Posts

Zach Newlin Gaining 410 Experience Against Tough Competition

Seat Time Equals Learning

Millerstown, PA – June 2, 2021

by Addicted2Dirt PR & Media Management

Feature Photo Credit:  Leister Photography

 )

Despite 20 years of karting, 305 sprints and 358 sprints, Zach Newlin was only 12 races into his 410 sprint car career when he walked into the pit area on Monday for the rain-delayed Weikert Memorial at Port Royal Speedway.  Another race means more experience.  He’s not gaining it the easy way either.  Half of those previous events were against the All Stars or the World of Outlaws.

 

The $29,000 to win All Star Circuit of Champions sanctioned event at ‘The Speed Palace’ on Memorial Day would serve as Newlin’s 13th career 410 start, and yet again it would be against the All Stars.     

 

In his laps against the clock in the Burke Motorsports/Grove Financial & Associates/Dillman Hauling, LLC. No.54, Zach Daddy was able to record a very respectable lap, timing 26th quickest out of the 43 cars that attempted qualifying.  The effort provided him with a starting spot on the front row of the second heat race.  Since the format for the special event uses a system that awards drivers points during qualifying and heat races, his only objective was to stay up front, or very close to it.  Points awarded in the heat races are based on where you start vs. where you finish, commonly known in the sport as ‘passing points’.  Early in his heat race, Newlin was holding his own, running in the top 3 against stout competition.  As the race progressed, he slipped a few more spots, ultimately finishing 9th and capturing far fewer points than he was aiming for.  

 

My lack of experience in a 410 cost me there.  A few of those spots are on me“, Newlin admitted.  With no time to dwell on it, he tucked the lessons learned away and prepared for the B-main.  Only the top four finishers would transfer to the A-main.  Newlin knew his 13th starting spot in the last chance qualifying race would be tough to overcome but laps are laps.  Seat time is seat time.  It’s an opportunity to learn.  He managed to work his way forward as far as 9th for a handful of laps, then eventually settled for a 10th place finish in the 20-car field.  It wasn’t good enough to make the A-main but it was progress for the team in only their second outing of the 2021 season.

 

Next up for Newlin, tentatively, is a trip back to Port Royal Speedway on Saturday, June 5th.  It will be Camera and Autograph night, so be sure to stop by the pits to take a photo and say hello during the time designated by the track.  Follow the social media outlets listed below for all of Zach’s schedule updates.

 

ZACH NEWLIN

Learn more about Zach Newlin at:  https://addicted2dirtpr.com/home/drivers/zachnewlin/

Follow  Zach’s season at:  https://addicted2dirtpr.com/latest-news/

Newlin Racing on Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/NewlinRacing

Newlin Racing on Twitter:  https://twitter.com/NewlinRacing

Photos from 5-31-21 at Port Royal Speedway

SPECIAL THANKS from Zach Newlin & Burke Motorsports

As always, thank you to all our sponsors and partners, including our silent partners who do everything they can to help but ask for nothing in return!  Below are the businesses…the people…the families…that make what these teams do possible. PLEASE take the time to browse this information and help the teams by giving your business to these partners. Most importantly, tell them WHY you patronized them and thank them for being involved in racing!

PUBLIC RELATIONS

Addicted2Dirt PR and Media Management provides affordable and personal dirt motorsports public relations that provides a professional public image to attract marketing partners and fans.  A2D can promote your sponsors and engage fans with your team’s story.  We are a central Pennsylvania based business with a love of and passion for dirt racing and the people who make the sport what it is.

 

Visit our website to learn more about us and follow along with the stories of our race teams!

     https://addicted2dirtpr.com/

 

Follow A2D on Social Media!  We are @Addicted2DirtPR on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

     https://www.facebook.com/Addicted2DirtPR

     https://twitter.com/Addicted2DirtPR  (hashtag #TeamA2D)

     https://www.instagram.com/addicted2dirtpr/

 

And of course, don’t forget to subscribe to our YouTube Channel so you are always notified of our latest video features, recaps and stories for #TeamA2D!  Just hit subscribe below this video or search for Addicted2Dirt PR on YouTube!

 

You can always contact us via Email at:  [email protected]

Newlin Battles Through Tough Sprint Car Weekend

Wheelman Determined to Rebound as Busy Summer Kicks Off in Pennsylvania

Millerstown, PA – May 24, 2021

by Addicted2Dirt PR & Media Management

As is often the case during the 2021 racing season, Zach Newlin kicked off this past weekend by strapping into the Mansberger Motorsports No.21m 358 sprint car at Williams Grove Speedway.  This weekend was going to be a little different though, as he was also scheduled to make his 410 sprint car season debut the following night at Port Royal Speedway.  Unfortunately for Newlin, the weekend was going to be anything but typical for the wheelman who has established a track record of success.

 

Friday night, May 21st started off pretty normal with 21 358 sprint car teams signed in at Williams Grove Speedway, which meant the usual three 8-lap heats from which all cars would qualify for the night’s A-main but only the top 4 finishers would make the redraw.  

 

Zach started 5th in the second heat and was able to miraculously miss a hard 2-car crash in turn one on the start, somehow squeaking between the crash and the outside guardrail to avoid contact.  On the ensuing restart, Newlin made a strong move into the third position in turn 3.  He would go on to ride home in third to lock himself into the redraw.  

 

That part of the night seemed pretty normal.  The redraw results placed Newlin in the 8th starting spot for the 20-lap feature.  From the drop of the green, Newlin sensed the handling was off in the Mansberger Motorsports 21m.  On lap 8, things went from bad to worse and it became apparent the issue was with the right rear tire.  The tire went completely flat, forcing Newlin to the pits.  He was unable to return.  The team determined the cause of the tire failure was a bit unusual.  The tire was not cut or punctured; the valve stem had failed.  These types of things are just part of the sport, but it certainly wasn’t the norm for Newlin to end the night early in the pits.  He was credited with an 18th place finish.

 

Next up for Mansberger Motorsports will be the 358 Sprint Car Summer Series event on June 11th at Williams Grove Speedway.

 

All Zach Daddy could do was accept Friday night’s results and move on to Saturday at Port Royal.  After a couple prior unsuccessful attempts to kick off their season, Burke Motorsports was finally able to roll their beautiful orange and blue No.54 Grove Financial & Associates, Dillman Hauling, LLC., Heather Sims Realtor, T&M Homebuilders, Kirby Kitner Excavating, Walker Performance Filtration, Sander Engineering, DMI, out of the trailer to go racing in 2021.  Earlier in May, weather and a family situation had thwarted two prior attempts to race.

 

Zach and the team would need to jump right into the deep end of the pool with their brand new Maxim Chassis.  The format called for time trials, which meant there would be no chance to shake down the new car, other than the few circuits he would get in hot laps.

