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Beloit, Wisconsin: Wilberg Fourth, Lensing Tenth For Urban Force Racing In Action At Madison
By Steve Pados, Urban Force Media
Urban Force Racing continues to put their racing program into high gear for the 2008 racing season as drivers Bobby Wilberg and Dan Lensing continue to work their magic on the raceway at the Madison International Speedway located in Oregon, Wisconsin. Wilberg, who joined the second year team for the 2008 racing season in a combined effort with his First Supply Plumbing Team, battled to a solid fourth place finish in the Super Late Model 40-lap headliner that was won by Andrew Morrissey. Morrissey took over the lead in the race on lap-28 and drove to a comfortable win over the Nathan Haseleu. Lensing, who has lived up to his billing as the "Rocketman", rapidly worked his way foward during the race in his Urban Force Racing/ABC Supply/Fat Wallet.com sponsored machine but was unfortunately involved with a spinning car and forced to the back of the pack and eventually ended his night riding it out in 10th finishing position. Morrissey and Haseleu are currently tied as the point leaders in the Super Late Model division at 171 each with Steve Rubeck hanging tough with 149.
Wilberg, who is the defending Champion in two divisions at the Speedway, did double duty once again and raced to a solid second place finish behind winner Ryan Goldade in the 30-lap Limited Late Model feature event. Point leader in the division is 14-year old Ross Kenseth and the youngster finished third in the final rundown of the feature event. Bobby Wilberg rests in the runnerup roll in the points battle early on in the 2008 season.
The Urban Force Racing Team with drivers Lensing and Wilberg, continue to make giant strides with the 2008 racing program. Lensing, who came on board last year after mid-season, was an instant success when he took over the controls of the Urban Force racer. While the team struggled early on with another driver, it was Lensing who came on board after volunteering his services to the team and totally turned the season around for Urban Force. After climbing into the seat, the Urban Force racer never finished below fifth place the remainder of the year and the "Rocketman" was rewarded with being selected to drive for the team in 2008 to work his magic on the raceway. Both Wilberg and Lensing are employed at the Lefthander Chassis Company and consequently the chassis of choice for the Urban Force Team.
Wilberg is a Champion many times throughout his successful racing career. He is a nine time Champion at Madison and holds seven titles at Rockford. Wilberg's pairing with the Urban Force Team came about when a change in rules halted Wilberg's plans at Madison. Stepping in was Urban Force Team Manager Pete Raskovic who assisted the team with the proper equipment to continue to race at what Wilberg refers to as "his favorite track" to compete on.
With two top flight drivers aboard for 2008, Urban ForceTeam Manager and Crew Chief Pete Raskovic is well aware of the benefits and the challenges ahead for the student manned pit crew. As the Beloit Memorial High School season brings the new team members into the fold, it is up to Raskovic to select, teach and mold the team members into a cohesive operating unit. Raskovic, who has earned numerous awards in his many years of teaching experience, is the catlyst to make it happen. Having learned his lessons from numerous people in the teaching profession and in racing, Raskovic is old school and new operative all in one. His teaching skills and the operation of the Urban Force Race team have brought the team and Raskovic much praise from his teaching peers as well as the numerous race teams and media that have been following the progress of the Urban Force Racing Team.
The team was dealt a major setback in December of 2007 when ABC Supply CEO Ken Hendricks lost his life in a fall at his residence. Hendricks had been instrumental in having the Urban Force program come to fruition. The team is operating out of the new race shop Hendricks had renovated specifically for the race team and education purposes. The 2008 racing season has been dedicated to the Hendrick legacy.
In speaking with Peter Raskovic regarding the new season he remarked, "The loss of Ken Hendricks was devastating and words alone cannot express what he meant to all of us here at Urban Force. He was like a father to me and our long conversations about life and the world in general weigh heavily with me still today. The entire team misses the impact he had with all of us. In his honor, we will carry on his legacy to the best of our ability and dedicate our racing to his great life. In our hearts we know he is shining on us with each passing day".
Further updates regarding Urban Force Racing will follow shortly. |
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