Hoek Continues to Show Speed – Struggles Late Both Days @ Bark River
 
Holland, MI (August 14, 2012) – Ross Hoek Motorsports continued to show its speed throughout both days of racing at Bark River, only to have a mechanical gremlin with a new component, late in both rounds, keeping the #21 Ignite Racing Fuels/Venom Performance/Allstar Performance/Peak Motor Oil Ford from a Top 5 finish.

The setback this weekend did little to deter the team’s enthusiasm as it heads to Crandon looking to capture another World Championship ring.The all natural terrain track is fast and is considered very technical as it combines its high speeds, with elevation changes,  chicanes, rhythm sections and table top jumps. The layout hasn’t changed much over the years, but the race trucks get faster and faster which lead to new challenges at the 1.3 mile long track.
 
During Friday’s practice and qualifying sessions saw the #21PRO-Light Ford struggle with its suspension set-up which ultimately put Hoek back in the tenth starting position.
After some late night changes, the #21 Ford came alive the Saturday morning practice session putting a great deal of optimism into the team.
Round 9
The start saw the Ross Hoek Motorsports Ford Ranger charge its way into fifth place at the midpoint mandatory caution. When the field went back to green flag racing, Hoek carved his way into fourth place. Then with three laps to go, a fuel pickup issue slowed the pace of the race truck. At the finish Ross Hoek crossed the line in ninth place.
 
“We really had a great run going today, “noted Ross Hoek. “We have some work to do tonight, but I‘m confident we will be ready for tomorrow and have another strong run, this time for all eleven laps.”
Round 10
The starting grid had the Ignite Racing Fuels/Venom Performance/Allstar Performance/ Peak Motor Oil Ford lined up in the twelfth position in the fourteen truck field. At the drop of the flag, Hoek began making his way through the field. At the halfway mandatory caution, the orange Ford was in seventh position with his sights set on charge for the podium during the final half of the race. With just three laps to go Hoek was in fifth place look to grab the next position, when the race truck began to slow. The #21 Ford Ranger had fuel pickup issues once again and caused Hoek to retire from the race one lap from the finish.
 
“We really had our race truck running great, but our new fuel cell did us in,” commented Ross Hoek. “The momentum from the Top 5 finish at Chicagoland seemed to be carrying over to Bark River when a freak issue slowed us down. Both days we were pushing for a podium finish late in the race. I have to thank Peak Motor Oil for coming on board this week, as well as our year long partners Ignite Racing Fuels, Venom Energy, and Allstar Performance. Their support really keeps our program running strong.”
The next day Ross Hoek Motorsports went to Crandon for the BFGoodrich Tire Test Day. The team isolated the fuel pickup issue and went out and ran twenty-five laps at the “Big House” preparing for the three rounds of racing scheduled for the Labor Day Weekend event.