 

For those who aren’t familiar, even if they are from the same manufacturer, no two frames behave the same.  Each one has its own personality and the team must learn what it wants to get the most speed out of it.  

 

When he signed in for the night, Newlin had some luck at the pill draw.  He drew the lowest pill, giving him the first shot at the track for qualifying.  Time trials quickly provided feedback on the new car, indicating it was not at its best using a familiar setup they had used in the past on other cars.  They were at the bottom of the charts and had work to do.

 

The 24 cars on hand then participated in three 8-lap heat races, which were lined up based on their times in qualifying, with the quickest times up front.  Despite making numerous, significant changes to the car prior to their heat race, Zach was unable to move forward from his 9th starting spot in the heat race.  Upon his return to the pits, the team went back to work again.  They discovered an issue in the rear suspension and were able to resolve it before the feature.

 

Given their 24th starting position, the team’s plan in the A-main was to assess the car 5 laps into the event.  If Newlin was able to pass cars and move forward, he would continue to race, but if not, they would call it a night and save their resources for another night.  While the issue they resolved prior to the feature was definitely a big step in the right direction, the car was still not where it needed to be, so he called it a night 5 laps into the race, resulting in an official 24th place finish.

 

Having lost a couple opportunities earlier in May to begin to learn what this new car wants to make it fast, Newlin and the Burke Motorsports team will need a couple more nights to start to figure out their new piece.  Even the majority of this particular night was spent resolving a suspension issue, which means they don’t really yet know if the changes they made earlier in the evening would have worked had that issue not existed.

 

That’s how this sport is.  Three steps forward, two steps backwards.  As a team, you can’t lose sight of the fact that the net result is forward progress.  Fans want and expect quick success but it takes time for a team and a driver to make a car fast, especially when each has only a dozen 410 sprint car starts on their resume.  Both Newlin and Burke Motorsports have been very successful in their past racing endeavors.  In time, they will find success in a 410 as well.

 

Next up for Burke Motorsports, tentatively, is the 2-day Weikert Memorial at Port Royal Speedway with the All Star Circuit of Champions on May 29-30.  Follow the social media outlets listed below for all of Zach’s schedule updates.

 

ZACH NEWLIN

Learn more about Zach Newlin at:  https://addicted2dirtpr.com/home/drivers/zachnewlin/

Follow  Zach’s season at:  https://addicted2dirtpr.com/latest-news/

Get BURKE MOTORSPORTS 410 Sprint Car updates by following

Burke Motorsports on Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/Burke54Racing

Burke Motorsports on Twitter:  https://twitter.com/Burke54Racing

Get MANSBURGER MOTORSPORTS 358 Sprint Car updates by following

Newlin Racing on Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/NewlinRacing

Newlin Racing on Twitter:  https://twitter.com/NewlinRacing

Photos from 5-22-21 at Port Royal Speedway

SPECIAL THANKS from Zach Newlin & Burke Motorsports

As always, thank you to all our sponsors and partners, including our silent partners who do everything they can to help but ask for nothing in return!  Below are the businesses…the people…the families…that make what these teams do possible. PLEASE take the time to browse this information and help the teams by giving your business to these partners. Most importantly, tell them WHY you patronized them and thank them for being involved in racing!

PUBLIC RELATIONS

Addicted2Dirt PR and Media Management provides affordable and personal dirt motorsports public relations that provides a professional public image to attract marketing partners and fans.  A2D can promote your sponsors and engage fans with your team’s story.  We are a central Pennsylvania based business with a love of and passion for dirt racing and the people who make the sport what it is.

 

Visit our website to learn more about us and follow along with the stories of our race teams!

     https://addicted2dirtpr.com/

 

Follow A2D on Social Media!  We are @Addicted2DirtPR on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

     https://www.facebook.com/Addicted2DirtPR

     https://twitter.com/Addicted2DirtPR  (hashtag #TeamA2D)

     https://www.instagram.com/addicted2dirtpr/

 

And of course, don’t forget to subscribe to our YouTube Channel so you are always notified of our latest video features, recaps and stories for #TeamA2D!  Just hit subscribe below this video or search for Addicted2Dirt PR on YouTube!

 

You can always contact us via Email at:  [email protected]

Zach Newlin Wheels Mansberger 21m to Podium Finish at Williams Grove

New Pairing Achieving Early Success

Millerstown, PA – April 25, 2021

by Addicted2Dirt PR & Media Management

For a driver wheeling a different chassis/engine combination than he is accustomed to, and a team working to understand the communication style of a new driver, early success is not typical.  It takes time for a team to gel.  The new 358 sprint car combination of Zach Newlin and Mansberger Motorsports seemed to show some early potential with a solid ending to their first outing together a week earlier at Williams Grove Speedway in the heart of PA Posse country, but one top 10 doesn’t prove anything on its own.  Friday, April 23rd found them back at “The Grove” to try to put a successful night together from start to finish in just their second outing. 

 

With 22 HJ Towing and Recovery 358 sprint cars signed in for action, three 8-lap heat races were lined up by random pill draw.  All cars would qualify for the A-main but only the top 4 finishers would be involved in the redraw to set the top 12 starting spots for the night’s main event.

 

Newlin’s team drew the pole position for the second heat but Zach quickly showed he was more than just good enough to stay out front.  When the green flag dropped, he pulled away quickly and built a 5 car-length advantage by the time he reached the famous bridge halfway down the backstretch.  The Mansberger Motorsports 21m almost appeared to be on a rail.  It was balanced and smooth on corner entry and exit.  Newlin continued to steadily build his lead, winning the event by nearly a straightaway.

 

A heat race performance like that can actually make the team’s setup decisions for the feature tougher.  Do you leave the car alone?  Do you attempt to make minor improvements?  Do you adjust to keep up with the ever-changing surface of a dirt track as more laps are turned by other divisions?  While it can appear from the stands that the drivers just strap in, mash the gas and turn left, it takes so much more than that.  These cars are finicky and sensitive.  One wrong educated guess on setup by the crew or the wrong approach with the throttle and wheel by the driver, and the car will be going backward through the running order instead of forward.

 

Next up was the redraw for the top 12 teams.  Fortunately, a favorable draw provided the team with the 4th starting spot for the 20-lap feature event.  Even the starting spot factors into the team’s decisions on setup, so now they could finalize their decisions.   

 

The initial drop of the green on the feature event saw Newlin get a great start and slip into second by the time the field exited turn 2, however the caution would come out before a lap was complete, forcing a complete restart.  Once the event was successfully underway, he was able to work his way up to second on lap 2 using a pass on the low side through turns one and two.  

 

Over the next several laps, Zach tried the low side and high side at both ends of the speedway, working to find a way to get quicker and close the 6 car-length lead Matt Findley had built ahead of him.  In the meantime, Derek Locke was pursuing Newlin and trying to find a way around him.  When Findley entered lapped traffic, Zach was able to close the gap slightly but the caution came out just after the field reached the halfway mark, which would mean a clear track for the leader on the restart.

