RPW Column: Lots Of News Floating Around At The RJ Smith/Hentschel Motorsports Holiday Open Shop
RPW Column By: MIKE TRAVERSE / RPW – PINE BUSH, NY – The annual Holiday RJ Smith / Hentschel Motorsports End of Race Season Open Shop is a very nice holiday gathering for Accord and OCFS teams.
The food is awesome and it’s a great group of people who enjoy themselves at the event. Here are a few notes from the event about 2020 team plans.
Bob Hentschel was very happy with the speed his modified had late in the season. He will be looking to get off to a fast start in 2020 and is planning on racing in the 358-Modified division as well.
Bob’s son Cole has had some great races in his sportsman the past few seasons. But Cole most likely will not be racing in 2020.
Cole will be starting a 4 year stint as a student at the University of Richmond. Cole has a baseball scholarship and is a promising left-handed pitcher. Congratulations and good luck Cole.
2019 started well for Greg Sleight with a couple of early season wins. But even before the track resurfacing, the team started to struggle.
Greg’s team will be going back to their 2018 championship car to improve their results in 2020.
“We’re going back to something that we are comfortable with and give it our best shot.” the driver of the SL8 car stated.
Anthony Perrego, who recently announced plans to run at Albany-Saratoga regularly in 2020 will also be doing the Modified/358 Modified schedule at OCFS.
Jared LaBagh will be back in sportsman competition at OCFS in the 38 Special. Jared also said he wants to race as many of the STSS North races that have the sportsman as a companion race.
Jordan Lawrence split time between OCFS and Accord in 2019. Jordan is looking to make OCFS his home track in 2020.
“We had good speed at the ESW Sportsman race and it was fun racing,” the driver if the JL Motorsports #7 said. “We are looking forward to 2020”
Dan Creeden hasn’t yet finalized his 2020 plans yet. But he has expressed his desire to race upstate, possibly at the 5 Mile Point Speedway.
“We have nothing official yet, but we have some things we are working on,” Dan said.
And Richie Eurich will be back for his 54th season of racing. He plans on running both the Modified and 358-Modified divisions. Richie has high hopes for the Teo Chassis car he raced in the season ending Eastern States 200.
“We just didn’t have enough laps on the car prior to the ESW. Midway through the 200, the car started to feel real good. I think we have something to work with here,” the veteran driver of the #10 said.
Thank you to all the drivers for having a word with RPW and to RJ and Bob for their hospitality.
