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(March 16th 2010)
MOTOR SPORTS: Young man going west - Shuttleworth will relocate from Geneva to Brownsburg, Ind. for 2010 season
By: CHRIS MARQUART
Tuesday, March 16, 2010 12:32 PM CDT
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SUBMITTED PHOTOS - Though he’s still a teenager, Geneva High School junior Robbie Shuttleworth is a grizzled sprint-car veteran, whether he’s driving a winged or wingless model. |
Robbie Shuttleworth will be loading up a different kind of trailer in the coming weeks: a U-Haul.
The Geneva High School junior’s dream of a full-time racing career is advancing rapidly. As a result, Shuttleworth will be moving to Brownsburg, Ind., in preparation for another summer of racing in the Midwest.
“We’re looking to move around the first of April,” Shuttleworth said, adding that his racing schedule will commence the week after he heads west. “Things seem to be working out. Things are falling in my favor.”
Those sentiments shouldn’t lead anyone to believe Shuttleworth is cocky or arrogant. Rather, the teenager who has the phone number of J.J. Yeley’s dad on speed dial is modest, appreciative of where he is and passionate about realizing his career aspirations.
“It’s been a goal, and we’re taking steps toward making it happen,” Shuttleworth said in a matter-of-fact way that has become his trademark.
Rewind: 2009
Shuttleworth’s racing career took flight last year when he scored a win at the fabled Terre Haute (Ind.) Action Track. It marked his third start in a wingless sprint car, and he held off some notable drivers to take the checkers.
“That win kind of sealed the deal. It helped us know that we were supposed to be out there,” Shuttle-worth said. “I put my name on a short list of people that have won there, and any race there is some kind of classic, so I have that pinned to my name. It might not have been the Hillman Classic, but it is still pretty cool.”
It set the tone for the rest of the year. While midsummer racing failed to produce another Midwest win, Shuttleworth collected several top-10 finishes, including a handful in the top five.
Shuttleworth won three more times in 2009, all at Genesee Speedway.
His success helped quiet the rumblings that Shuttleworth was nothing more than a spoiled rich kid from New York. The rumor mill prattled that the team spent money on equipment in an effort to buy success, bringing as many as five cars to an event in an elaborate, NASCAR-type hauler.
“Things really got out of proportion, and we had something to prove,” Shuttleworth said, noting
that his team travels with a trailer that would never pass as a NASCAR toter. “Then, we ran with them and proved them wrong.”
The season ended on a sour note, though. In the final race of the year, a winged sprint-car event at Sharon Speedway, Shuttleworth destroyed his car during hot laps. The carnage was so extensive, his car ended up in the shape of a ‘Z.’
“It was beyond repair,” Shuttleworth said, struggling to recall the details. “It knocked me out; I don’t really remember much of it. Apparently, I was out 5-7 minutes in the car. I remember getting into the ambulance
“It wasn’t exactly the best night ever.”
Still, Shuttleworth’s 2009 campaign could be stamped “Mission Accomplished.”
Fast-Forward: 2010
Talk to Shuttleworth and you’ll notice right away a maturity beyond his years, a renewed vigor and determination that rivals drivers much older than him. He was so serious about racing, and lining up sponsors for 2010, he skipped hockey season.
Shuttleworth will run half the season in his own equipment, a DRC chassis with Jericho power. The team switched to DRC after watching a MAXIM car disintegrate in an accident during USAC Speedweeks last year. Shortly after the accident — a wreck that left the driver’s helmet split in three pieces — that MAXIM car was recalled and redesigned.
“DRC is one of the best out there and we’re happy with it,” Shuttleworth said.
For the other half of 2010, Shuttleworth will pilot a sprinter for Ohio car owner Travis Kemp.
“Things are looking very promising right now,” Shuttleworth said. “We’re going out to Indianapolis, going out there all summer, going to run a lot of USAC shows and most of the Midwest, non-winged sprint-car stuff.”
Shuttleworth can thank another Genevan, former 360 sprinter Rich Swarthout, for his connection to Kemp. Swarthout was looking to acquire simulators for his Phelps-based Quick Time Entertainment Co. when he met Kemp, an engineer who works on government contracts.
Kemp, a driving force behind the simulators made popular at sprint-car and NASCAR events, showed up unannounced at the Shuttleworth garage about a week later.
“(Kemp) is buddies with (Tony) Stewart, and he’s got a bunch of these simulators with (Ray) Evernham in Charlotte (N.C.) and one in Florida with the NASCAR guys,” Shuttleworth relayed. “Those are pretty good connections.”
Shuttleworth plans to visit sprint-car driver Kory Kruzman’s California-based driving school.
“Kory is one of the best in the industry ... I’ll see what I can pick up there,” Shuttleworth said.
***Right Now***
Shuttleworth is preparing to move to the Midwest — and it’s not like he opened an atlas and happened to point to Brownsburg, Ind.
Joey Saldana, who logged the most wins on the World of Outlaws tour in 2009, is based there, as are the NHRA Funny Car teams run by Cruz Pedregon and John Force. Kasey Kahne Racing is headquartered there, and Yeley lives close to Brownsburg.
“I know (J.J.’s) dad pretty well — that works out pretty good for me — and there are a lot of little teams are around there too,” Shuttleworth said. “Really, everything you need to put a car together in 5-6 hours is within five minutes of driving.”
After the 2010 racing season ends, Shuttleworth said he’ll probably return to New York to begin his senior year at Geneva before graduating from high school in Brownsburg.
“Somehow, I will finish high school, and I’m looking to go to IUPUI’s School of Engineering,” Shuttleworth said.
For now, Shuttleworth is stuck wrenching his own cars and cutting simulated laps on video games. He’s not particularly thrilled with the latter development.