 

On the restart, Newlin drove low in turn one to try to make a run on Findley and close the door on Locke at the same time.  Locke was strong though and managed to get around the outside of Zach, dropping him to 3rd.  Over the remaining laps, as the fuel load lightened on Newlin’s 21m, the handling wasn’t quite good enough to run down Locke and Findley, but it was good enough to maintain 3rd and record a podium finish for Mansberger Motorsports.

 

A dominating heat race win followed by a podium finish certainly meets the definition of a successful night from start to finish, so file this night under ‘mission accomplished’.  

 

UP NEXT

Zach Newlin and the Mansberger Motorsports team’s next race is scheduled for Friday, May 7th at Williams Grove Speedway.  If you’re not able to be there, the event will be available via live stream on DirtVision.  

 

NEWLIN RACING

Follow Newlin Racing’s season at:  https://addicted2dirtpr.com/latest-news/

Learn more about Zach Newlin at:  https://addicted2dirtpr.com/home/drivers/zachnewlin/

Newlin Racing on Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/NewlinRacing

Newlin Racing on Twitter:  https://twitter.com/NewlinRacing

Photos from 4/23/2021 at Williams Grove Speedway

PUBLIC RELATIONS

Addicted2Dirt PR and Media Management provides affordable and personal dirt motorsports public relations that provides a professional public image to attract marketing partners and fans.  A2D can promote your sponsors and engage fans with your team’s story.  We are a central Pennsylvania based business with a love of and passion for dirt racing and the people who make the sport what it is.

 

Visit our website to learn more about us and follow along with the stories of our race teams!

     https://addicted2dirtpr.com/

 

Follow A2D on Social Media!  We are @Addicted2DirtPR on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

     https://www.facebook.com/Addicted2DirtPR

     https://twitter.com/Addicted2DirtPR  (hashtag #TeamA2D)

     https://www.instagram.com/addicted2dirtpr/

 

And of course, don’t forget to subscribe to our YouTube Channel so you are always notified of our latest video features, recaps and stories for #TeamA2D!  Just hit subscribe below this video or search for Addicted2Dirt PR on YouTube!

 

You can always contact us via Email at:  [email protected]

Zach Newlin Logs Top 10 in Debut with Mansberger Motorsports

Team Recovers from Early Issues at Williams Grove

Mechanicsburg, PA – April 18, 2021

by Addicted2Dirt PR & Media Management

It was difficult to know what to expect from the new combination of Zach Newlin and Mansberger Motorsports.  Both had plenty of laps and success over the years, but none together.   This pairing would mean learning new equipment and new communication styles.  Hopefully the learning curve to find a good chemistry would be short.


Friday, April 16th was the season debut for the HJ Towing & Recovery 358 Sprints at Williams Grove Speedway in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania.  21 teams signed in for action, which meant three 8-lap heats from which all cars would qualify, however only the top 4 teams from each heat would go to the redraw.


The pill draw put Zach in the 3rd starting spot for heat two.  From the drop of the green, it was clear something wasn’t quite right.  The car was not rotating properly in the corners and Newlin was gradually losing track position.  He would end up finishing 6th in the non-stop qualifying race.


Upon his return to the pits, Zach reported that the throttle had been sticking on corner entry, which required him to lift it by force with his foot.  Essentially this meant he was either on the throttle or off the throttle, there was nothing in between.  That ‘in between’ is essential to be able to make a sprint car drive and handle properly.  Fortunately, it didn’t take the team long to identify the cause of the throttle issue and resolve it.  With that corrected and a few shock adjustments completed, they were ready to see what they could do in the feature.


Newlin started deep in the field in 17th for the 20 lap main event.  The second and final caution of the event came with 9 laps remaining.  The car was clearly handling much better and Zach had settled into a rhythm after the first few laps.  Under caution, he made a wing angle adjustment from the cockpit in an attempt to get a little more bite.  He restarted 14th and would go on to show he had made the right adjustment and had also figured some things out about the car and the racing surface during the first half of the event.  


Sticking to the low side of the speedway, Newlin was able to run down and pass a car every other lap over the remaining laps, including a hard-earned final pass for 10th coming to the white flag.  The feature run by Zach Daddy certainly helped the entire team forget about the woes earlier in the evening.


For Newlin and Mansberger, the top 10 in their debut together was great, but the most exciting part was the realization of how good this team may be when they don’t have to dig themselves out of a hole.  “Without the throttle issues earlier tonight, we’re probably a top five car in our first night together.“, Newlin said with a grin that exuded anticipation for their next outing and the remainder of the 2021 season.

NEWLIN RACING

Learn more about Zach Newlin at:  https://addicted2dirtpr.com/home/drivers/zachnewlin/

Follow Newlin Racing’s season at:  https://addicted2dirtpr.com/latest-news/

Newlin Racing on Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/NewlinRacing

Newlin Racing on Twitter:  https://twitter.com/NewlinRacing

Photos from Williams Grove Speedway 4-16-21

PUBLIC RELATIONS

Addicted2Dirt PR and Media Management provides affordable and personal dirt motorsports public relations that provides a professional public image to attract marketing partners and fans.  A2D can promote your sponsors and engage fans with your team’s story.  We are a central Pennsylvania based business with a love of and passion for dirt racing and the people who make the sport what it is.

 

Visit our website to learn more about us and follow along with the stories of our race teams!

     https://addicted2dirtpr.com/

 

Follow A2D on Social Media!  We are @Addicted2DirtPR on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

     https://www.facebook.com/Addicted2DirtPR

     https://twitter.com/Addicted2DirtPR  (hashtag #TeamA2D)

     https://www.instagram.com/addicted2dirtpr/

 

And of course, don’t forget to subscribe to our YouTube Channel so you are always notified of our latest video features, recaps and stories for #TeamA2D!  Just hit subscribe below this video or search for Addicted2Dirt PR on YouTube!

 

You can always contact us via Email at:  [email protected]

Busy 2021 Racing Season Coming Together for Zach Newlin

Zach Daddy’s Calendar Filling up with 410 and 358 Racing 

Millerstown, PA – April 8, 2021

by Addicted2Dirt PR & Media Management

Feature Photo Credit:  Jeremy Cross (2020)

Plans are shaping up for Zach Newlin to continue building his 410 sprint car resume, once again pairing with Burke Motorsports this season.  Although Newlin and Burke had been racing for many years when they joined forces late last summer, both were new to the 410 ranks at the time.  

