Henry Clarke to test Indy Lights Car
 

Davey Hamilton Racing announced USAC National Sprint Car Rookie of The Year Henry Clarke will be taking his career to the next level by securing his Rookie license driving the #32 Firestone Indy Lights car at Kentucky Speedway in September. Clark, a native of California, relocated to Indiana in May to race for Keith Kunz Motor Sports in the USAC National Midget and Sprint Car Series. He was awarded the USAC National Sprint Car Rookie of The Year Award in 2009 and continues to dominate in the Sprint Car and Midget Series.

Brandon Wagner, driver of the #32 car for Davey Hamilton Racing, stated “I am pleased to have someone of Henry’s stature in our Firestone Indy Lights car” Henry will have the chance to work with veteran engineer Darrell Soppe, seasoned mechanic Jimmy Pinkley, in car coaching by Brandon Wagner, and driver coaching by owner Davey Hamilton. Henry is optimistic about getting the opportunity to race at Miami/Homestead if it does not interfere with his current racing obligations.

For additional information, please email Brandon Wagner at brandonwagnerracing@yahoo.com or Brandon@brandonwagnerracing.com

Re: Henry Clarke to test Indy Lights Car
 

"...and continues to dominate in the Sprint Car and Midget Series."

Really???

Re: Henry Clarke to test Indy Lights Car
 

Wonder how much $$$ he had to bring with him?

Henry Clarke to Test Indy Lights Car...
 

More negativaty!!.. on yet another fine young Racer thats in Top 10 in ea. series,I believe...has won,n' just chasing his Dream!!...who.. now days is just handed a ride,in upper leagues, on their talent alone??...not very many!!...Best of Luck HC....
___________
Brucer':32:

Re: Henry Clarke to Test Indy Lights Car...
 

No negativaty here, just wondering what a deal like that goes for these days. How do you see that as "More negativaty!!.." :11: Just askin' a question. Come in out of that Yuma heat & have a nice glass of ice tea & cool off my fellow Zonie...it's all good. :6:

Henry Clarke to Test Indy Lights Car...
 

You got the heat part rite!!....but me out in it!!...Nah,not unless its at the track...like this coming w/e at Canyon...last w/e was in Phx ....week b4 that was in NorCal for wk,for USAC/CRA + Midgets at Calistoga!!....lota bigger shows comin up.....Can't wait for cooler weather at Oval Nat'ls,Western World,Turkey Nite then 'Copper on Dirt', onta Chile Bowl....where a few yrs theres been snow/ice on ground,but racin's indoors!!........
___________
Brucer':32:

Re: Henry Clarke to test Indy Lights Car
 

This is great news for a deserving young man like Henry. He seems like a good kid with a bright future to me. I like Davey as he never forgets his roots. Good luck to all concerned!

Re: Henry Clarke to test Indy Lights Car
 

Good for Henry. Best of luck with it.

Re: Henry Clarke to test Indy Lights Car
 

If he makes it to IRL or what ever they are now it will be a name I can pronounce!

Re: Henry Clarke to test Indy Lights Car
 

Originally Posted by TommyTipover:
"...and continues to dominate in the Sprint Car and Midget Series."

Really???

Must not have been to the Pavement race he won! Or to the Usac race at Terre Haute???

Re: Henry Clarke to test Indy Lights Car
 

Must not know what the word dominate means???

Re: Henry Clarke to test Indy Lights Car
 

I think what TommyTipover means is we hear the word dominate and think of Jon Stanbrough's season. Embellishing in PR isn't anything new.

I am glad Henry is taking a step in the right direction. At least he isn't going to run ARCA and at least we can pronounce his name. Some of you may be able to wear a Henry Clarke t-shirt to IMS one day.

Re: Henry Clarke to test Indy Lights Car
 

Sounds like he was dominating at THAT until the flat tire?

Jason Dull
815 494 6002
jdull99@hotmail.com
jasondull.com (For all the Racing News)

Re: Henry Clarke to test Indy Lights Car
 

Originally Posted by TommyTipover:
"...and continues to dominate in the Sprint Car and Midget Series."

Really???

Three people "thanked" this post. Way to support the grassroots youngsters working toward Indy, guys.

Originally Posted by racinround:
Wonder how much $$$ he had to bring with him?

Who cares?

A sprint car guy driving a car owned by a sprint car guy and people here are going to complain?

This place is great.