“Those games don’t help much at all,” Shuttleworth said quickly, discounting the notion that his generation relies on video games too much.
“The straights at Bloomington are about 150 feet long, and that’s about the whole race track,” Shuttleworth added, explaining that the real track, and the ones at Terre Haute and Eldora, are much tighter than the video game portrays.
Shuttleworth remains appreciative and respectful toward his sport, and is especially thankful of the sacrifices his family has made.
“This is a reality to me. It’s what we have been working toward and what we will keep driving toward,” Shuttleworth said. “I am hoping to pick up rides in anything and everything I can and get the exposure and seat time I need. I want experience in as many different kinds of cars as possible. After that, we want to take it one step at a time and look at the opportunities that come our way.”
(November 13th 2009)
Things have been slow here at RSM. With a nasty crash at Sharon, we've sat the rest of the season out in order to properly regroup for next season. Were looking to head back to Indy next year and run a full schedule of non-wing races as well as some wing races as our schedule permits. Were working on sponsorships for next year but at this time we are making no announcements of sponsors for 2010. If you would like to become a sponsor of Robbie Shuttleworth Motorsports for the 2010 race season, you can e-mail Robbie at rjsthe1@aim.com or robbie@robbieshuttleworth.com.
-Thank you
(June 18th 2009)
Volume 2, Edition 4: Putting the “Win” in “Wingless”
June 17, 2009- Robbie Shuttleworth traveled west to Indiana just two weeks ago. He still had school to come back to New York for during the week, and failed to qualify in his first wingless race, the new endeavor that would consume his summer. With a pair of races added to his resume this past weekend, it is easy to see that this transition is working out quite well.
Robbie, 15, from Geneva, NY and now residing in Brownsburg, IN, captured his first career wingless win in just his third start Sunday Night at the Historic Terre Haute Action Track in Southern Indiana.
After failing to qualifying at Vermillion County Speedway in Danville, IN, “The Pocket Rocket” headed back out to Indiana for a trip to Terre Haute to run with SCORA. After rain pushed that event to Sunday, Robbie and team headed to Putnamville on Saturday.
Putnamville was a solid outing for Shuttleworth, placing fifth in his heat and moving up to 11th from 15th, not bad considering his wingless experience was very limited. Few could guess what would happen the following night.
The team traveled in to the intimidating ½-mile Terre Haute Action Track. Robbie noted that the track was like Canandaigua, but only faster. Ironic that he mentions his hometown track that hosted a Patriot race on Saturday without his presence.
Robbie found himself in a fierce battle with Chase Stockan for the entire feature. Stockan spun with three laps to go, allowing the rest of the pack to close in on the youngster. Shuttleworth battled with new challengers Dusty Wri ght and Alex Coonan, who snuck by the No. 11 on the final lap. Their reign at the top would not last though as Robbie still had something planned.
“Going into three they were both on the bottom and I was on the top,” noted Robbie. “They both skated up and got together and we slipped by on the bottom to pick up the win.”
Robbie’s great moment in Victory Lane was well celebrated by the team, but Coonan was injured on that final lap, and thoughts and prayers go out to his family.
Scholastic work still needs to get done for Robbie, though. “We plan on running in a couple weeks again out there. It’s hard to run weekly while school is still going on but as soon as it is over we will be out there weekly.”
Robbie added, “We have a good jump on the season with one non-wing win and four winged wins. I’m very pleased with this season and cant thank my crew and family enough for all of the help.”
In 2009, Robbie Shuttleworth is supported by Wings Unlimted, DMI, Nardozzi Electric, Tim Coutlee Properties, M&W Aluminum Products, Tbar Torsion Bars, Big Guy Photography, Mike Emhof Motorsports, PDG Graphic Design, Bicknell Racing Products, The Country Porch and Leaf Racewear.
More information about this surging sophomore can be found at his website: www.RobbieShuttleworth.com.
(May 29th 2009)
Volume 2, Edition 3: A Winning, Winding Road
May 26, 2009- Robbie Shuttleworth won in his final two starts for a while in his winged sprint and is loaded for bear for a major next step he is about to embark on.
“The Rocket” scored two more victories at Genesee Speedway the last two Saturday’s in dominating fashion. He led the most laps in both events and consistently pulled away from the rest of the field on the 1/3-mile.
“Our win on May 16 was a great one, with the weather threatening the show, they decided to only run features, we drew the pole and stole the show,” noted the personable teenager. “Last Saturday was another great win. During the heats this past week we were flying and flirted with the track record. We held on in the feature and picked up our third win in our Shuttleworth Motorsports #11 powered by Castner's Performance.”
Winning three of the four features, along with a fifth place finish, has given Shuttleworth a commanding lead in the Genesee point standings. Unfortunately for him, he cannot chase that title as the race shop moves to Brownsburg, IN this week.
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Robbie and crew will move to their new shop for a summer of fun in the Hoosier State. All plans are to run wingless in his chassis that is built for wingless action. The youngster looks for plenty of experience as he bonds with some of the best weekly runners in the country.
“I’m really pumped about moving our team out to Brownsburg, it’s located in the heart of non-wing sprint racing and there is a lot to learn out there.”
As you might expect, Robbie still has some other major details to take care of in Geneva before he can go west. He will finish up the school year on June 23rd, at which point he will move out to Indiana.
“My friends can't believe that this is a real thing that is happening.”
Speaking of friends, Robbie got to see some of his buddies this past weekend at Canandaigua Speedway as the World of Outlaws were in town for the first time since Robbie was five years old.
Shuttleworth hung out with Danny Lasoski throughout the night as “The Dude” scored a solid third place showing. “It was great to see Danny again, I haven’t seen him in a few months.”