 

Despite diving into the figurative ‘deep end of the pool’ last season, including numerous All Star and World of Outlaw sanctioned shows, there were some glimpses of the success and potential that exists for this team.  It was a very productive use of their short schedule, capturing notes and getting seat time at four of the area’s major speedways in their limited 11-race schedule last season.  There were multiple trips to BAPS Motor Speedway, Port Royal Speedway, Williams Grove Speedway and Lincoln Speedway.  Newlin captured the Labor Day Classic Hard Charger award at The Speed Palace.  He drew the commentary of announcers Johnny Gibson and Bruce Ellis during an Outlaw show at The Grove for a move he put on veteran Brian Montieth.  He even managed to get Johnny Gibson to give his trademark “Quick Time!” during qualifying, when Zach went to the top of the charts for a little while during another Outlaw show.  Not a bad start to a 410 resume.

 

Grove Financial & Associates and Dillman Hauling, who joined the team for the late season kickoff in 2020, both return as key partners.  Once Newlin’s season gets underway in April, the team plans to compete weekly at Port Royal Speedway and hopes to add other select shows in the region to their schedule as well throughout the season.  Other long time partners of Newlin, Heather Sims Realtor, T&M Homebuilders and Kirby Kitner Excavating, have joined the team for the 2021 season as well.  Burke and Newlin are seeking additional partners to help build their program to a level that can remain competitive throughout the long Pennsylvania racing season.

 

The team is set to hit the track with their sharp looking orange and blue No.54 Grove Financial & Associates, Dillman Hauling, LLC., Heather Sims Realtor, T&M Homebuilders, Kirby Kitner Excavating, Kriner Racing Engines, Walker Performance Filtration, Sander Engineering, DMI, Burke Motorsports, Maxim Chassis, 410 sprint car in the next couple weeks in Central PA.    

 

On the 358 front, you won’t see that familiar green and black 11z making laps around the Pennsylvania tracks but that doesn’t mean you won’t get to see Zach Daddy in that division in 2021.

 

Zach has been tapped to wheel the Mansberger Motorsports No.21m 358 sprint car.  The new pairing will compete in all of the 358 shows at Williams Grove Speedway this season and may add a few other events around Central PA to their schedule as well.

 

Mansberger Motorsports has been a mainstay in the area for a number of years and has had their share of success.  Over the years, the Mansberger mount has been piloted by notable PA open wheel names like Kevin Nouse, Chad Trout and Jay Krout.  The team is targeting Williams Grove’s first 358 show of the 2021 season on Friday, April 16th, to kick off their season together.  

 

You can follow Zach Daddy’s entire season here on Addicted2DirtPR.com and on the social media outlets listed below.  Join us!  It promises to be an interesting and exciting season!

 

Follow BURKE MOTORSPORTS for Zach’s 410 News and Updates

News and Updates at:  https://addicted2dirtpr.com/latest-news/

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/Burke54Racing

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/Burke54Racing

Follow NEWLIN RACING for Zach’s 358 News and Updates

Learn more about Zach Newlin at:  https://addicted2dirtpr.com/home/drivers/zachnewlin/

News and Updates at:  https://addicted2dirtpr.com/latest-news/

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/NewlinRacing

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/NewlinRacing

PUBLIC RELATIONS

Addicted2Dirt PR and Media Management provides affordable and personal dirt motorsports public relations that provides a professional public image to attract marketing partners and fans.  A2D can promote your sponsors and engage fans with your team’s story.  We are a central Pennsylvania based business with a love of and passion for dirt racing and the people who make the sport what it is.

 

Visit our website to learn more about us and follow along with the stories of our race teams!

     https://addicted2dirtpr.com/

 

Follow A2D on Social Media!  We are @Addicted2DirtPR on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

     https://www.facebook.com/Addicted2DirtPR

     https://twitter.com/Addicted2DirtPR  (hashtag #TeamA2D)

     https://www.instagram.com/addicted2dirtpr/

 

And of course, don’t forget to subscribe to our YouTube Channel so you are always notified of our latest video features, recaps and stories for #TeamA2D!  Just hit subscribe below this video or search for Addicted2Dirt PR on YouTube!

 

You can always contact us via Email at:  [email protected]

SPECIAL THANKS

Burke Motorsports would like to say thank you to all our sponsors and partners, including our silent partners who do everything they can to help but ask for nothing in return!  Below are the businesses…the people…the families…that make what we do possible. PLEASE take the time to browse this information and help the teams by giving your business to these partners. Most importantly, tell them WHY you patronized them and thank them for being involved in racing!

[VIDEO] 2020: The Rise of Zach Daddy

Millerstown, PA – February 21, 2021

by Addicted2Dirt PR & Media Management

Zach Newlin has been racing for over 20 years. Like many, the dream was to keep moving up and reach the pinnacle of sprint car racing, the 410 division.  Things seemed to be moving along as hoped, with Zach going from go-karts to 600 micros in 2005, then on to 305 sprints in 2013.  He wasn’t just putting in his time either.  He was winning races and championships.  You know you’re doing ok when you earn a nickname along the way.  Suddenly, Zach Daddy was born.  That’s a story for another day though.

 

The dream seemed to be growing closer, but in today’s expensive sport of sprint car racing, nothing comes easy.  A driver can accomplish all that can be expected of them but still never get a chance to wheel a 410 sprint car.

 

When the calendar flipped to 2020, Zach Newlin wasn’t sure what the season would bring. The family team, Newlin Racing, wanted a new challenge and was eyeing a move to 358 sprint car racing. Things weren’t coming together just yet though, so a return to the 305 division, where he had been very successful for several years, seemed likely.  The dream of 410 racing was still in the back of his mind, but seemed quite far off.

 

Fortunately the stars aligned and the pieces came together to go 358 racing in the family’s familiar 11z with their long time partners Smith Concrete & Construction, Heather Sims – Realtor, J.W. Smith Auto Body, T&M Homebuilders Inc., Ron’s RV Sales, Kirby Kitner Excavating, Hammaker Racing Engines, The Podium Awards, Advanced Septic Services, and Walker Performance Filtration.  At the time, Newlin and his family were extremely happy, but had no idea just how much that step would ultimately mean a few short months later.

 

Despite the pandemic interrupting the early part of the season, Zach was able to quickly show speed and run near the front.  Shawn Burke was familiar with Newlin’s success in the 305 sprint cars.  His team had competed against Newlin on a regular basis.  By mid-summer of the 2020 season, what he had seen from Zach behind the wheel of the 358 was enough to cause him to walk into Newlin’s trailer and ask him if he was interested in driving the Burke Motorsports 410 sprint car.  Once Newlin processed it all, the choice seemed clear.

 

He would quietly make his 410 debut August 23rd at BAPS Motor Speedway and days later would win his first 358 sprint car race at Williams Grove Speedway.  Just two weeks later, Newlin made his Port Royal Speedway 410 debut in the 69th Annual Labor Day Classic.  He earned the Hard Charger award in that event, quickly proving he has what it takes to perform at the top level.  Zach Daddy wrapped up the season competing against the All Stars and World of Outlaws in the orange #54 Grove Financial & Associates, Dillman Hauling, LLC., Kriner Racing Engines, Sander Engineering, DMI, Burke Motorsports, Maxim Chassis, Walker Performance Filtration, 410 sprint car, gaining as much experience as possible to be ready for what comes next.

