Coming off a podium finish of third two weeks ago at the famed Toyota Speedway at Irwindale, the 18 year old Independence, Missouri, native Kendell Lopez came right back to answer with a fifth place finish this past weekend at the ½ mile.
Kendell qualified the Wilwood Engineering #97 seventh quick with a 20.712, only 4 tenths off the leader to line the S-2 on the inside of the fourth row for the start of the main event.
“I really need to work on my qualifying,” says Kendell after her seventh place time, “It is something we are working really hard on, and it seems like we can always move forward, so it would be good to start closer to the front!”
Kendell is one of those drivers who don’t let her starting position scare her as she muscled through the field and up to third all the way from the fourth row throughout 23 of the 25 lap contest. But in the last two laps, Kendell was then overtaken by two cars and sent back to fifth at the time of the checkered.
“It was certainly disappointing not being able to keep the car at third,” exclaims Kendell, “But a top five finish still makes for a good points night. I really enjoy driving for Tony Porto Racing and Wilwood Engineering, and I think a win is certainly right around the corner. We are making good decisions in the pits and making the car right in the practice sessions, so a little more work on qualifying, we’ll be good to go!”
Kendell put down a 6th quick time two weeks ago at Toyota Speedway with a 20.503 and 87.792 MPH, so the 18 year old certainly can wheel the Wilwood Engineering #97 around the famed ½ mile. Just a little more work and the team will earn their first victory.
With her 5 top five finishes out of 6 races in the Langers S-2 Sportsman’s class, she sits second in the points, only 4 points behind the leader.
Marketing Partner of the Week:
The Doubletree Hotel Monrovia - Pasadena Area located near Los Angeles, Ontario, Burbank, Arcadia, Duarte and Irwindale, California in the heart of the San Gabriel Valley, offers contemporary hotel accommodations with spectacular views of the Foothills. The Doubletree Hotel Monrovia - Pasadena Area is conveniently off the 210 Highway at Huntington Drive; Burbank (BUR), Ontario (ONT) and Los Angeles (LAX) International Airports are within 20 to 45 minutes.
Kendell Lopez Official Website:
The next race on the schedule is coming up on June 19th so be sure to follow Lopez and her accomplishments as a driver in the Langers S2 Sportsman’s via her official website, www.kendelllopezracing.com. While at the website, be sure to sign the guestbook to let young Kendell know that you stopped by.
Tony Porto Racing:
Tony Porto has built and owned USAC TQ midgets, Sprint Cars, and full-size midgets for both dirt and asphalt for many years having Rick Hendrix out of Palmdale, CA as one of the drivers. The team was able to conquer all three championships, the Triple Crown; Tony is certainly no rookie when it comes to owning cars and selecting drivers. He purchased an S2 frame from the Racecar Factory last year and finished the assembly to get the car ready for the 2009 season. Jeff Phillips drove the car for the 2009 season, until giving up his chair to take over the crew chief position on the team, in hopes of bringing some new young talent to the seat.
Special Thanks to:
Rent Your Ride (www.rentyourride.com), DoubleTree Hotel (www.doubletree.com), Rocking L Ranch, MPM Marketing (www. marketwithmpm.com), Aviation Fuel Depot, Wilwood Engineering (www.wilwood.com), Racecar Factory, Ron’s Rear Ends, Aviation Fuel Depot, Konstant Design, The Racing Experience (www.racingexperience.com), Racing Plus (www.racingplus.com) and Driver Websites (www.driverwebsites.com).
For Marketing or Sponsorship Opportunities with Kendell Contact MPM Marketing at tonyamac44@marketwithmpm.com