In 2009, Robbie Shuttleworth is supported by Wings Unlimted, DMI, Nardozzi Electric, Tim Coutlee Properties, M&W Aluminum Products, Tbar Torsion Bars, Big Guy Photography, Mike Emhof Motorsports, PDG Graphic Design, Bicknell Racing Products, The Country Porch and Leaf Racewear.
More information about this surging sophomore can be found at his website: www.RobbieShuttleworth.com.
(March 16th 2009)
Well, were getting all geared up for the 2009 season. We had our new car on display at the 2009 Gater News Motorpsorts Expo. There was an unbeliveable amout of people that had attended the show and we had alot of compliments on our new car. I got to speak with Mike Emhof, of Mike Emhof Motorsports and Regional promoter of the ASCS Patriots and we discussed their 09 schedule.
If everything goes as planned we are looking to race over 40 nights this season, with our first race on the schedule at the Mercer Raceway Park in Mercer PA on April 4th. It's right around the corner and hopefully we see some friendly faces there.
We are now proud to announce the newest addition to aour race team and our new crew chief, Rich Swarthout. Rich knows quite a bit about sprint car racing and their set-ups. He is also very farmilliar with all of the local tracks we plan on running this year.
Keep checking in for more updates!
(October 6th 2008)
This week should be pretty busy for us. with a week-end jam-packed full of racing we should have our hands full. Next week is our last week of 2008 ending with brockville one the 18th. This week-end we are running at weedsport on the tenth, and rolling wheels on the 11th.
(September 27th 2008)
We we've been pretty slow here at RSM we havent raced much do to weather. School is going alright, my grades have been good. We're ready for weedsport on Oct 10. can't wiat for that show especially being so close to home. We've been discussing plans for '09 and things are looking pretty good. We're hoping to run the Chili Bowl this year and we look forward to seeing everyone soon.
(August 28th 2008)
Last week-end was a big improvement for Robbie Shuttleworth Motorsports. Our first feature was very solid i was up to to 11th when i got in a waterhole in 1 and 2 and spun out. I made my way back to the front and finished a solid 16th. The heats for the second feature were great. I had started 3rd and was leading going into turn one. I held the lead for about 4 laps when my tre started to go away and John Schuyler and Bryan Howland were able to pass me on the top. we started 10th in the A-main and I was battling Joe August for 9th when we touched. A few laps later Joe unfortunatly hit the wall in 1 and 2 and was out for the night and my steering arm also had broken. Unfortunately we were not able to finish the second feature but finished a respectable 18th.
(August 9th 2008)
Last night was a bad night for our team. We struggled in the heat and it forced us to go to the b-main. We started 6th and we finished 7th. missing the show by one position. We might go to humberstone tomorrow but nothings final yet.
(August 8th 2008)
Tonight is probably one of our biggest nights of the year so far. we go to Blackrock Speedway in Dundee, NY for a $5,000-to-win show. Were hoping to finish in the top 10. It's time we get our act together and start performing better. I have big plans for next season and they're going to happen.
(August 8th 2008) The Robbie Recap
Edition 9: Rocket Ready For the Rock
Robbie Shuttleworth invaded a pair of nearby tracks over the past two weeks, one for competition and the other for crucial preparation.
The round out an exciting month of July, 9 CThe Rocket” and crew traveled just down the road to the Cayuga County Fair Speedway on a beautiful afternoon. The No. 11 struggled at first yet was able to round out the night strong.
In his qualifying heat, the rookie ran near the front early but made a few mistakes, which barely sent him to the B-main. The last chance event was where the team would turn it around.
Before the race, Gary King and Crew made adjustments to not only the J&J Chassis, but also to the 15-year-olds psyche. It paid off as Robbie ran to a second place finish in the loaded event, qualifying him for the feature and sending a number of veterans home.
In the feature, the Shuttleworth Asphalt Sealing No. 11 was left=2 0alone and it paid off. Robbie ran the same line for much of the event until the late stages when a decision to run the top would help him to move through some slower traffic.
Overall, the high school student felt it was a great learning experience for he and the team and looks forward to the ASCS Patriots return to Weedsport in October for the 2008 Championship.
With the following week off for the ASCS Patriots, Shuttleworth exercised an opportunity to travel just down the road to Black Rock Speedway for a test in tune in anticipation to this Friday’s big $5,000-to-win ASCS Patriot Event there.
Shuttleworth ran three sessions on the night under varying track conditions; something the youngster recognized as perhaps the most important part of the night.
“It helped me understand how racetracks can change in a series of events and taught me what the track might do this Friday night,” noted Robbie, who is the only sprint car driver to hit the track this summer. “I feel it’s going to give me an edge over the competition and I feel it’s going to pay off.”
Robbie has had a steady start to his sprint car career, but he and the team recognize this is the time to put together quality results. They have set goals to be in the top-10 at the end of the night.
With more than half of the season now in the rear view mirror, Robbie took time to reflect on his season. “Things are going somewhat as planned but like I said we need to start running in the top ten. This is what I want my career to be, and I need to make it happen.”
Robbie receives support from Shuttleworth Asphalt Sealing, Lane’s Yamaha, The Country Porch, Mike Emhof Motorsports, BR Motorsports, DMI, Keizer Aluminum Wheels and King Motorsports.
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(July 20th 2008)
This week-end was pretty calm, we only ran the 600 on Friday this week. We ran at Thunder Alley Speedpark in Evans Mills, NY. it was the first time they ran 600's there and having ASCS off and ESS in Canada, it was a pleasure to be there. We finished 5th in the A and the track had slicked off when feature time came around.