 

What a year 2020 turned out to be.  The dream is alive and has a strong heartbeat.  

 

Before we turn our attention to the upcoming 2021 season, let’s take a look back at some of Zach Daddy’s journey with a trip down memory lane in the video below.  

 

Please like, share and comment if you enjoy it!

SPECIAL THANKS

Below are the businesses…the people…the families…that make what these teams do
possible. PLEASE take the time to browse this information and help the teams by
giving your business to these partners. Most importantly, tell them WHY you
patronized them and thank them for being involved in racing!

Please LIKE and SHARE this video if you enjoyed it!  Thank you!

Learn more about Zach Newlin at:  https://addicted2dirtpr.com/home/drivers/zachnewlin/  

Follow Burke Motorsports season at:  https://addicted2dirtpr.com/latest-news/

Burke Motorsports on Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/Burke54Racing

Burke Motorsports on Twitter:  https://twitter.com/Burke54Racing

Music in this video: Higher by Eminem, Thunderstruck by 2 Cellos

Photo credits: Racer X Media, Ashley Book, Brian, B Lenhart Photo, Kevin Quirk Motorsports Grafix, Rich Watts (A2D) and the Newlin Family

Addicted2Dirt PR and Media Management provides affordable and personal dirt motorsports public relations that provides a professional public image to attract marketing partners and fans.  A2D can promote your sponsors and engage fans with your team’s story.  We are a central Pennsylvania based business with a love of and passion for dirt racing and the people who make the sport what it is.

 

Visit our website to learn more about us and follow along with the stories of our race teams!

https://addicted2dirtpr.com/

 

Follow A2D on Social Media!

We are @Addicted2DirtPR on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

     https://www.facebook.com/Addicted2DirtPR

     https://twitter.com/Addicted2DirtPR  (hashtag #TeamA2D)

     https://www.instagram.com/addicted2dirtpr/

 

And of course, don’t forget to subscribe to our YouTube Channel (Addicted2Dirt PR) so you are always notified of our latest video features, recaps and stories for #TeamA2D!  Just hit subscribe below this video!

 

Contact us via Email at: [email protected]

Newlin Caps Successful Year Full of New Challenges

Closes Season with 410 Outing in Sprint Showdown at BAPS Motor Speedway

Harrisburg, PA – November 16, 2020By Addicted2Dirt PR & Media Management

When the calendar flipped to 2020, Zach Newlin wasn’t sure what the season would bring. The family team wanted a new challenge and was eyeing a move to 358 sprint car racing. Things weren’t coming together just yet though, so a return to the 305 sprint car division where he had been very successful for several years was still a possibility. The dream of 410 sprint car racing was still in the back of his mind, but seemed quite far off. Fortunately some stars aligned and the pieces came together to go 358 racing in 2020. At the time, Newlin and his family were extremely happy but had no idea just how much that step would ultimately mean. Despite the pandemic interrupting the early part of the season, Zach was able to quickly show speed in his family’s familiar 11z, now with a 358 under the hood. That step up was all it took for Shawn Burke to walk into Newlin’s trailer one summer night, ask him if he was interested in driving his 410 sprint car and tell Zach to give him a call. Once Newlin processed it all, the choice seemed clear. He would make his 410 debut August 23rd and just days later would win his first 358 sprint car race at Williams Grove Speedway. What a year this was turning out to be.

Fast forward to mid-November. Once again, as she often seems to do, Mother Nature blessed BAPS Motor Speedway with terrific Central Pennsylvania autumn weather for their annual season-ending Capitol Renegade Sprint Showdown on Saturday, November 14th. The sunshine was enough to lure Burke Motorsports, wheelman Zach Newlin and the Grove Financial & Associates, Dillman Hauling, LLC., Kriner Racing Engines, Sander Engineering, DMI, Maxim Chassis, Walker Performance Filtration to the track one last time in 2020.

Zach Newlin at BAPS Motor Speedway 11/14/20
(photo credit Tyler Barr @TylerCoolGuy88)

The field of 34 entries would run 2-lap time trials in the afternoon sun to set up the four 10-lap heat races. The top 5 in each heat would transfer to the A-main, with the top 2 from each taking part in a redraw. The top 2 fastest qualifiers who qualified but finished outside of the top 2 would also join the redraw. With the redraw setting the top 10 starting spots, the remaining qualified drivers would fill starting positions 11-20. Non-qualifiers from the heat races would take part in the B-main, from which the top 4 would fill out positions 21-24 in the starting field.

Newlin was the 14th car out for his timed qualifying run. His best lap of 16.183 placed him 27th overall, which meant he would start 7th in the third heat. As the field lined up for that heat race, Zach was moved up to the 6th starting spot when the 19m of Landon Myers unable to make the call. At the drop of the green, Newlin took to the high side and moved his way up to 5th. On the following circuit he switched to the low side of the speedway and began to challenge Lucas Wolfe for 4th. Unfortunately the caution lights flashed on when the leader got into the wall and rolled to a stop. With two laps complete and the leader sidelined, Zach restarted 4th on the outside of row 2. Over the final eight laps, Newlin tried the high side, the middle and the low side. He was able to briefly move alongside Matt Campbell for the 3rd position but ultimately settled for 4th. It was a solid run that put the team directly into the A-main. It seemed the team had made the right calls for the daytime surface, now they would need to figure out how to keep up with the track and the competition as the sun set.

Rolling off 15th for the 30 lap A-main, Newlin liked his low side starting spot. Often times, ground can be gained on the low side while the field sorts itself out early in the going. Unfortunately that wasn’t to be the case on this night. You know that feeling when you get in the wrong line at the grocery story? Zach Daddy can relate. As the green flag flew, a car in front of him got out of shape, causing the inside line to check up while the outside line zipped by. Those few seconds relegated Newlin to 20th place, where he settled in and tried to get into a rhythm and build up momentum. Over the course of the first 16 laps, through a couple cautions, he did manage to recover some but generally wasn’t moving forward enough to gain anything at the payout window. When the red lights flashed on for a crash on the 17th lap, the team made the decision to call it a night and park their Kriner powered Maxim chassis. In this day and age of sprint car racing, financially smart decisions have to be made to make sure you have the resources to race again the next time.

When the dust finally settled Saturday night, Newlin was officially credited with 19th, a couple more lessons had been recorded in the ever-growing notebook and the car was in one piece. For a team trying to build a foundation, that’s a successful night…and a successful 12 weeks.

2020 is a wrap and she’s in the box in one piece. (photo credit: A2D)

For the Burke/Newlin pairing, which formed just 12 weeks ago, each and every outing in the back half of 2020 has been about track time and learning, so why pass up one more opportunity. There were no lofty expectations when they joined forces, but that doesn’t mean there wasn’t optimism. They made not have made the headlines in their 11 races, but that doesn’t mean there weren’t highlights.

In just over 2 months, using a challenging but smart approach, the Burke Motorsports/Zach Newlin combination managed to build a base notebook by logging 4 races at BAPS, 3 at Port Royal Speedway, 3 at Williams Grove Speedway and 1 at Lincoln Speedway. They didn’t shy away from competition either. Over half of their outings were against traveling series: 4 vs. the World of Outlaws and 2 vs. the All Star Circuit of Champions. The remaining 5 races were against the always tough PA Posse. There’s nothing like jumping into the deep end of the pool, right? Along the way there were small victories, worthwhile discoveries and experience gained. And there were notable achievements, such as Newlin garnering the Hard Charger Award at Port Royal’s Labor Day Classic and making moves that caught the attention of Johnny Gibson, the long-time voice of the World of Outlaws, during a broadcast.

Although it may have felt like it just started for Burke and Newlin, the reality is 2020 is a wrap. Will this season’s learning sessions pay off in 2021? I think you will want to stay tuned. This is a young team with a lot of potential. Zach Daddy and Burke Motorsports are likely to make waves in Central PA, especially if all the pieces fall into place. If you happen to be one of those businesses out there looking to step into the sprint car world, this team is worth a look. They might earn their partners a lot of attention in the coming years.

Be sure to follow Newlin Racing on Facebook or Twitter to get the latest schedule updates & other news about Zach’s 358 & 410 sprint car teams!  Click here for all the info you need to stay informed!

Zach Daddy gets his game face on (photo credit: A2D)
Fans observe Burke Motorsports’ pre-race prep from their top row vantage point. (photo credit: A2D)
The Burke Motorsports, Grove Financial & Associates, Dillman Hauling #54 soakin’
up the mid-November PA sunshine at BAPS Motor Speedway (photo credit: A2D)
The Burke Motorsports Kriner powered Maxim survived 2020 with minimal battle scars. (photo credit: A2D)

SPECIAL THANKS:

We want to express our sincere appreciation to our sponsors and marketing partners!
Please support those who support racing!

Be sure to tell them you give them your business because they support Zach!
It helps the team tremendously if our partners know helping us helps them!

Grove Financial and Associates, Chaz Scheaffer & Derek Fry
Dillman Hauling, LLC.
Kriner Racing Engines
Sander Engineering
DMI – Diversified Machine, Inc.

Maxim Chassis
Walker Performance Filtration

SOCIAL MEDIA:

Fans can follow Newlin Racing the 2020 season at:
(Facebook) www.facebook.com/NewlinRacing
(Twitter) @NewlinRacing

PUBLIC RELATIONS:

Follow or contact Addicted2Dirt PR & Media Management at:
(Twitter) @Addicted2DirtPR #TeamA2D
(Facebook) http://www.facebook.com/Addicted2DirtPR
(Website) Addicted2DirtPR.com
(Email) [email protected]

Newlin’s Day Cut Short by Part Failure

Bad Luck Bookends to the Day for Zach Daddy

Harrisburg, PA – October 26, 2020By Addicted2Dirt PR & Media Management

@mikevleone
The Burke Motorsports #54 of Zach Newlin (photo credit: Mike Leone)

The beautiful Central Pennsylvania autumn weather lured 38 cars to BAPS Motor Speedway on Saturday, October 24th for the Wintermyer’s Auto Salvage Night. Among them was the sharp looking Grove Financial & Associates, Dillman Hauling, LLC., Kriner Racing Engines, Sander Engineering, DMI, Maxim Chassis, Walker Performance Filtration, Burke Motorsports #54 piloted by Zach Newlin.

The field was divided into four 10-lap heat races via random pill draw. The format for this show would only advance the top 4 finishers to the A-main, while the non-qualifiers would take part in one of two B-mains, from which the top 4 would fill out the starting field for the main event.

Maybe the way Newlin’s day started should’ve been a sign. His draw placed him 8th in the starting lineup for heat two. As close as the competition is in the 410 sprint car division, passing four cars in a heat race can be quite a challenge. Zach’s Kriner powered Maxim was quick though and he managed to move forward in the race. He finished 6th, which may not have put him in the feature event but it did improve his starting spot in the 10-lap B-main he would now have to run.

Be sure to check out all the photos below from this week’s featured photographer, Caleb Newlin!

As is common when a team must compete in a B-main, the turn-around time to prepare the car isn’t as much as they would like to have. The car was pretty good in the heat but the Burke Motorsports/Newlin team still made adjustments to keep up with the ever-changing track surface. Newlin rolled off 4th for his final shot to put his team in the show.

The good news is the adjustments were enough for Newlin to hold off Kody Lehman for the final transfer spot into the show. The bad news is the team discovered a water pump bolt had broken during the consolation event and the failure was not something they could repair at the track in the time available.

It was a day with bad luck bookends. First the pill draw, now a part failure. A failure that was going to take away the opportunity to race in the event they had worked hard to qualify for. Not to mention valuable seat time for the 410 rookie. To reap what reward they could for their efforts, the team would need to take the green flag in the feature event, so the only option was to ‘start and park’.

Newlin could do nothing but shake his head and shrug. He summarized the day with two brief thoughts: “We were fast. My pill draw ability sucks.” Part failures happen. He has been racing long enough to know you just have to smile and focus on what you can control. It went in the books as a 24th place finish but that’s not what bothered Zach and the team. What disappointed them was not having the chance to get more seat time, learn more together and prove they could move forward.

There will be another chance down the road. Sure is ironic that a sport with sprint in the name actually requires a lot of patience over the long haul.

(left to right) Lance Newlin, Zach Newlin and Austin Burke prior to action at BAPS Motor Speedway on 10/24/2020.
(photo credit: Caleb Newlin)
Making adjustments.
(photo credit: Caleb Newlin)
Thanks Chaz & Derek at GF&A!
(photo credit: Caleb Newlin)

Be sure to follow Newlin Racing on Facebook or Twitter to get the latest schedule updates & other news about Zach’s 358 & 410 sprint car teams!  Click here for all the info you need to stay informed!

Lance Newlin thinks things over.
(photo credit: Caleb Newlin)
Thanks Dillman Hauling, LLC!
(photo credit: Caleb Newlin)

SPECIAL THANKS:

We want to express our sincere appreciation to our sponsors and marketing partners!
Please support those who support racing!

Grove Financial and Associates, Chaz Scheaffer & Derek Fry
Dillman Hauling, LLC.
Kriner Racing Engines
Sander Engineering
DMI – Diversified Machine, Inc.

