Author Archive for: 2kderick

No matter what time of year it is, finding your groove is something special for any race car driver and team. October proved to be the month that Lane Snook and team would find something that made the 23-car unstoppable.

Starting off the final month of the team’s season, BAPS hosted the Creekside Auto Late Models. After an invert put Snook in the 8th starting spot, speed showed as Lane made his way to the point. “We were able to make our way to the lead fairly quick.” Even after a few cautions and even a red flag, Lane picked up yet another BAPS Motor Speedway checkered flag.

Riding the wave of confidence, the Mifflintown-based team headed to the world-famous Eldora Speedway. “We qualified 7th in our group out of 24 cars. That put us starting 4th in the heat…made a mistake on the first lap, but was able to make our way back up to 4th.” A front-row starting spot in the B Main presented a prime opportunity to make the show. That is exactly what Snook did.

Most would think that rolling off towards the rear of the field would make it tough to have a great result. Finding the bottom groove to his liking, Snook advanced all the way up to the 7th position. With a car in the top five coming up lite at the scales, Lane wound up with a 6th place finish. “Half the challenge was just making the show, with so many good cars” stated Snook. “It was definitely cool racing at Eldora with the tough competition.”

Sometimes, finding your groove and something that works for you, can mean making changes to what you are used to. “I did some different stuff with the setup that I was told to do by people who had raced there before.” Not only did these tips help the young racer, Lane’s mindset might have also helped. “Went into the weekend knowing there was nothing to lose.” Sharing the hard charger award, for a track debut, was certainly a huge accomplishment.

Continued success would follow the 23 team to the Path Valley Speedway for the final weekend of the season. With a split program, qualifying took place on Friday night and the car and driver again, were in the groove. Quickest in time trials put the 16-year-old starting 8th in his heat, with the program being about points. 3rd place points in the heat totaled up to be the highest point total out of any driver on Saturday. “With a rubbered-up racetrack, we were able to lead every lap for a very successful last race of the season.”

That win marked Snook’s 5th of the year and was a perfect capstone to a sophomore season in the Limited Late Model ranks. 2024 was a great success and exceeded expectations for not only the team but also the driver. While 2025 still seems far away, it will certainly come quick. Practice over the off-season will come in the form of iRacing for the teenage racer and maybe also with watching races and replays to gain a mental notebook on tracks for 2025.

Lane and team would again like to thank all the great sponsors and friends who helped to make this season so successful. Here’s to 2024 and to an even more stellar 2025!

As the last month of summer break appeared on the calendar, Lane Snook and team had a busy month ahead of them. After the last few months of impressive runs and finishes, and August featuring some big shows, anticipation was high for the young 16-year-old driver.

The month started off with an appearance at the Path Valley Speedway on August 10th. The fifth starting spot would be where the 23 car would roll off from. A few missteps landed the Mifflintown racer back in the 9th position, partway through the feature. However, the high side of the speedway was inviting to Snook, and he took to it, passing back the positions lost, and then some. Lane was able to stand on the podium box, scoring a 3rd place finish.

A week later at the BAPS Motor Speedway, the top step on the podium would be his. A strong heat set the young racer up for a front-row starting spot. Around the halfway mark of the feature, “we were able to pass for the lead” and win a second Limited Late Model event of the season.

Big money was on the line the following Friday, as the rained-out Zimmerman Tribute race was run alongside the Lucas Oil Late Model program, at Port Royal Speedway. A promising start to the night with a strong 2nd place effort in their qualifying group, put them on the pole of a heat race. Bad luck befell the 23 team, as they had “a left rear blow off the bead racing for second.” Luckily, the good time in qualifying allowed them to start on the pole of the B-Main, and Lane was able to win that event. Passing was at a premium in feature, as Snook advanced a few spots, going from 21st-18th.

Switching gears back to short tracks, the now 2-time winner, would break through once more and pick up his third feature win of the season at the Path Valley Speedway. Lane was able to grab the lead, almost right away, and “drove off to the win.” Snook stated that “the confidence is pretty high, especially on the short tracks.” Evidence being that all three of his triumphs this season have come on smaller tracks. Lane also stated there has been “less pressure” when talking about getting more wins, after scoring his first a few months prior.

To round out the month, another small track was on the card, as the team went to Clinton County. The handicap style invert to the feature lineup, put Lane starting 7th. At the end of the feature, another podium finish was added to the resume of the 2nd-year Limited driver, scoring a 3rd place result.

Rain pushed what would have been the final event on the team’s August schedule to a later date, as the Renninger Memorial got moved to a part of Monday’s Labor Day Classic at Port Royal.

As the season starts to wind down, the team and Lane now stand at three wins. “I just wanted to win at least 1 race this year.” While most wins and podium finishes have happened at smaller tracks, “we are finding more speed on the big tracks” said Snook. This is an area the young racer looks to improve upon in the remainder of the season.

The month of September features a few races for the Mifflintown-based team. BAPS is up next for the team on September 14th. The rest of the month is still up in the air, but the team does plan to race a few more times before the month is out. The hope is for August’s momentum to carry into a few strong closing months of the season.

After a strong end to the month of May, Lane Snook and team were poised to make June a strong month. It didn’t take long for the speed of the months prior to translate into a front running performance. 

June 1st featured the Limited Late Models competing at the BAPS Motor Speedway in a dual feature program. In the make-up feature, Snook and the 23 team showed tremendous speed, making a run from 23rd to the 2nd position. A strong run in the regular program’s heat (6th-1st) put the 16 year-old in a good position for the feature. At the end of the caution-filled race, Snook stood victorious on the front stretch, scoring his first career win in the Limited Late Model division. 

“It was definitely cool to get my first win in a late model. It’s something that definitely helps build confidence in a sport that can destroy your confidence with a few bad runs.” Getting this first win seemed to have eased the young Mifflintown racer. “I’m glad it’s over with and hopefully it won’t be as stressful running up front.” Running up front would be something the 23 car would do in their next race at Port Royal. 

With a 2nd place finish in his heat and a 2nd place starting position, put the pressure on once again. After running the first half of the race in 2nd, Lane slid back slightly after a restart, still garnering a 6th place run on a slick Port Royal. “I made some gains learning a slick racetrack and it ended up a good night.” 

Taking the next week off to recuperate from illness, the team “thrashed to get the other car ready and decided to go to BAPS” after Selinsgrove canceled their double feature night. Another heat win showed promise for a good night, but the track unfortunately ran into a curfew issue right before the late model feature and will now have to make up the show. Lane will roll off 8th. 

With the Blue Collar Classic being canceled due to expected rain, Snook and team will have a week off to get ready for the makeup feature, plus a full regular show, at BAPS on July 6th. Lane and family will also have some time to enjoy the holiday and hopefully enjoy some good family time and food. Nothing says summertime, quite like getting to enjoy a picnic. “I would say BBQ ribs would probably be my favorite 4th of July picnic food.” And as summer progresses, the young-racer also likes to enjoy some things outside of racing, like going to the beach when time allows. Lane enjoys “riding waves on the boogie boards with friends” on vacations. 

Summer vacation will be filled with more racing for the late model team, as a potential five features outline their plans. July 6th will be at the aforementioned BAPS double program. Then the team plans to head to Port Royal the following week. A small track takes the team out of the regular ⅜ & ½ mile routine, as they take on Path Valley, which hosted the World of Outlaws series earlier in the year. Snook plans to end the month out with BAPS. 

All of this again wouldn’t be possible without all their great sponsors. Many thanks go out to all the individuals and families that help keep the dream alive and the 23 on the track and hopefully in victory lane more frequently.