(July 18th 2008) The Robbie Recap
Edition 8: Rocket’n ‘round Bullrings
After a pair of weekends racing on fast half-miles, Robbie Shuttleworth set his focus on some of the smallest tracks he has yet to see in his short career.
“The Rocket” from Geneva, NY ran a pair of 1/3-mile ovals this weekend, hitting the Brewerton Speedway on Friday, followed by a return trip to the Woodhull Raceway, site of his first competitive sprint car event.
Brewerton was a new track for not just Robbie, but nearly 90% of the quality field on hand. A mid-day storm put the running of this event in peril, but the decision was made to move forward, creating a tacky surface early on.
Robbie picked up on the correlation between Brewerton and Eriez Speedway, where he had run twice already this year and where he picked up his only career dash win. The major difference between the two tracks was that Brewerton had an extremely tighter set of corners, helping to create the characteristic “D-Shape”.
“This place was all about entering 1 and 2 just right then it was easy to get into 3 and 4 because of the D-Shape,” said the sprint car rookie of Brewerton. “It was a lot like Eriez because you could run the top or the bottom.”
After starting in the third row in his heat, Shuttleworth held his ground, placing sixth, landing him just on the outside of transferring directly to the A-Main. He would have to start second in the B-Main.
In that eight lap final qualifier, Robbie ran a strong second to Doug Norrie and held off a number of other veterans, to easily place him in the feature. It was another solid showing for the No. 11, as the smooth laps helped to set him up for a run in the A-main.
In the feature, the track really slicked up just after the final restart of the race on lap 5. Still mired in traffic, Robbie ran the preferred inside for much of the pack, which also made it tough to pass. Without the aid of a caution over the final 20 laps, he would hold his ground and finish the event without an issue.
The next night, with a quality forecast and a sheet of experience at their disposal, the No. 11 team traveled back to the Woodhull Raceway.
The track was in good shape, but much different than the last time he was there. Robbie fought a loose racecar on the dry high banks, relegating him to the B-Main. The team thrashed before the B-Main and made the necessary adjustments but came up short of making the show.
“Last time the track had more bite in it but that’s just how most New York tracks are, Dry-Slick,” stated Robbie after the event.
Upcoming events are still undetermined for Shuttleworth. ; As of now it appears he will rejoin the ASCS Patriot Tour on the NYS Thruway after next week at Genesee and Cayuga County Fair Speedways.
Robbie receives support from Shuttleworth Asphalt Sealing, Lane’s Yamaha, The Country Porch, Mike Emhof Motorsports, BR Motorsports, DMI, Keizer Aluminum Wheels and King Motorsports.
(July 14th 2008)
We had a pretty good run at Brewerton on Friday night. We ended up 17th in the feature, not our best finish but this week-end will be better. On Saturday we went back to Woodhull with ESS. We ended up 5th in the B and we spun out early on in our heat. The car was extremely loose during the heat and we made corrections to the car and it was 100 times better in the B. Next weeks schedule is all up in the air, ASCS is off and ESS in on another Canadian Swing.
(June 29th 2008)
We were running good in the heat at Ransomville on Firday until bad luck set in and we wrecked the car. I spun out two laps in and restarted at the end of the field. Three laps later the cushion turned into the wall in a hurry and that was the end of our night. I banged my knee up pretty bad and I'm still a little sore. Stateline got rained out again and its rescheduled to run on August 23rd the night before Humberstone. were going to pick and choose our next few races, maybe run some more 600 stuff but its all still up in the air.
(June 24th 2008) The Robbie Recap
Edition 7: Checkered Flag!
It has been two busy weeks for “The Rocket” as he has been able to dodge the raindrops and continue to obtain seat time.
Robbie took advantage of the rare ASCS Patriot week off to run a pair of micro sprint events for sprint crew chief Gary King. It was an opportunity for the Geneva, NY teenager to embrace his recent roots and keep the driving suit in the weekend rotation.
Saturday night it was out to the hometown Paradise Speedway, where he ran up to a second-place finish. Sunday night was the first event of the year at the Monroe County Fairgrounds Track, which featured some of the best drivers around.
Robbie got to race with “The Cobra” Chuck Hebing and Charlie Donk at Monroe, who were also in King Chassis. Shuttleworth ended up 9th after putting on too soft of a tire and burning it off about halfway through.
“It was a lot of fun being able to run well both nights, Gary King put a great car together for us and I can’t complain,” said the ASCS Patriot Rookie of the Year Contender. “Both nights the tracks were dry-slick, helping me understand the faster ways around those tracks.”
The team decided to focus on the weekend of sprint car action instead of running at Sharon with not all the ducks in a row. This set up what planned on being a pair of shows away from home.
The first stop was at Stateline Speedway on Saturday night just south of Jamestown. Robbie started in the back of his heat and with the track still tacky logged more laps and got himself into the feature. No sooner did the No. 11x (his Uncle Chris took the 11 on the night) pull into his pit spot than the skies opened up and washed out the rest of the night’s action.
The good news is that the make-up feature has created another entire program at the 1/3-mile facility. This was a solid consolation for Robbie, who is looking to log more laps and get to run more features.
After staying nearby that night, the team traveled down to Eriez Speedway for the second time this year. All the indications pointed towards a rainout, but fortunately the show would get in, and with great results.
After a quality pill draw, Robbie found himself battling for spots near the front of the pack with some of the top names in the series. He would end up third after Chuck Hebing was able to move by with just a few laps remaining.
“Racing with Chuck was great, he showed me the fast way around the race
track and I was able to incorporate that into the dash.”
That dash would be the “Four Laps of Fame”, designed to give drivers like Robbie more lap time. He would start on the pole and use it to the fullest.