Maxim Chassis
Walker Performance Filtration

SOCIAL MEDIA:

Fans can follow Newlin Racing the 2020 season at:
(Facebook) www.facebook.com/NewlinRacing
(Twitter) @NewlinRacing

PUBLIC RELATIONS:

Follow or contact Addicted2Dirt PR & Media Management at:
(Twitter) @Addicted2DirtPR #TeamA2D
(Facebook) http://www.facebook.com/Addicted2DirtPR
(Website) Addicted2DirtPR.com
(Email) [email protected]

Zach Newlin has had plenty of reasons to smile in 2020. (photo credit: Caleb Newlin)

Newlin Grabs Broadcast Time and Attention Again

Reaches B-Main in Outlaw Competition at Port Royal

Port Royal, PA – October 12, 2020By Addicted2Dirt PR & Media Management

Newlin contemplates the night ahead at Port Royal
(photo credit: A2D)

Burke Motorsports and Zach Newlin sure don’t take the easy path. In the past three weeks they have competed in two All Star Circuit of Champions events and four World of Outlaws events. For a new team, that’s a tall order. For that matter, it’s quite a challenge for an established team.

None of that seems to matter to this driver and team who are both new to the 410 sprint car ranks. They’re not intimidated. They have the ‘stuff’, they just need to learn and build their combined knowledge, in the pits and in the seat, to be able to compete at the front of the field. That’s why they are here competing against the best. “There’s no better way to learn“, said car owner Shawn Burke with a very matter of fact delivery.

Their plan must be a good one because, for the second week in a row, Newlin had the legendary Johnny Gibson talking about him on DirtVision, the Outlaws live broadcast viewed by thousands around the world.

Newlin waits for his turn in time trials at Port Royal’s WoO Show on 10-9-2020 (photo credit: A2D)

Friday, October 9th Recap

The Grove Financial & Associates, Dillman Hauling, LLC., Kriner Racing Engines, Sander Engineering, Diversified Machine, Inc., Maxim Chassis, Walker Performance Filtration, Burke Motorsports #54 was one of 48 cars signed in for night one of the Nittany Showdown. The format for that car count called for time trials (2 flights of 24 cars each), 4 heat races, a C-main, B-main and A-main.

Prior to the event Newlin was asked what he focused on coming into an event like this. “Mostly it’s like any other night to me but the focus is definitely on time trials. They can make or break your entire night“, he shared. Zach was the third car to take time in Flight 2. He registered the 18th quickest time in his group. Certainly not a bad time at all for his first time qualifying under the clock at Port Royal Speedway. Each of the four heat races would start 12 cars and Newlin’s time earned him the 9th starting spot in the fourth heat.

A top five finish the heat race would provide a direct transfer to the A-main but that was probably a stretch to wish for against this field. A realistic goal was to hang on to his position or move forward a couple spots which would put him in the B-main, but the 8-lap heat race didn’t go as planned. He slid backward in the running order and finished 11th. The setup wasn’t what the car needed and the motor didn’t respond the way Newlin asked it to with his right foot.

Having run the fourth heat and now needing to run the C-main, the team had only a few minutes to discuss the situation, decide what to change and execute the changes. It was the first time the team had been put in this kind of situation. While everything didn’t go perfectly and there were lessons taken from those few minutes, the team managed to accomplish a lot under a great deal of pressure. Fuel nozzles were changed in hopes of curing the motor’s responsiveness, the wickerbill was changed to hopefully get a little more grip, a few twists of the suspension bolts were completed to get more balance and enough fuel was added to get through the upcoming 10-lap race.

Only the top two finishers would advance to the B-main, which would be quite an accomplishment from Newlin’s 8th starting spot. While he didn’t make the transfer spots and their night came to an end, there certainly was something positive to talk about as the team packed up. The car was much better and Zach was able to steadily move forward and finish 5th in the non-stop event. As a matter of fact, had there been even a single caution, he was good enough to have at least reached 4th and possibly 3rd.

Saturday, October 10th Recap

Night two of the final World of Outlaws venture into Pennsylvania for 2020 saw 51 cars sign in to go after the $15,000 winner’s prize. Under Outlaw rules, this car count meant a different, slightly more challenging format would be employed for the event. Once again the field would be divided into two flights of qualifying but after that things would be different. Unlike the night before when all cars ran heat races, tonight only the top 20 from each flight would go directly to heat races, while the remaining 11 cars would compete in a non-qualifiers race. The top four finishers from the non-qualifiers race would advance to the heat races and the remaining 7 cars would tag the back of the C-main starting lineup behind the eventual 10th and 11th places finishers from each heat race. Simply put, not transferring to a heat race would mean quite an uphill battle.

Newlin’s evening didn’t get off to a great start. He drew a pill that meant he would be the 15th car to take time out of a total of 25 in flight 2. The later a car goes onto the track, the more the track has changed and typically the slower times become. Zach timed 23rd in his group, relegating him to the non-qualifiers race. The team made some minor changes in the short turnaround time but things didn’t get any better. He started and finished 6th in that 8-lap event.

Saturday night’s event included a support division, the 305 RaceSaver sprint series, which allowed the 410 sprint car teams a little more time to work on their machines between events. The team huddled, Newlin shared his feedback and the team exchanged ideas about how to improve the car. Given how the track had changed throughout the night, they decided to try some things that had brought them success on the daytime surface one month earlier. It was a ‘big swing’ and maybe a little risky but what did they have to lose at this point.

Newlin was scheduled to start 8th in the 10-lap C-main with only the top two finishers transferring to the B-main. Once again, a steep hill to climb. A little luck fell his way before the green flag had dropped on the race. Two of the teams scheduled to start in front of Newlin’s Burke Motorsports entry had retired for the night due to issues. As a result, Zach took the green from the 6th position, immediately jumped to the top groove and drove all the way to 3rd position by the time lap one was in the books. He then proceeded to chip away at the gap in front of him and claim 2nd on lap 6. He held that spot, pulling away over the final four circuits and advanced to the B-main. It was during that C-main drive that Johnny Gibson focused on Newlin for nearly the entire event. His run to the front included five laps of exciting side by side racing with Kody Lehman for the transfer spot, during which the pair raced so close they nearly touched on a couple occasions. “Zach Daddy” had provided one of the most memorable battles of the night and earned quite a bit of broadcast time for it.

Newlin started 19th in the B-main, from which the top four would transfer to the night’s A-main. It was a typical Port Royal surface. It was wide and slick with multiple grooves but the fast way around turns one and two was on the wall. Zach was figuring out the nighttime surface at The Speed Palace and getting more and more comfortable. He raced the high groove through the east end of the speedway, inches from the wall, then dove to the low side where the moisture was at west end of the big half mile. Despite losing the brakes with five laps remaining due to a cut brake line, Zach was able to complete a couple quality passes and bring it home 17th to end the night.

