Kevin Ward Jr. Gets First Win of 2012 With Impressive Performance at Mohawk International Raceway

It had been a frustrating start to the 2012 season for Kevin Ward Jr., but the team continued to work hard to turn things around.  With events at Mohawk International Raceway on Friday and Can Am Motorsports Park on Saturday, Kevin hoped for a strong performance during their SUNY Canton Weekend.

Mohawk International Raceway is located in Hogansburg, New York.  Ward Jr. returned to the track after getting rained out last month.  After a second place run in his qualifier, Kevin lined up for the 25 lap A-main from the fourth position.  Ward moved to third at the start, and stayed within touch of the leaders through the first 10 laps before moving into second.  Over the next eight laps, Ward Jr. remained within touch of the leader, made the winning pass on lap 18 as the leader tangled with a lap car.  Kevin ran the final seven laps up front to pick up his first win of 2012 and second career Empire Super Sprint victory.

“It feels amazing to get back here to victory lane. The car has been horrible for us all this year I could never get the thing to handle but tonight all of a sudden it was amazing”, says Ward Jr. after the race”.  “I am just really proud of this whole team and tonight the car went good.  He (Hebing) scared me a little bit there but I guess Cobras will do that to you,” joked Ward about Hebing taking a look on the final lap.  “I kept going and pushed the gas pedal down a little bit harder and brought the victory home.”

The SUNY Canton Shootout Weekend continued on Saturday night at Can Am Motorsports Park in Lafargeville, New York.  After finishing outside of a qualifying spot in his heat race, Ward Jr. had to qualify through the B-Main, which he was able to win, earning the 19^th place starting spot in the night’s 25 lap A-Main.  The entire 25 lap race went caution free, and with a 14^th place finish, Ward won the Hard Charger award for most positions gained from start to finish.

The next race on the schedule for Kevin Ward Jr. will be back at Mohawk International Raceway on Friday, July 20^th where he will be looking for a repeat performance in his Westward Painting machine.

Kevin Ward Jr. would like to thank all of his sponsors for their support during the 2012 racing season.  They include Westward Painting, Tioga Construction, Sherwin Williams, Lyons Falls Tire Inc., Young’s Auto Parts/Carquest, Cash for Cans, and Finish Line Web Design.

For more information on Kevin Ward Jr. including updated race results, photos, sponsors and more, please visit our website, www.kevinwardjr.com.  

Kevin Ward Jr. Gets Top Ten Finish at Utica Rome Speedway; Big Weekend Coming up With Races at Mohawk Raceway and Can Am Motorsports Park

It has been a very busy week for Kevin Ward Jr. and his Westward Paining Sprint Car team.  They traveled to Thorold, Ontario’s Merrittville Speedway on Saturday night and then on the Utica Rome Speedway on Sunday.  Their action packed schedule continued on Tuesday night at Rolling Wheels Raceway Park in Elbridge, New York.

The first half of the 2012 season has been a struggle for Ward Jr. highlighted by just one top five finish last month at Autodrome Granby.  With a busy schedule in July, the team hopes to be able to turn things around with some solid finishes, and build some momentum as they enter the second half of 2012.

Kevin Ward Jr. made his first ever appearance at Merrittville Speedway on Saturday night, and the lack of experience was evident in the early going on one of the most difficult tracks on the tour.  Ward finished the race with a disappointing 24^th place finish.

After leaving Canada, Ward Jr. made his way to Utica Rome Speedway for the next race on the schedule with the Empire Super Sprints.  He finished fourth in his qualifying heat, and had a solid run in the A-main, placing ninth.

Rolling Wheels Raceway was next on the schedule, and Kevin was looking to build on their top ten finish from the previous night.  He qualified for the A-main through his qualifying heat race with a fifth place finish, but he struggled to a 19^th place finish.

This coming weekend Kevin Ward Jr. will be back in action for the SUNY Canton Weekend with races on Friday night at Mohawk International Raceway in Hogansburg, New York, and Saturday night at Chapman’s Can Am Motorsports Park in Lafargeville.

Kevin Ward Jr. would like to thank all of his sponsors for their support during the 2012 racing season.  They include Westward Painting, Tioga Construction, Sherwin Williams, Lyons Falls Tire Inc., Young’s Auto Parts/Carquest, Cash for Cans, and Finish Line Web Design.

For more information on Kevin Ward Jr. including updated race results, photos, sponsors and more, please visit our website, www.kevinwardjr.com.