After getting a great start into turn one, Shuttleworth found himself in a dogfight with top runner Justin Barger. Barger was running the same like as Robbie though, and had nothing for him in any other line. The result would be the first checkered flag for the youngster in his rookie season in sprints.
“Being able to beat great drivers like Justin Barger and Bubba Broderick is awesome, I now know that I can run well with those guys,” said Robbie at the end of the night. “Gary King does a great job for me with the car set up and his coaching on the changing track conditions really helps me a lot. With out guys like Bill Kanaley, Matt Gysel, and my father Curt Shuttleworth I wouldn't be able to do this, these four guys helped me out so much making it possible for me to be in victory lane after the dash.”
In the feature, the car was just a touch off, and Robbie stayed around where he started, finishing inside the top-10 for the first time this year. “The Rocket” realized that Eriez was the first track he revisited this season, proving that his experience is growing.
“I was able to take some of the information I learned from my previous race at Eriez and I used it as a base to start the night on.”
After the feature, Robbie got an opportunity to visit Victory Lane in front of a great crowd in Northwest Pennsylvania. He shocked the crowd both by his poise in speaking in front of the crowd, as well by his stature. He thanked all of the fans for coming and their support they had given to the series in 2008.
The racing schedule continues to go in full gear, with three feature races this weekend and a pair the next week.
Robbie receives support from Shuttleworth Asphalt Sealing, Lane’s Yamaha, The Country Porch, Mike Emhof Motorsports, BR Motorsports, DMI, Keizer Aluminum Wheels and King Motorsports.
(June 23rd 2008)
This week-end was alright, we started to race at Stateline, we got hot-laps and heats in and then it started pouring rain. We stayed the night in a little town called Falconer, NY at the Red Roof Inn just outside of Jamestown. We serviced the car and we left for Eriez around 10:30 in the morning.
The car was real good at Eriez during the heat which we finished thrid in, and the dash which we won. When feature time had come around, the track had changed dramatically, going from tacky and and fast to dry-slick. We ended up with a 10th place finish. It wasn't bad but we could have been better.
Next week we run at Ransomeville Speedway on Friday, and again at Stateline on Saturday for a double feature night to make up the rainout for last Saturday.
(June 16th 2008)
We had a good time this week-end in the 600. It felt good to get back to my roots and be able to run well both nights. At Paradise we started 15th and we ended up finishing 8th, there were a few cautions, I wish there had been more once the field strung out. We had a god run and I can't complain, Gary King put a great car together for us both nights and I would like to thank him for giving me this opportunity to run his car. Monroe County had a great turn-out on Sunday, the stands were packed and it was a great thing to be able to run this car both nights. We won our heat and drew 3rd to start the feature. the car was real good in the beginning, but we put a softer tire on and it started to go away about 20 laps in. We'll see what happens here in the upcoming week and go from there.
(June 12th 2008) The Robbie Recap
Edition 6: Hard Knocks
The anticipation of the inaugural trip to the Canandaigua Speedway, his home track, had his stomach ready to roll over. Unfortunately, by the end of the night, it was the No. 11 that had done the rolling over.
Canandaigua Speedway was quite the unforgiving track for the ASCS Patriot Rookie. In his time on a ½-mile track, the Geneva, NY youngster realized the added element of speed that he would have to factor in throughout the night.
“My first thought of the track was ‘Oh my God!’ just because of the speed,” said the 15-year-old of the speedway known as the ‘Land of Legends’. “Right from the start of the night I knew that the track would have a fine line between being fast and wrecking the car.”
After a quality draw, the Shuttleworth Asphalt Sealing J&J started in 3rd. Things started out strong but just a pair of laps in, “The Rocket” found him spun around in tricky turn one. The remainder of the race was primarily about logging laps with the track still very pass and the line only a car and a half wide.
The heat finish would send Robbie to the B-main. The cushion was firm in turn one, but the youngster realized that you had to flirt with it to be successful. While towards the back of the pack, he started progressing his way forward until disaster struck five laps in.
Robbie hit the cushion in a very tough spot, throwing the balance of the car well off. “My first thought was to keep in the throttle, so I did that and I had caught a rut on the outside of the track and next thing I knew I was spinning through the air,” said Robbie of what would be come his first flip in a full-sized sprint car.
The first revolution, the wing hardly touched the ground, but one more roll would end his night. “It wasn't a bad wreck, we broke a front axle and some wings but nothing major, commented Robbie at the end of the night.
Robbie was alright, but still had to avoid danger before he could get back to the pits. After landing upside down, oil began to leak from his car and would then ignite into a fire. “The Rocket” quickly moved away to safety at that point.
“I would like to give credit to the safety crews who put the fire out from the oil that came out of the breathers in the valve-covers and dripped down onto the headers,” added Robbie.
The focus now shifts to the next ASCS Patriot event, one of the premier races of the entire year.
Robbie and crew will be going to Sharon Speedway in Hartford, Ohio on Tuesday, June 17 for the first race of the Ollie's 360 Challenge. The team has set reasonable goals of just going to go out, running good consistent laps, and hoping for the best.
Robbie receives support from Shuttleworth Asphalt Sealing, Lane’s Yamaha, The Country Porch, Mike Emhof Motorsports, BR Motorsports, DMI, Keizer Aluminum Wheels and King Motorsports.
Patriots Ready For Tuesday Race at Sharon for Ollie’s 360 Challenge
Rich Vleck, TULSA, Okla. (June 12, 2008)- The last time that Sharon Speedway hosted a 360 race, the ASCS Patriots weren’t around, the track was a ½-mile, Dave Blaney was a national sprint champion, and names like Tony Stewart and Kasey Kahne meant much less to the racing world than they do today.
