Glenski & Hillenburg'sfirst ARCA run was a great one!

Ansell Protective Gloves 200, Lucas Oil Raceway, Indianapolis - July 28, 2011

 

Ryan Glenski made his first ever run in the ARCA Series in Andy Hillenburg's Fast Track Machine. Ryan competed in the Blue Collar Driver Challenge, which began back in March and finished up at the end of June. Ryan waited and waited to find out how well he did against all the other drivers....and he finally got the phone call from Andy on July 1st! He won a ride in ARCA at the Lucas Oil Raceway in the Ansell 200 Race in Indianapolis on July 28th. Lucas Oil Raceway has been known as to be "A Drivers Track" which would showcase any talent. Andy Hillenburg and Team have been very busy and ran out of time to give Ryan any seat time in the car. Ryan sat in the #11 car for the first time at Lucas Oil Raceway. Ryan has the ability to sit in something one time and win with it. First big win at Bristol Motor Speedway in a car he never sat in. Pure talent can adapt very fast. Practice at Indianapolis went well but missed the set-up on qualifying, too loose. Qualified 22nd overall. When the green dropped it was Andy Hillenburg in Ryan's ear. "The Master", soft spoken, totally relaxed and very confident in his driver pick began a 200 lap conversation. Kept his driver focused, in-tune with the car. Andy was able to carry his driver and car from back to front not only once but three times. Ryan ran the number 11 like he stole it...yes he did! With moves from going high to low through every corner just to make a pass. Passed them high, passed them low, passed them clean and passed them practically on grass! Threading the needle a few times, making it three wide....sometimes not what a rookie would usually do....but Ryan was bound and determined not to leave one thing on the table. Drove up to eighth position and had gotten a tire rub near lap 40. Came in pits on first caution and went to rear. Drove back up through the field still on the same mission. Andy and team guiding him all the way. Bad luck struck when jack dropped and tire not on....went a lap down in the pits. No problem.....Cool as a cucumber, Andy worked Ryan back up to the front. Ryan was in place to receive the Lucky Dog status at lap 140 and came back up through like a wild stallion! With 50 laps to go, saving his tires and gaining everything one can gain from a legend like Andy Hillenburg, Ryan was poised to show all that he had and placed the Fast Track Machine the best he could. While Ryan loves to drive his heart out and put on a show while doing so....he hopes to be able to do more...and more. Ryan finished an amazing 6th place finish for his very first ARCA race with zero practice.....wonder how many other young drivers can say or do that! Special Thanks to Andy, Crew Chief- Dave McClure, Fast Track Crew Members, ARCA, Jim McDonald, Jack Hewitt, Sparco, Connie Larimore and of course Ralphie!