22 cars qualified for the annual Kamper Korner RV Center Modified Shootout at the Douglas County Speedway in Roseburg August 29th. Roseburg High School senior Andrew Koens qualified 9th and finished a very respectable 9th in the race as well. The top 3 qualifiers set new track records, making it known that the competition level would be the highest of the year for sure.
Andrew "The Wild Child" Koens kept his nose clean while driving a tight car all night long in the 75 lap main event. Although his ill-handling car made it tough to make passes, Andrew still managed to have the 4th best overall lap time during the main event! He also used his quick reaction skill to avoid contact with the spinning #09 car, sending Andrew into the dirt a
nd stopping just a few feet from the tire barrier. Andrew kept his position and continued on with his race.
September 12th is the last race of the season for the modified division at the Douglas County Speedway and the 17 year old driver is eager to end the year on a high note. "Our Umpqua Survival #5 Modified has been fast the last couple of races and we won at the last points race in Roseburg so we have to feel good going into the last race of the year here" Koens said. He went on to say "Our team has fought hard this season to overcome many mechanical issues early on, so we would like to begin our 2016 season on a positive note by winning the last race of 2015!"
Look for The Wild Child to be aggressive and fast en-route to his 2nd career victory this weekend.
Thanks in large part to the following partners:
Loggers Taphouse
Umpqua Survival
Kamper Korner RV Center
Thetford
Blue Ox Towing Products
Mountain Dew KickStart
In what will easily be the biggest modified race of the 2015, Andrew Koens is eager to get his GTR Simulator #5 Modified back on the track this weekend. After earning his first career victory in the last race on July 10th at the Douglas County Speedway in Roseburg, Oregon, Koens figures to be in the hunt for the $2,000 to win 75 lap Kamper Korner RV Center Modified Shootout Saturday August 29th in Roseburg.
At only 16 years old, the Roseburg High School senior has certainly turned many heads and earned much respect
throughout the pit area with his smooth and consistent racing style. The 3rd generation driver has quickly become a fan favorite while also making his sponsors happy along the way as well. Sponsor packages are now available for the 2016 season. Please inquire within for more information and custom packages.
Koens is fresh off of his first ever Super Late Model race last weekend, finishing with a very respectable 6th place. After qualifying with a 15.6 second lap, Koens adapted quickly to the heavy but powerful stock car bringing home the #28 Umpqua Survival Super Late Model without a scratch.
In recognition of the upcoming race, Kamper Korner RV Center will be hosting a modified car show/autograph session this coming Friday August 28th between 1pm-3pm. Fans are encouraged to stop in and meet with drivers and see the cars up close and in person before they head for the racetrack for an important Friday night practice in preparation for the big 75 race the next day! Please visit Kamper Korner RV Center's facebook page for more car show information and how you can win FREE tickets to the race on Saturday!
The most recent car count appears to be over 25 of the fastest modified cars from all over the west coast. You do NOT want to miss this race!!
Special thanks to ALL of the 2015 Koens Racing Team sponsors and partners:
*Kamper Korner RV Center
*Loggers Taphouse
*Mountain Dew KickStart
*Thetford
*Blue Ox Towing Products
*GTR Simulators
*Clint Newell Collision Center
*Pepsi Next
*Umpqua Survival
Andrew Koens ran his first race just 1 1/2 years ago, continuing to learn along the way. Well, last weekend at the Douglas County Speedway, Andrew got an A+ for his efforts and won the main event in a big way!
In the blistering 100 degree heat, the Koens Racing Team prepared the #5 Umpqua Survival modified for the hot slick track. Young, 16 year old Andrew Koens continued to diagnose the car's handling during the 2 practice sessions in order to find the perfect balance. Andrew ended up with the 2nd fastest lap time in qualifying at 15.8 seconds, fighting a tight/loose condition.
During the heat race, Andrew took it easy, saving his tires for the important main event a few hours later. As Andrew pulled into the pit area after the heat race, a radiator hose blew, spraying boiling hot water all over the place. Luckily, no one was standing in front of the car at that moment and thus no injuries were sustained! The crew made a mad dash into town to find a replacement hose but we did miss the trophy dash race because of it. The way our year had been going, we were not too surprised with this turn of events and having to sit out a race.
We installed the new radiator hose just before the main event and rolled over for pre-tech. After passing the pre-tech inspection, we were ready to get on the track and watch Andrew drive the wheels off the car and he did just that!
After a few laps Andrew was running in 3rd but made some slight contact with the #211 car giving the #11 a brief chance to pass on the outside but Andrew gathered the car up quickly and regained his 3rd position, setting his sights back on the #211 of Brad Watson. For the next few laps Andrew worked the back bumper of the #211, looking for a way around him. At this point, the water temperature was starting to rise and Andrew started looking to the outside for fresh air. He continued to work the outside, eventually finding his was along side the #211 and then completing the pass on the outside. After he saw clear daylight, he could see the leader #33 about 1/4 lap ahead. Within a 3 laps he was right on the bumper of the #33 and could sense his opportunity for a win. Andrew was patient working the outside yet again but it was an opening down low coming out of 2 that opened the door for the pass and taking the lead on the last lap! Andrew finished the race with his car overheating and the exhaust dragging on the ground. His car was a mess and a handful but he was the best driver on the track that day and is quickly becoming a crowd (and pit area) favorite!
Our next race at Roseburg will be the Modified Shootout on August 29th. We expect some great competition and fierce racing but look for our #5 GTR Simulator modified with Andrew Koens behind the wheel to be up front at the end!
We would like to thank our great sponsors that continue to support Andrew and our team: Umpqua Survival, Loggers Taphouse, Kamper Korner RV Center, GTR Simulator, Mountain Dew Kickstart & Professional Landscape
In 2015, Koens Racing Team will be focused on Andrew Koens in the #5 Modified. Wade Koens, in the #28 Super Late Model, will be running a select few race dates throughout the North West and Northern California. We will not be running the #28 Super Late Model at Roseburg's Douglas County Speedway in 2015 in the SLM class due to reasons beyond our control. We wish them the best of luck, however, this will be the 1st season since 2002 that we will not have a Super Late Model represented at the Douglas County Speedway.
Andrew will have a full season in the Modified division at the Douglas County Speedway in Roseburg, Oregon as well as a race or two away from his home track during the season potentially. After a stellar rookie season in 2014 and winning the Most Improved Driver award at DCS, we anticipate the 16 year old high school junior to continue his impressive runs each weekend and ultimately into a top 3 points finish at the conclusion of the season.
Andrew has developed many fans & supporters from his rookie season. Also along the way, Andrew has caught the eye of fellow drivers and sponsors. With seemingly natural talent behind the wheel & patience on the track, Andrew has garnered the hard-earned respect from his peers giving him the green-light to race for wins in 2015! His first accomplishments for the season have come early in 2015 before the drop of the first green flag. Andrew has secured many sponsors and partners heading into his 2nd season of racing.
We would like to welcome and thank the following sponsors of Andrew in his #5 Modified for the 2015 race season:
Umpqua Survival - A great company with an even greater cast of employees and owners! We are lucky to have the amazing support from our friends at Umpqua Survival. Visit Umpqua Survival on Diamond Lake Blvd. in Roseburg and please tell them that Andrew and KRT sent ya!
Loggers Pizza & Taphouse - Best. Pizza. In. Roseburg. Period. They aren't just our sponsor....we are their customer! We LOVE Loggers for their food and their impressive local support. Get into Loggers Taphouse today at the Roseburg Valley Mall (old beef n brew location) and please tell them Andrew and KRT sent ya!
Kamper Korner RV Center - Voted Roseburg & Douglas County's largest and best RV dealer since 1999, Kamper Korner RV Center has been a primary supporter of Koens Racing Team since day 1.
Thetford - A global company that manufactures many RV specific items such as toilets, toilet chemicals, innovative sewer hose kits and much much more. If you have ever gone RVing, then you have probably used a Thetford product. Thetford has been a partner of Koens Racing Team for a few years now and we are always thrilled to announce their continuing support!
GTR Simulator - WOW! You have seen their racing simulators in commercials, advertisements and all over the internet! These simulators are insane! Get over to their website and pick one out for yourself today. Just hook up a monitor, game system and steering wheel/pedal set & you are ready for racing action! Please tell them Andrew and KRT sent ya!
Kick Start - Mountain Dew's KickStart is an awesome drink. With 5% juice and Vitamins B & C, along with an extra jolt of caffeine you are sure to be energized for your next event! Pepsi has been a long time supporter of Koens Racing Team and we are thrilled to have them on board with Andrew for his 2nd straight season!
Andrew "The Wild Child" Koens kept his nose clean while driving a tight car all night long in the 75 lap main event. Although his ill-handling car made it tough to make passes, Andrew still managed to have the 4th best overall lap time during the main event! He also used his quick reaction skill to avoid contact with the spinning #09 car, sending Andrew into the dirt a
