Fun Weekend of Racing for the #35 Rhine Auto Team Engine issues, engine issues, and even

more engine issues have been the dominate factor in the struggles for the Rhine Auto Motorsports #35 team throughout the beginning of the 2013 season. However, this has not stopped the team from pulling out some impressive runs. The team, once again, worked hard throughout the week to get their Maxim Chassis Sprint Cars ready for the weekend of racing at the Manitowoc Expo and the Plymouth Dirt Track. Another beautiful Friday afternoon showed great potential of a night filled with some great racing at the Manitowoc Expo. A season record of 20 MSA 360 Sprint Cars were signed in for the nights event and yet again the Rhine Auto Motorsports team would have a poor pill draw. The Rhine Auto #35 would line up outside row number three in heat three. Before the heat races and national anthem would take place, Ben would get ready for his hot lap session. Unfortunately after the green was waved, the #35 car would appear to be not running correctly again. Without hesitation, the team began unloading the spare car as quick as possible to hopefully make it out in time for the heat. Luckily the team did just that. Ben would get pushed off just in time to tag the rear of the final heat race of the MSA 360 Sprint Cars. The green flag dropped, and Ben quickly powered his Hepfner Racing Products #35 to the outside of the track picking off two cars. Unfortunately, thats all the #35 had in it and would end up finishing 4th in the heat. With this, the Schetter Electric #35 would find itself starting 3rd in the 6 lap fast dash. After the heat, the team was able to make some set-up adjustments to make the car faster as the night went along. Evidence of a faster car was present in the fast dash as Ben took the green flag and immediately took the lead coming off turn 2 and never looked back. With the fast dash win Ben would have to start his Adell Auto Center #35 in the 7th starting position of the 30 lap A Main. The MSA 360 Sprint Cars took the green flag and Ben wasted no time and quickly went to the outside of the track looking to advance a few positions. A quick caution would appear and the #35 car was up in the 6th position. After the green flew, the field began to widen out. The laps were clicking away and Ben started to reel in the top two with just 10 laps to go. As the top 3 raced through the lap traffic, little mistakes were made. With just 1 lap to go, Ben drove his #35 Maxim Chassis deep into the corner and was able to just clear the 2nd place runner to take over the 2nd spot falling just short of the leader. After a disappointing weekend the previous week, the Rhine Auto Motorsports #35 team was quite thrilled about the 2nd place finish at the Expo! Next up on the schedule for the team was the Plymouth Dirt Track with the Bumper to Bumper IRA 410 Sprint Cars with Tony Stewart also making a special appearance with his Sprint Car. The team prepared their car for the action packed Plymouth Dirt Track. Like usual, a poor pill draw for the team

came up once again. Therefore, the Hopf Farms #35 would qualify 26th out of the 32 IRA 410 Sprint Cars. However, this would not set the team back. They worked hard to get the car ready for the heat. Ben would start 7th in the second heat of the night and would only be able to pick up one extra spot, missing the transfer by two cars. The 15 lap B Main would show the K&N High Performance #35 starting outside row five with only the top six cars making the A Main. Ben used everything he had to power his way from 10th to 6th and make the final transfer spot with only two laps remaining. A 6th place finish would lock the Rhine Auto team into the 30 Lap A Main! The 22 car field took the green, and Ben wasted little to no time on working his way to the front. From the bottom to the top and vise versa, the #35 car found something and was making its way up through the field. After just 8 laps, the Rhine Auto Sprint Car was up into the 12th position. On the restart, Ben took the high side through turns 1 and 2 passing several cars before he went to the bottom. Lap 14 clicked by and Ben was up into the 8th spot when a car just in front of him spun. The #35 car went to the outside of the track to avoid the car, however, the car tried to correct himself and drove right into the left rear of the Rhine Auto car. Luckily the team, with the help of a few others, was able to change the flat tire and get Ben out again. The checkered would fly for a GREAT battle between Bill Balog and winner Tony Stewart and Ben would finish in the 16th position. We had a fast car and we were working our way up. Unfortunately we got caught up with someone elses mis hap and it cost us a possible top 10 run. Will get it all tuned up and ready for next week commented Ben after the feature. Overall it was a fun weekend for the Rhine Auto Motorsports team. Even getting caught up in someone elses mishap, the team saw a great run by the driver/car up until then. Next up on the schedule is the Manitowoc Expo this upcoming Friday, the Plymouth Dirt Track on Saturday, and then possibly Chilton Speedway on Sunday with the MSA 360 Sprint Cars! We would like to take this time once again and thank all of our 2013 sponsors for everything they do for us. These sponsors include: Rhine Auto Inc., Schetter Electric, Adell Auto Center, Hopf Farms, Odyssey Fun Center, Hepfner Racing Products, Buege High Performance, Roy's Tree Lot, K&N High Performance, Behling Racing Equipment, ButlerBuilt Professional Seat Systems, Schroeder Torsion Bars, Bell Helmets, Maxim Chassis, Weld Racing Wheels, Super Shox, Rhey Graphics, Shell Shock, and BG Motorsports. The Rhine Auto Motorsports #35 team would like to send their thoughts and prayers to friends and family of Jason Leffler. Jason was involved in a Sprint Car crash on Wednesday June 12th and was not able to survive the devastating crash. God speed Jason! #LEFTURN

Photos Courtesy of: RC Custom Design and Dan Lewis Photography

The ALL-NEW 2013 Rhine Auto Motorsports T-Shirts are now available in WHITE OR COOL GRAY!!
Article Credit: BG Motorsports