Re: Henry Clarke to test Indy Lights Car
 

I'm from the "Old School" Guys like Darland,Coons, Flock,Hatton,Boorse KO among many others should have been looked at in the past. It
never happened for these great racers. I do wish Clarke the best
but in many way's I wonder what would have been!!
Best Regards,
John

Re: Henry Clarke to test Indy Lights Car
 

Wow - I have to go there before this short update. DD in an Indy Car - now that would be very cool....

Update on Henry's Test.

Expect a press release in the coming days.

During the test at Kentucky Speedway today Henry made a mock qualifying run. The two lap run was fast enough to take the pole at the last Indy Lights race at Kentucky. In short - he was smooth, he was FAST.

More to follow....

Re: Henry Clarke to test Indy Lights Car
 

Originally Posted by Hclarke:
Wow - I have to go there before this short update. DD in an Indy Car - now that would be very cool....

Update on Henry's Test.

Expect a press release in the coming days.

During the test at Kentucky Speedway today Henry made a mock qualifying run. The two lap run was fast enough to take the pole at the last Indy Lights race at Kentucky. In short - he was smooth, he was FAST.

More to follow....

Good luck Henry! Nice to see a true American open wheeler get a shot at the Indy ranks. Its a first step, but a big one at that! :8:

Re: Henry Clarke to test Indy Lights Car
 

"Embellishing in PR isn't anything new."


And, I doubt if Henry had ANYTHING to do with writing his news release. Probably just glad to be able to climb into the car.

Ride buying has been a part of racing for a long time and it's here to stay. Dave Darland could have been in Indy Car 10 years ago, if he had $500,000 to pay them. He didn't.

The real world right not is there is very little money available out there for sponsorship, at just about any level (does Jeff Gordon have his DuPont sponsorship taken care of?), so you do what you have to do in an attempt to get yourself noticed.

Good Luck Henry. See you at Tri-City next weekend.

Re: Henry Clarke to test Indy Lights Car
 

Originally Posted by bigmojo5:
"Embellishing in PR isn't anything new."
And, I doubt if Henry had ANYTHING to do with writing his news release. Probably just glad to be able to climb into the car.

Jim,

I get some people being jealous, and I really never thought Henry had anything to do with this press release. I was at Henry's first USAC win, and on my honeymoon I seen him win in a 360 at Ventura. I think he can drive, all I was saying is that it's not unexpected to see press releases that are written toward future readers not anyone in the past.

Their choice of adjectives may be a little strong.

On the extreme other end of this practice we have seen Richard Childress talk about how great John Wrecks Weekly is and that is why he got a N'wide ride.

Back to Henry, it was a test, his father noted he tested well. Maybe some other team owners will take note and look at USAC in the future. I wish them luck and am glad that they have chosen this sport as one to participate in.

Re: Henry Clarke to test Indy Lights Car
 

I agree with you.

My point was only that most people that press releases are about do not write them. My impression by an earlier poster was that they thought Henry wrote the release himself.

I receive a lot of releases in which a person is referred to in glowing terms. Most of these get put to the side because they is no way to judge just how good this next great driver is -- and its obvious by the language used by the press release writer that it's an opinion rather that something based in fact.

Two years ago, I was receiving press releases on one driver that spoke glowiingly about him finishing 6th in a heat race, or just making the A-Main. Actually, this young man was crashing A LOT of cars. Today, he is making the dashes and running up front in the feature. But, I feel that the overzealous press releases of two years ago will make people leary of taking any positive press release generated today on that driver today seriously.

As far as Henry, unfortunately, I have not seen him race enough to make a fair assessment. I have watched the results and he's running up front and finishing in top 10s, top fives and winning. Winning turns heads, even if you do still have to pay to get a test drive.
And, if anyone thinks a driver today is going to get a test without bringing some amount of money, they are really kidding themselves. Yes, it's unforunate, but it is a fact of life.

I really wonder if the Tony Stewart of the early 1990s could make it in today's USAC without bringing a pot full of money, let alone the IRL (oops, I'm supposed to say Indy Car) or NASCAR.
Jim Morrison

.

Re: Henry Clarke to test Indy Lights Car
 

Originally Posted by Hclarke:
Wow - I have to go there before this short update. DD in an Indy Car - now that would be very cool....

Update on Henry's Test.

Expect a press release in the coming days.

During the test at Kentucky Speedway today Henry made a mock qualifying run. The two lap run was fast enough to take the pole at the last Indy Lights race at Kentucky. In short - he was smooth, he was FAST.

More to follow....

Sounds like Cole Trickle testing Rowdy's car at Daytona :6: