Kuhns Licks His Wounds and Heads for Bristol

By Shane Tecklenburg
FASTMotorsports.com

April 26, 2001


Bristol, TN – Redline Oil and General Plumbing sponsored Pro-Modified racer,
Kirk Kuhns, is looking for a little consistency and good luck this weekend
at the Mac Tools
Thunder Valley Nationals. Just one week ago, Kuhns carded a runner-up finish
in the anti-climatic resumption of the Mac Tools Gatornationals.
Unfortunately, the rescheduling took its toll on the Pro-Modified
contingent, as many racers had prior commitments to race with the IHRA in
Virginia. That left only 4 cars to compete at the Gatornationals. Kuhns made
an outstanding career best 6.26 e.t. at 223 mph lap during  Friday’s
Test-n-Tune session and was very comfortable going into eliminations.

“We had all the good stuff in there for that run,” stated Kuhns. “We had a
fresh clutch and a good blower, and I set the motor and the car up like it
was back in March.  I was pleased with what it had run, so I spent Friday
night checking over everything to be ready on Saturday. Then I went up there
against Wayne Torkelson, and it shook. I pedaled it a couple of times, and
got around him, but it was disappointing to say the least.”

When the team got back to the pits, they found that the clutch disk had
failed. The center had nearly torn its way out and had managed to wedge
itself into the stands, which secure the pressure plate to the flywheel.
Fortunately, it caused the clutch to lock solid, instead of freewheeling,
and Kuhns was able to nurse his racecar to victory.

“It jammed itself up right when I left the line, and I just had to chase him
down,” explained Kuhns. “He was having trouble too, and we got lucky.”

In the final round, he faced Rickie Smith. Kuhns replaced the clutch with
the worn unit he had been using up until Friday. To his dismay, he again
shook the tires and could do nothing as he watched Smith go on for the win.
Adding insult to injury, Smith turned a sub par 6.83 e.t.

“It’s a matter of shoulda coulda woulda,” said Kuhns. “I shouldn’t have
changed that clutch, but how could I have known? During the week, I repaired
the damaged parts, and I noticed a few things on the setup, which might have
been costing me consistency wise and maybe reaction time wise. I think we
will show an improvement this weekend, and we better because ‘all of the big
guys’ will be there.