The first leg of the Ollie’s Bargain Outlet 360 Challenge will get underway this Tuesday at the Sharon Speedway in Hatford, Ohio. This $6,000-to-win, $500-to-start event will also see the winner set themselves up for a run towards $50,000 bonus.
Drivers and teams from far and wide have announced their intentions on competing at the first 360 race since 1996 at the now 3/8-mile oval. This Tuesday night special event figures to have all eyes of the sprint car world focused on the tiny Eastern Ohio town of Hartford.
Part of a three race series including events at Eldora and Williams Grove Speedways. Anyone who wins at Sharon will be eligible for a $50,000 bonus if they win one of the next two events. This bonus has helped to create one of the finest entry lists around.
While sprint cars have run weekly since the 1960, for many of the competitors that will run for that bonus paying race have little to no experience at Sharon.
Defending ASCS Patriot Champion Chuck Hebing, along with current point leader and 2005 Champion Bryan Howland plan to make their first sprint car start in Ohio in this Patriot sanctioned event. Other Patriots that plan to make their inagural trip include the most recent winner, Jason Barney,along with Scott Kreutter, Gary Troutman, Dave Wickham and rookies T.J. Newton and Robbie Shuttleworth.
Some of the Patriot regulars do have experience at Sharon. Over the last few years, Kyle Moffit, Chris Shuttleworth and Jared Zimbardi have run against the 410’s with incredible success. Moffit finished fourth in points last year, Shuttleworth was third in points earlier this year, and Zimbardi finished second in his only start there. Scott Bonnell and John Schuyler also have run there with their 410 engines.
Added to the Patriot regulars will be stars like Tony Stewart, Kasey Kahne and Track Owner Dave Blaney. Blaney has been around Sharon their whole life and this event expects to be one of their biggest since takings ownership.
Gary Wright, Jason Johnson and Wayne Johnson, the top three in O’Reilly American Sprint Cars on Tour National Series points, have also announced their intentions to be on hand for this race.
The ASCS Patriot Region will sanction the event to support the rules laid out early in 2008. The race will also be run using the 2008 ASCS Patriot Race Format, which includes the ASCS standards of an open draw, passing points process, the top-eight redraw, and the “Four Laps of Fame” Dash.
Racing will begin at 6:00 p.m., with registration taking place from 3:30-5:00 p.m. Sharon Speedway is located in Hartford in Eastern Ohio, just a mile from the Pennsylvania Border. For more information visit www.SharonSpeedway.com.
(June 10th, 2008)
Canandaigua Speedway, "the Land of Legends" was quite the unforgiving track. We went out for hot laps, (my first time on a 1/2 mile track) and the track was unbelievably fast. Right from the start of the night i knew that the track would have a fine line between being fast, and wrecking the car. My first thought of the track was" oh my god!" just because of the speed. Heats were alright, we started 3rd, spun-out a few laps in, and rejoined the race at the tail of the field. we came through to finish 8th sending us to the B-main. We Started 5th in the B, and we were doing alright until we spun out again. Once again i had to rejoin the field at the back. About Five laps later i had hopped the cushion going in to 1 & 2. My first thought was to keep in the throttle, so i did that and i had caught a rut on the outside of the track and next thing i knew i was spinning through the air. It wasn't a bad wreck, we broke a front axle and some wings but nothing major. I would like to give credit to the safety crews who put the fire out from the oil that came out of the breathers in the valve-covers and dripped down onto the headers. now that i think of it, we had a good car, but my inexpirience on big tracks held us back. Were going to Sharon Speedway in Hartford, Ohio next for the first race of the Ollie's 360 Challenge. Were just going to go out, run good consistent laps, and hopefully it will all pay off.
(June 3rd 2008) The Robbie Recap
Edition 5: Rising Results
The team was set to heat to Merrittville on Saturday. The truck was loaded, the car was fully prepared, the road map was highlighted, but Mother Nature had other ideas.
A heavy set of thunderstorms knocked out any chance of Robbie Shuttleworth running this past Saturday with the ASCS Patriots. All was not lost for the No. 11 team though, because they tried it all over again the next day and had quality results.
The team left Geneva, NY Sunday afternoon for the first race of the year at Humberstone Speedway, just south of Merrittville. After struggling with the car, things turned around and saw “The Rocket” score his first top-10.
The track was tacky and made Robbie get up on the wheel. The car was a bit off in the heats, which relegated his J&J to the back of a stout field for the A-Main. When the green flag dropped on the feature, the white and green machine began to go to work.
Shuttleworth picked off a half-dozen cars throughout the feature, bringing it home in seventh, easily his best career finish.
“It felt great, you know, for a track we had never been on it was pretty good,” said the 15-year-old. “The setup was a little off (in the heats) and I wasn’t driving the car as hard as I should have been, so we made a little adjustment, I drove it harder, and it paid off.”
While Chuck Hebing won the feature by running the top, Robbie stayed poise on the bottom to move his way through the pack.
“It was pretty exhilarating, a lot of the guys were running the top and we had it set up where I could get off the throttle on the bottom and then pick it back up and get around a few guys.”
With more confidence building for the Geneva Resident, the focus now shifts to the closest race to his home all year: the ASCS Patriot stop at the Canandaigua Speedway.
This fast ½-mile is not only one of the most exciting on the tour, it has Robbie energized because of the number of eyes that will be glued on his rookie ride around “The Land of Legends.”
“I’ve had a lot of friends there this weekend to see me race so I’m really looking forward to it,” said Robbie. “Hopefully we can go out there run well and make it happen.”
Shuttleworth receives support from Shuttleworth Asphalt Sealing, Lane’s Yamaha, The Country Porch, Mike Emhof Motorsports, BR Motorsports, DMI, Keizer Aluminum Wheels and King Motorsports.
