Category Archives: Lucas Oil ASCS National Series

Rocket Hockett – Three Nights/Three Wins!

May 26, 2010 – “The Rocket” Jesse Hockett hit the Trifecta last weekend, going three for three in feature wins in the “Show Me” State. 
The Warsaw, Missouri driver tallied victories on Friday at the State Fair Speedway in Sedalia, on Saturday at the Lake Ozark Speedway near Eldon, and Sunday at the Double X Speedway near California.  This weekend, an ambitious schedule finds him at the Terre Haute Action Track in Indiana with USAC on Thursday, Jetmore Speedway for the Steve King Memorial at Jetmore Speedway in Kansas with the Lucas Oil ASCS National Series on Saturday and Sunday, and at the 81 Speedway near Wichita with NCRA on Monday.
Racers and fans have welcomed back weekly sprint car action on Friday nights in Sedalia, and the car counts are starting to pick up as the weather gets warmer.  Jesse started things out right with a heat win from inside row two.  “We didn’t even know if we could get it in with all the rain,” he says.  “We had to pit outside, but they had the track worked in.  The car was working really well and the track stayed good.”
On a tacky and rough track, he had to work for this one.  “We had a bad start,” he admits.  “The guy on the pole just didn’t get going very good, and we were back in fifth and sixth.  We had to pick those cars off one by one.  We had to free the car up with the heavy surface and kind of run above the cushion to get by some cars.  It was fun, but pretty treacherous.”
The winning pass came ahead of the California driver sharing his shop this summer.  “We were able to get through traffic there and get by (leader) Kyle Hirst off of turn two there,” says Jesse.  “It was pretty much over with from there.”
The draw at Lake Ozark Speedway on Saturday saw Jesse post inside row three for his heat.  An exciting finish saw him win it at the line.  “We worked through traffic there pretty good early on, but Curtis Boyer got out there a ways on me,” he says.  “We were rolling pretty nice halfway through the race.  We ended up getting him right at the line in a photo finish.”
After winning the dash and earning the pole position, the only doubts came when Jesse hit a hole in the JHR #77.  “The track had a few holes in it,” he says.  “We had a bit of excitement when we got in a hole and bounced around a bit.  After that, we worked well through traffic and ended up with another win.”
Jesse’s domination lately of Double X Speedway left little doubt that a sweep of all heats, dashes and features was possible for the weekend.  His friends and sponsors decided to challenge him in the feature after winning his heat from fourth.  “Kyle Hirst and some of my sponsors got together,” he explains.  “They wanted to see me start at the back.  They put up some extra money, along with Putnam Chevrolet as well as Fischer Body Shop if I won from the back.  In the end, it was a $400 bonus.”
Starting 16th, he sliced through the field to record his second win in as many starts this season on the ¼ mile.  “I don’t know if I’ve ever had a better car there than I had on Sunday,” says Jesse.  “We really have the A.R.T. car going good.  I’m happy with everything going on with the car.  Vortex Wings, Penske Shocks and the Don Ott motor is hitting hard every night.”
After sweeping the weekend in the JHR #77, the VKCC Motorsports #75 will be brought out for Terre Haute on Thursday, Saturday and Sunday.  The #77 will return for the Wichita event on Monday.
On the Web
To learn more about Jesse “The Rocket” Hockett, including updated results and photos, visit http://JesseHockett.com!
Rocket Rambles
Jesse is catching his career-best victory pace of 2009.  His three wins this past weekend give him five on the season.  He had six through the month of May in 2009 and ended up with 22.  His first six in 2009 came at East Bay Raceway Park (FL) in the Ronald Laney Memorial “King of the 360’s”, the Lealand Legacy and Don Davis Memorial at Manzanita Speedway (AZ), two at Lake Ozark Speedway (MO) and one at Double X Speedway (MO).