Texas Speedzone - 14-year-old Kruger looks for ‘solid’ run after first-ever late model win

(Kyle, TX) It’s tough enough being a 14-year-old in today’s world. Try being Jake Kruger of Bastrop.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 27, 2008 Contact: K-MAC Sports, 512.219.1090 MANN Racing Promotions, 512.844.3582 14-year-old Kruger looks for ‘solid’ run after first-ever late model win (Kyle, TX) It’s tough enough being a 14-year-old in today’s world. Try being Jake Kruger of Bastrop. All the Bastrop High School freshman wants to do is drive (and succeed) in the premier late-model touring series in Texas – the Texas Super Racing Series late models. The TSRS rookie didn’t fare too well at the series’ first two races of 2008, both at Thunderhill Raceway (Kyle, TX). In fact, in two races, the driver of the Captiel Communications/TRC Race Cars/Kruger Motorsports #14 late model didn’t complete one official lap. Race one (April 19, 2008) – the #14 team had multiple engine problems and didn’t start the race. Race two (April 26) – the team qualified well and started the feature race from the fourth position (outside of Row 2) but got tangled up on the first lap and the team’s night was finished in Turn 1. Fortunately, the proverbial “change of venue” proved favorable for Kruger Motorsports. The team raced May 17 at Houston Motorports Park. Safely away from the Kyle track, Kruger and crew saw their luck turn dramatically. The start of the Insty Print 75 was marred by not one, but two, crashes on Lap 1. Fortunately for the #14 team, Jake Kruger was in neither one of them. That proved to be the tell-tale sign as Kruger found his way to Victory Lane – his first late-model win in only his second official start. Not bad. “It was a big win,” stated Jake Kruger in an obvious understatement. “We were pretty excited - we didn’t expect it, that’s for sure. After what happened at THR, we were just trying to finish a lap. Then we thought we’d go ahead and try to finish the race. By the time we had the last restart (with green-white-checkered) we knew we had a good chance to finish strong and grab the checkers.” The youngster added, “I really need to thank my sponsors, Captiel Communications, TRC Race Cars and Kruger Motorsports. I also need to thank my crew chief, Terry James, crew chief; my mom and dad (Deb and Bill); John Wasek; Victor Truan and Maggie Surma; John Martin; and, my sister Nikki. I heard she was screaming and hollering the whole race.” “I just hope he gained respect form the other drivers because of the win,” Deb Kruger added. “I think he’s proven himself and proven he can handle things out there. We’re not at all cocky about this, though, because we’ll continue to push Jake to drive well, drive clean and develop his talent.” Bill Kruger emphasized the same point. “Jake learned he can hang with the older drivers but we’re not going to dwell on this win,” the elder Kruger said. “Terry James was instrumental to that win – he gets an ‘A-plus.’ He works very well with Jake. As Jake’s talent continues to develop we’ll get even better.” This week TSRS runs the Operation Interdependence 75 back at Thunderhill Raceway. While the Kruger Motorsports team would love another trip to the winner’s circle, the team is more focused on a good finish – and at least completion of one lap at the track that’s snake-bit the team to date. “A lot of people are talking to me about winning the race again, but top-5s and top-10s are just as important,” Jake Kruger remarked. “We were pretty fast there (in qualifying) in the second race. I think we have a shot of doing well overall.” “We’re not particularly looking for another win but looking for a good finish – when we can run the entire race and run unscathed, we have a car that can run in the top-5,” Bill Kruger said. “As long as we don’t encounter a problem - mechanical or otherwise - that’s out of our control, we should be good. Information on TSRS can be found at www.manracingpromotions.com. Information on Thunderhill Raceway can be found at www.thunderhillraceway.com. - 30 - Texas Super Racing Series 2008 Schedule* Legend of tracks: CCS - Corpus Christi Speedway (Corpus Christi, TX) HMP - Houston Motorsports Park (Houston, TX) RRS - Red River Speedway (Wichita Falls) THR - Thunderhill Raceway (Kyle, TX) Saturday, April 19: THR Race Winner: Heath Stewart, Del Valle (TX) Saturday, April 26: THR Race Winner: Brian Moczygemba, San Antonio (TX) Saturday, May 17: HMP (Insty Prints 75) Race Winner: Jake Kruger, Bastrop (TX) Next Race: Saturday, May 31: THR (Operation Interdependence 75) Saturday, June 7: RRS Saturday, June 21: HMP Saturday, July 26: THR Saturday, Aug. 2: RRS Saturday, Aug. 16: HMP Saturday, Aug. 30: THR Saturday, Sept. 13: THR Saturday, Sept. 27: THR *schedule subject to change