2022 season summary

The 2022 season was one of growing and learning. We purchased a new car to race in the Lancaster street stock division. This car was meant to help Jacob learn a coil car and throttle control. Tom built a new super stock with our help for the New York Superstock Series and other select races this year. We also raced the compact throughout the season.

January:

-1/9: Dillon Motor Speedway - Compact: DNF
The season started early with a trip to the Carolina’s and Dillon Motor Speedway with the compact. We have wanted to make the trip for awhile and we finally made it. We struggled with the handling of the car all weekend. Jacob started in the rear of the A main and ended up pulling off the track before the finish with a mechnical failure. It was later discovered a bad shock was the reason for the poor handling car. After the race, we went to the NASCAR Hall of Fame and other surrounding NASCAR tracks in the area. Grammy and Buster were with us for the trip. We had a great time seeing all the sights in NASCAR country.

February:

-2/12: Freedom Factory - Compact: 4th
We traveled to Florida to the Freedom Factory to race a joint race with NCTS/NEMST/CMSC. The track was very similar to one of our hometracks, Wyoming County International Speedway. We had a good baseline setup and it proved to work out. Jacob had a fast car, qualifying in 5th and finishing 2nd in the fast heat. Come race time, Jacob drove a smart race. Starting 8th, Jacob drove up to 4th quickly. Jacob fell back almost a straight-away length of the leaders before making it back to the 2nd place car under green. As he got there, the car loosen up too much as tires burnt up and settled for 4th. A great showing for the 66 team. After the race, Dave Heimes came with us and we went to the World Series of Asphalt and even a dirt race. It was an amazing trip and we saw some great racing. It was freezing cold each night but the racing was worth it.

June:

-6/4: Lancaster Motorplex - Super Stock: 3rd -6/4: Lancaster Motorplex - Street Stock: 6th -6/11: Oswego Speedway - Super Stock: 3rd -6/17: Spencer Speedway - Super Stock: 9th -6/18: Lancaster Motorplex - Street Stock: 7th -6/25: Evans Mills Raceway Park - Super Stock: 5th
June saw the start of new beginnings. This month featured the first street stock race Gusty competed in and the first race for the new super stock chassis prepared by Tom Brinser. Also, learning the new division and getting a feel for the racecars was a big part of the month. The first night of racing was double duty, as Jacob would race both cars for the first time. The street stock would finish a respectable 6th place after starting from the back, whereas the super stock was a solid 3rd through 50 laps. The month carried on with Gusty getting seat time in the street stock. In the super stock, the team battled engine and tuning issues.

July:

-7/14: Lancaster Motorplex - Street Stock: 5th -7/16: Wyoming County International Speedway - Compact: 1st -7/25: Lancaster Motorplex - Super Stock: 5th -7/25: Lancaster Motorplex - Street Stock: 7th
July finally saw a couple of wins for Gusty. After a month of planning, the street stock was given a completely new set-up. The car responded very well to the changes, rewarding JFG Motorsports their first heat win with a V8 engine. Also, the compact was raced at the newly-paved Wyoming County Speedway for their season opener. While it was a test run for an upcoming race, Gusty won his only feature race of the season, and it would be the last time he would win with the car under JFG motorsports. The rest of the month would see Jacob get his first heat win with the super stock and more changes to the street stock.

August:

-8/2: North Wilkesboro Speedway - Compact: 16th -8/3: North Wilkesboro Speedway - Compact: 14th -8/6: Oswego Speedway - Super Stock: 6th -8/13: Lancaster Motorplex - Street Stock: 2nd -8/20: Lancaster Motorplex - Street Stock: 2nd
The trip to North Wilkesboro was amazing and well worth the drive. Jacob was the first compact to turn laps at the track and was fast but we just had some handling troubles. Jacob ran all 4 b and a mains for the 2 day weekend. He was the only car to run every green flag lap during the whole weekend. We think he had the most laps of any FWD compact there. Back in New York, Gusty got back to back 2nd place runs in the street stock division; a huge accomplishment to the team.

September:

-9/2: Oswego Speedway - Compact: 4th -9/3: Oswego Speedway - Compact: 2nd -9/10: Lancaster Motorplex - Super Stock: 2nd
The stig made a surprise guest appearance at Oswego for the Friday race, as Corey Copeland drove the red white and blue 66 compact. Gusty coached him throughout the day, giving corey a 4th place finish. Jacob took the wheel Saturday and started in the rear. He passed over 30 cars in 16 laps but came up one spot short of winning the race. This would mark the last race the compact would compete in for JFG Motorsports. Also, Gusty raced the super stock race in the US Open weekend at Lancaster. He had his best finish of the season in the super stock division, after finishing one spot short again.

October:

-10/1: Street Stock: Lancaster Motorplex - Street Stock: 6th -10/14: Wyoming County International Speedway - Street Stock: 3rd -10/15: Wyoming County International Speedway - Super Stock: 8th
The last month of the racing season showed off the teams real speed. The street stock was the fastest it has been all year, however, a spin would change the outcome of the US Open race for us. The car loosened up and caused a bent RF shock. Jacob would recover to a 6th pace finish. Then, the team converted the street stock into a super stock for Wyoming County. After lots of hard work and issues straightened out, the team shaved 2 seconds off their lap times and finished 3rd in the race. The super stock was a rocket ship. Jacob led many laps until a 50 cent part in the distributor broke and the engine lost all drive off the corner. This was another race that just got away from us.
Summary: Overall the super stock was a new car; it took a little time to work out a few bugs. Tom built a great car and made upgrades to help Jacob be even faster. Jacob is super proud that the car was never seriously damaged throughout the season.
The compact was just what it has always been; a solid car. The Southern trips exposed a few weaknesses but we sorted them out and leaned a bunch. This was the last year running a compact and we recently sold the whole program. It was not an easy decision but it was the right move to keep Jacob’s progression going forward.
The street stock was a huge learning experience. Our plan was to have Jacob drive it how we bought it for a few races and then make changes so Jacob knew the changes to the car. Jacob made huge gains with the car and it was faster as the season went on. We also made a new friend, Ken Maltby, who helped us with the car as he was the past owner.  
Jacob won the rookie of the year in the Lancaster street stock division. 
Overall it was a great year. Jacob grew as a driver; we learned a great deal as a team, made some new teammates and really enjoyed the racing. 
Thank you to all of our fans, family, supporters, and sponsors. Without all your support, we wouldn’t be able to do this.