Joe Rokos Looks Ahead to Season Opener at Winston After Long Trip to Brownstown

Joe Rokos Looks Ahead to Season Opener at Winston After Long Trip to Brownstown

Interlochen, Michigan (Tuesday, March 27th, 2012): Although it wasn’t exactly the way that Joe Rokos wanted to start out his 2012 racing season, the nearly nine-hour haul from the race shop in Interlochen, Michigan all the way down to Brownstown Speedway in Brownstown, Indiana proved to be beneficial as the 29-year-old looks ahead to the upcoming racing season in his home state of Michigan.

The Joe Rokos Racing Team made the long trek down to Southern Indiana to shake off the rust in anticipation of the 2012 campaign by participating in the 15th annual Indiana Ice Breaker at the very fast ¼ (0.250) mile high-banked dirt oval. A stout 46 entries from seven different states also made the trip and it was a lesson learned for Rokos.

“There were a lot of real good cars and we got a really bad draw, plus everyone I talked to about the place said the track gets very dry, but after Hot Laps, I never figured it could get that dry by heats especially since we were in the second heat.” Remarked Rokos as he and his team reflected on the first weekend of the new season. “We started really deep in a stacked heat race (9th) and I just couldn't get a hold of the track.” He added.

Rokos finished ninth out of the 12-car Heat which relegated him to the second B Main and there he would again start ninth. “We tightened the car up for the B Main and the car was much better, but we really need to fine tune our Dry Slick Setup.” Rokos continued. He finished eighth and outside of a transfer spot so the night came to an end a lot sooner than the JRR team had planned.

“It felt great to get back in the car after a long winter I just wish we could have had a better performance,” the 29-year-old continued. “Our First ever trip to Brownstown was for sure a learning experience and it showed us right away what we need to work on to make us better. We have struggled on a dry slick track and we usually don't see one here in Michigan until late July or August. So getting one on the first race of the year and trying a couple new things that we never have has given us something to go off of back at the shop to improve on our weakness.” The reigning Cherry Raceway Track Champion offered.

The team will now take a couple of weekends off before heading down to Winston Speedway in Rothbury, Michigan on Friday, April 13th for the Prelude to the Player Hater / Opening Night at the 3/8s (0.375) mile semi-banked dirt oval. The following weekend, the JRR Team will be off in order to host a Cans from Race Fans canned food drive on April 21st before returning to action at the end of April

After a very successful 2011 racing season that saw Joe Rokos capture his first career Track Championship; The 2011 Cherry Raceway UMP Modifieds title while also finishing fifth in the inaugural season for the Allstar Performance Michigan Dirt Cup Modifieds Tour Presented by Lane Automotive, Rokos will chase after those two titles once again in 2012 with a primary focus placed squarely on the MDC/UMP Modifieds Title.

Rokos, who also finished second in the UMP DIRTcar Racing Series Michigan State points chase as well as 17th in the UMP DIRTcar National points, will also make appearances at some of the bigger shows in his home state of Michigan including events at I-96 Speedway, Merritt Raceway, and Winston Speedway. Despite the potentially busy and hectic schedule, the Interlochen, Michigan driver is ready for the challenges of the new season.

“We plan on running quite a few of the bigger UMP shows throughout the summer out of state. That is if time and funds permit. Our focus though without a doubt is the Michigan Dirt Cup Modifieds Tour and our home track of Cherry Raceway.” He continued. “2011 was a real good year and we want to repeat as Track Champions at Cherry. That first title last season meant so much to this entire team, especially since it was at our home track,”

“Cherry is such a family oriented track and my family has had some great success over the years at Cherry/M-113. My Father, Harry was one of the drivers that took their cars there when they built it and ran a race in the middle of winter to get the track grandfathered in with the township before zoning changes back in 1979 so the track could race that first season in 1980.” He offered.

“Our main focus though is going to be the Michigan Dirt Cup Modifieds Tour. We want to finish at least in the top three in points and hopefully win at least one of those shows. With all the national recognition that MDC is getting this year with a national magazine following it and world-wide television broadcasts, it would be huge for us and our sponsors to do well.” Rokos ended.

For the 2012 racing season, Rokos steer his popular white #77 while carrying sponsorship support from: Gilboes Lock & Safe as well as Magnum Solvents, Thirlby Automotive, CRM Inc. Powder Coating, Ruhlman Racecars, Allstar Performance, Westside Beverage, Cooter Thunder, Rokos Construction, Bell Racing Helmets, Ultrashield Race Products, Ron Coyne Tool & Machine, Tim & Pam Tank, M.P.H. Promotions, and Joe Rokos Racing.

To learn more about Joe Rokos and the entire Joe Rokos Racing Team and to inquire about sponsorship opportunities for fast approaching 2012 season, check out the new website at: www.joerokosracing.com You can also e-mail JRR at: hotrodracing77@yahoo.com and finally don’t forget about the Joe Rokos Racing Facebook Fan Page at: www.facebook.com/joerokos77