More information about this flourishing rookie can be found at his all-new website: www.RobbieShuttleworth.com.
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(June 3rd, 2008)
Humberstone was a pretty fast place, it was a dry slick track, kind of a D-shape. Had a few holes in 1&2 but overall it was nice. We made good consistent laps, got some good seat time. It definetly helped me understand the track. Next time we go we should have a pretty good set-up. A seventh for the night was good for us and were ready to go to Canandaigua this Saturday.
(June 1st, 2008)
We had the car ready to go to Merrittville last night, then the rain set in and they canceled at 2:30 in the afternoon. Were going to go to Humberstone speedway tonight and run wiht their bi-weekly series, last week was a good week, a fifth in the B-main at Woodhull, and 11th in the A-main at Eriez. Tonight were going out to run consistent laps and get in gear for the ASCS Patriot race at Humberstone on August 24, in Port Colborne Ont. Hope to see everyone there and wish us luck!
(May. 27th 2008) The Robbie Recap
Edition 4: Green Flag!
Clear skies guaranteed the start to Robbie Shuttleworth’s debut on the ASCS Patriot Tour. After two events and a ton of laps, the “Rocket” has plenty of experience in his pocket.
Shuttleworth showed his mettle from the second he began his first heat race at Woodhull until the final laps of Sunday Night’s event at Eriez. It was a big weekend for Shuttleworth, a productive one too.
“It’s been an amazing experience,” said the 15-year-old from Geneva, NY. “Two great tracks on the tour taught me about throttle control and how to get through the corner.”
On Saturday, at the high-banked 1/3-mile Woodhull Raceway, Robbie started scratch in his heat due to his pure rookie status. By the second lap he was up from ninth to fifth and in position to make the feature. He would close the No. 11 within a car length of fourth place runner Mike Stelter on the final lap. Unfortunately though, Stelter spun coming back to the checkered flag and collected Robbie, sending them both to the B-Main.
The Shuttleworth crew, including Gary, Bill, Matt and Curt, thrashed over the front end to replace the broken parts, as well as slap a new right rear on the J&J Chassis. Robbie was ready to go for the B-main and jumped out into a transfer position.
With just three laps left in the consolation though, Shuttleworth felt a liquid tingling down his back; considering the team’s recent struggles with their fuel lines, the youngster didn’t take a serious risk and pulled to the pits. Upon further review, the fluid was actually from the hydraulic wing slider, but Robbie knew the car ran well at that was the key thing on night one.
After working on the car the next morning, the team traveled down the road to Eriez Speedway, where Robbie was assured of his first career A-Main start.
The team fought a push in hot laps and their heat, finishing in seventh. They went to work again and this time had a chance to experiment in the Four Laps of Fame Dash.
Things did not go according to plan though because when the No. 11 went into the first corner on the opening lap, the left front shock broke, sending Robbie to the pits. He would have to start 14th in the feature, making it an uphill battle on the night.
Robbie battled hard in the opening laps, eventually surrendering a lap to the leader just after the half way point. Immediately after going a lap down, the caution flew, giving him a chance to regroup.
On the restart, “The Rocket” ran top competitors Don Adamczyk and Bryan Howland hard but fairly for five laps, before giving them space to go after the lead. Robbie was told over the one-way radios to respect the leaders, something he did perfectly.
The end result was a 12th place showing, a solid finish to a new beginning.
“We had some bad luck but we got through it and ran solid in the A-main,” said Robbie upon reflection. “I got a great team helping me out and I’m looking forward to trying out one of the Canadian tracks (Merrittville) for the first time next week.”
Robbie finds himself engaged in a fierce point race for Insinger Race Fuels Rookie of the Year. Five other competitors are going for that honor so each race will be meaningful as the season progresses along.
Shuttleworth receives support from Shuttleworth Asphalt Sealing, Lane’s Yamaha, The Country Porch, Mike Emhof Motorsports, BR Motorsports, DMI, Keizer Aluminum Wheels and King Motorsports.
More information about this flourishing rookie can be found at his all-new website: www.RobbieShuttleworth.com.
(May. 14th 2008) The Robbie Recap
Edition 3: Practice Makes Perfect
May 13, 2008- On what might have been the best day so far in 2008, “Rocket” Robbie Shuttleworth logged nearly 100 laps around the Genesee Speedway Tuesday to work the bugs out of his No. 11.
After persistent issues to his J&J Mount prevented the Geneva, NY driver from embarking on his new adventure at Fulton, the team used the break in the ASCS Patriot Schedule to fix everything at one of the stops on the schedule later this year.
The team, which included Curt, Gary, Bill and Matt, worked on the car throughout the afternoon, solving an overheating problem in the engine, fixing a brake issue and dealing with an issue in the hydraulic wing slider. By the end of the session, everything was clicking.
With the track soaking up the sun, Robbie worked primarily on his slick-track setup; getting better each time he hit the 1/3-mile Batavia, NY Oval. While his lap times were the same from beginning to end, it was clear that the track was slicking off, meaning that he was actually improving each time out.
Robbie ran a handful of laps under the quickest time in the time trial session for the sprint race held at Genesee last year. It was an encouraging performance for the 15-year-old rookie.
“I thought it was a good outing,” said Robbie. “I was able to feel the setup, how the car reacted to what we did, it was real good.”
Robbie also showed competence with his throttle control, drawing from his experience of racing his micro sprint wingless on dry-slick tracks in years past. This knowledge is something he will have to exercise on numerous occasions this season.
The overall consensus on the afternoon is that it is “All Systems Go” for Robbie, Crew, and Car for this weekend’s Patriot race at Woodhull. Robbie’s simple statement to round out the successful afternoon was, “I can’t wait for Woodhull!”
