season, however his last 2 have ended in heartbreak not of his own creation. Perhaps a short track race at Phoenix, a track similar to the Rock, where he took his all-star race win, will finally net him his first points paying Lionheart win.

But then there are the veterans who are looking to get wins of their own. Brian Yaczik is always dangerous and will be looking to defend his win. Andrew Kinsella has been up front at almost every short track in the past 2 seasons, however is another driver with a string of bad luck. Maybe this will be the day he breaks through and gets his first win of 2019. Jason Galvin is always fast and aggressive, and will be looking for revenge for his late race heartbreak at Kentucky.

James Krahula and Joe Branch are to consistent drivers who are known for fuel strategies of opposite ends. Krahula will pit early and often, while Branch will extend his tank past where most other drivers will. Both strategies can work depending on when the yellow flags fall, and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see one of them near the front at the end if the yellows fall their way.

The final element all the drivers will have to contend with is the setup. After last years race saw a distinct inability to pass the leader in clean air, the Lionheart race engineer has taken away a substantial amount of downforce from the drivers, force the drivers to lift at both ends of the race track, even in clean air. This has been done in the hopes that the aero-push that prevent passes for the lead last year will be a thing of the past, however it also has resulted in many drivers needing to adapt their driving style to extract the most out of the set-up. It would not be surprising to see a few unknown names at the front of the field.
​
For all of the action from the Thumbs Up, Cancer Down Phoenix 200, tune in on Wednesday April 10th at 10:35pm eastern on the iRacing eSports Broadcasting Network present by the incomparable folks at GSRC!
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Archives

    March 2023
    March 2022
    February 2022
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    December 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014

    RSS Feed

Picture
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
CONTACT
RESOURCES
MEDIA
EXTRAS

Contact Us             
About Us
FAQ's
Schedules and Calendar
Race Archives
Record Book
Rulebooks
2023 Sponsor Guide
Lionheart News
Retro News Archive
Member Resources
​The Lionheart Racing Series was founded on July 1, 2014 and is the premier IndyCar and Lotus 79 league on iRacing.com. Competition. Commitment. Excitement. This is Lionheart.
​Copyright 2023 Lionheart eSports LLC .
  • Home
  • Open Wheel
    • 2023 Schedule
    • Race Results
    • 2023 Standings >
      • Rookie Standings
      • Team Standings
    • Series Drivers
    • Oval Championship >
      • Oval Race Results
    • Road Championship >
      • Road Race Results
    • Triple Crown Points >
      • Triple Crown Race Results
    • Historic Standings
    • Rules
  • Lotus 79
    • 2023 Schedule >
      • Upcoming Race
    • Race Results
    • 2022 Standings >
      • Rookie Standings
      • Team Standings
    • Series Drivers
    • Oval Championship >
      • Oval Race Results
    • Road Championship >
      • Road Race Results
    • Triple Crown Points >
      • Triple Crown Race Results
    • Historic Standings
    • Rules
  • Sportscar
    • 2023 Schedule >
      • Upcoming Race
    • Race Results
    • 2023 LMDh Standings >
      • Team Standings
    • 2023 GT3 Standings >
      • Team Standings
    • Series Drivers
    • Rules
  • News
  • 2023 Sponsors
    • Become a Sponsor
    • HyperX
    • BMW Performance Center
    • ButtKicker
    • Next Level Racing
    • Gomez Sim Industries
    • Guys Games and Beer
  • Contact
  • Registration