Pictures and videos will be posted on Robbie’s website in the days to come to recap this confidence-building day.
Shuttleworth receives support from Shuttleworth Asphalt Sealing, Lane’s Yamaha, The Country Porch, Mike Emhof Motorsports, BR Motorsports, DMI, Keizer Aluminum Wheels and King Motorsports.
More information about this flourishing rookie can be found at his all-new website: www.RobbieShuttleworth.com.
(Mar. 28th 2008) The Robbie Recap
Edition 2: April Anticipation
April 27, 2008- After a few months of car shows and media interviews, things slowed down for a few weeks for the Geneva, NY youngster, who is now closing in on his first laps of competitive competition in a full-size sprint car.
“I’ve just been helping my parents around the house, schoolwork, stuff like that,” said the young rocket rookie. “We’ve just been working on the car.”
April has not been without track time for the No. 11 Shuttleworth Asphalt Sealing J&J however. A pair of test sessions as the ¼-mile Paradise Speedway in his hometown of Geneva along with a brief session at the Cayuga County Fair Speedway have greeted the microsprint graduate.
“They have been going better than I thought they would,” Shuttleworth noted. “It’s been going alright overall.”
Being a rookie, Robbie wished he would have a few more practice runs under his belt, but a trip to Hilton Head for spring break meant missing many of the practice sessions held at tracks on the ASCS Patriot Tour for 2008. He simply stated, “Spring break was alright, but it would have been nice to get some more practice.”
Robbie’s focus now shifts to the season opener for the ASCS Patriots at the Fulton Speedway this Saturday. Robbie is a big fan of the track, but has never had the opportunity to race on it. He knows where the line is though and has set manageable goals for himself on night one.
“I would just like to run in the top-16 and get use to the car,” he stated, referring to passing points process used in heats to determine who transfers into the A-Main. “That would be a good run for us and set us up good for the year.”
Shuttleworth also receives support from Shuttleworth Asphalt Sealing, Lane’s Yamaha, The Country Porch, Mike Emhof Motorsports, BR Motorsports, DMI, Keizer Aluminum Wheels and King Motorsports.
More information about this flourishing rookie can be found at his all-new website: www.RobbieShuttleworth.com.
(Mar. 15th 2008) The Robbie Recap
Edition 1: Car Show Charisma
March 11, 2008- Photographs, autographs and interviews seem to all be part of the new venture of the full-sized sprint car racing for Robbie Shuttleworth. On the brink of his rookie season with the ASCS Patriot Sprints, the 15-year-old from Geneva, NY can barely contain his excitement with the season less than two months away.
At the beginning of February, “The Rocket” proudly represented the ASCS Patriots at the Rochester Motorsports Expo with his Shuttleworth Asphalt Sealing No. 11 J&J adorning the booth. After completing photograph sessions and signing autographs along side two-time ASCS Patriot Champion Chuck Hebing, Robbie started to get the idea of what 2008 would be like.
A lifetime race fan, the Geneva High School Freshman is finally realizing his dreams and trying to soak it all in.
“The feeling of being a part of something so huge to motorsports is just amazing,” said Shuttleworth. “Being able to meet so many people and hear from so many great names, it’s simply exhilarating.”
This past weekend, Robbie’s No. 11 was again in the Patriot booth, this time at the popular Syracuse Motorsports Expo. With the who’s who of Northeast auto racing on hand, including the top ASCS Patriot drivers, Shuttleworth was an easy fit to the new division. The personable youngster chatted with his upcoming competition and shared laughs throughout a wintry weekend.
On Sunday, as the show was winding down, Robbie had his first opportunity to be interviewed by Doug Elkins of DougsDirtDiary.com. His personality shined bright in his engaging conversation as he outlined his plans for the year, which includes racing at more than a dozen facilities for the first time. You can hear his entire conversation at http://www.dougsdirtdiary.com/php/playaudio.php?id=4872.
“I thought being on Doug’s Dirt Diary was great,” Robbie added. “I would like to thank Doug for taking the time to meet me and interview me.”
The car shows will quiet down now as the focus turns to the racetracks. Robbie is ready to race, but with a vacation to South Carolina planned for April, the next step will include utilizing practice nights at local speedways, including Fulton, which will host the ASCS Patriot opener on May 3.
More information about this flourishing rookie can be found at his all-new website: www.RobbieShuttleworth.com. |
(Mar. 2nd 2008)
With racing season just around the corner, we here at Robbie Shuttleworth Motorsports are very excited to get started. Our car is ready and we are going to be making an appearance at the 2008 Carquest Motorsports Expo in Syracuse, NY. , I will be signing Autographs on Saturday so please feel free to stop by and say hello. Our first scheduled race will be May 3 at Fulton Speedway in Fulton, NY.
I'm really excited to get started, can't wait to finally get behind the wheel of our new car, I would like to thank every one that helps out and all of my friends and family that have stayed by my side throughout my career. We've had our ups and downs but 2008 is a new page and i'm looking forward to a great year.
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(Feb. 9th 2008)
We had a great time at Atlantic City, I Met Bobby Santos III and helped Gary King out with his pavement car out there. We took the car to the 2008 Motorsports Expo at the fairgrounds in Rochester, NY. Turnout up there was good for the first year and I got to hang out with ASCS Patriot Regional Promoter Mike Emhoff and the 2007 ASCS Patriot Sprint Group Champion, Chuck “The Cobra” Hebing.
The 2008 ASCS Patriot Sprint Group Schedule was released at the show and we are planning to run all 20 shows on that tour along with some select ESS events and select ASCS National Tour events. |
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