Wrap Up

A week earlier at Williams Grove Speedway the team set the bar at the C-main, their highest achievement in their inaugural Outlaw weekend. In just their second Outlaw weekend, against a deep field, they raised the bar to the B-main. Let’s not forget this team has only put this combination on the track 9 times and has only been together for less than 7 weeks.

Newlin in line for time trials at Port Royal’s WoO Show
on 10-10-2020 (photo credit: A2D)

When asked to reflect on the team’s weekend, Zach Newlin was brief. “Learning and building“, he said. Brief for sure but accurate too. The evidence supports it.

The team is building a notebook. Newlin is learning what to expect from the feel of a 410 sprint car. They are all learning how to communicate with each other.

The last 48 days have been a solid jump start for the future. Stay tuned.

Be sure to follow Newlin Racing on Facebook or Twitter to get the latest schedule updates & other news about Zach’s 358 & 410 sprint car teams!  Click here for all the info you need to stay informed!

Check out the photo gallery below AND don’t miss the special videos at the bottom!

SPECIAL THANKS:

We want to express our sincere appreciation to our sponsors and marketing partners!
Please support those who support racing!

Grove Financial and Associates, Chaz Scheaffer & Derek Fry
Dillman Hauling, LLC.
Kriner Racing Engines
Sander Engineering
DMI – Diversified Machine, Inc.

Maxim Chassis
Walker Performance Filtration

SOCIAL MEDIA:

Fans can follow Newlin Racing the 2020 season at:
(Facebook) www.facebook.com/NewlinRacing
(Twitter) @NewlinRacing

PUBLIC RELATIONS:

Follow or contact Addicted2Dirt PR & Media Management at:
(Twitter) @Addicted2DirtPR #TeamA2D
(Facebook) http://www.facebook.com/Addicted2DirtPR
(Website) Addicted2DirtPR.com
(Email) [email protected]

Newlin Gains Confidence in Outlaw Debut

Quickly Making a Name for Himself in 410 Racing

Mechanicsburg, PA – October 5, 2020By Addicted2Dirt PR & Media Management

When Johnny Gibson, the long-time voice of the World of Outlaws (WoO), exclaims things like “…you don’t see that very often at Williams Grove!” with that recognizable elevated level of excitement in his voice as he describes a pass you just made on a veteran driver, you know you’re doing something right. Gibson and his co-broadcaster, the legendary writer and announcer, Bruce Ellis, both called Newlin’s name multiple times, noting moves that didn’t appear rookie-like. No, the results from the weekend won’t make the headlines in the racing papers, but Zach Newlin was clearly doing something right during the 58th Annual Champion Oil National Open on October 2nd-3rd in Mechanicsburg, PA.

Zach Newlin gets in the zone prior to World of Outlaws qualifying

41 days. That’s how long ago Zach Newlin strapped himself into a winged 410 sprint car for the first time ever. Already he had a few PA races and a few All Star Circuit of Champions races under his belt, now he found himself about to strap in for Williams Grove’s famous National Open and compete in his first World of Outlaws races. It was a life-long dream suddenly coming true for Newlin, his brother and the entire family. What a whirlwind 6 weeks. He possesses a racing career that has spanned over 20 years but he had only moved into 358 sprints earlier in this pandemic-shortened season. Burke Motorsports also has a long history competing successfully at various levels of open wheel motorsports. Both parties have recorded a lot of success over those years, but this weekend would be a new and memorable challenge for all.

Night one of the National Open was Newlin’s 6th career 410 sprint car start and only his 2nd at Williams Grove Speedway. The Burke Motorsports team did not have much 410 competition under their belt either prior to joining forces with Newlin a couple months ago, so team expectations were realistic coming into their first Outlaw competition. To add to the challenge, they would be racing against the toughest competition in the country with a new motor and new shock package that they had not had an opportunity to shake down yet.

Friday, October 2nd Recap

Friday night saw 57 cars sign in and it was evident early that the track was very fast, which would make passing difficult, unless the surface somehow managed to dry out and widen out by the latter part of the night. Time trials are always important in WoO competition but tonight they would likely be even more so. Zach was the 5th car to take time in flight 2. He ended up 28th in his flight but to put that in perspective, only 0.93 seconds separated him from a top ten time. Like I said, tough competition. There is zero room for error behind the wheel or when making setup decisions.

The qualifying result meant Newlin would need to run the non-qualifiers race. Under WoO rules for a car count of this number, the top 40 overall qualifiers transfer directly to the heat races, while the remaining teams must run a non-qualifiers race. The top 4 finishers from that event are then added to the heat races (1 to each of the 4 heats), while the remaining finishers transfer to the D-main.

Only having had a few hot laps and 2 qualifying laps under their belt in the orange #54 Grove Financial & Associates, Dillman Hauling, LLC., Kriner Racing Engines, Sander Engineering, DMI, Burke Motorsports, Maxim Chassis, it was hard to know what adjustments to make. The team made their best educated guess at improvements and Newlin rolled off 14th. He managed to move forward and finish 10th in the 8-lap event. It wasn’t enough to advance to a heat race of course, but it was a positive result for driver and team. Given his lack of laps in a 410 sprint car, it’s still hard to tell when the car needs changes or when he needs to adjust his style.

Next up was the 8-lap D-main from which only the top two finishers would advance to the back of the C-main starting lineup. Zach started and finished 6th in the event, bringing an end to the on track activities for the team Friday night. Back in the pits though, there was still plenty of activity. Shawn & Austin Burke, along with Zach Newlin, brother Lance and the rest of the crew discussed and analyzed the night, making notes and decisions they could leverage the following night.

Zach Newlin throws it hard into turn 3 at The Grove
(photo credit: Dan DeMarco)

Saturday, October 3rd Recap

Night number two of the highest paying sprint car race in the nation in 2020 started off with a similar circumstance for Newlin and the Burke Motorsports team. 54 cars entered competition and Newlin was slated to take his timed qualifying laps 3rd in flight 2. That’s where the similarities ended though. On this night, he recorded the 22nd quickest lap in his group, with a lap that was only 0.575 seconds off of a top ten time and only 0.863 seconds behind the fastest car in flight 2. It was a significant improvement from the prior night and a promising sign.

Still just outside the cutoff for the heat races despite the improvement, Zach lined up 4th for the 8-lap non-qualifiers race. Once again tonight, the top 4 finishers would advance to the heat race lineups. Newlin held that final transfer spot for a few laps, capturing the attention of the broadcast crew with strong moves and smart choices. Finally, Brian Montieth slipped by him and soon after Kyle Moody followed. With two laps remaining, the caution lights flashed on, giving Newlin a chance to collect himself and regroup. The ensuing restart is when the rookie 410 driver really grabbed the attention of Johnny Gibson and Bruce Ellis as they called the action. Zach powered around the high side of turns 1 and 2, overtaking Moody and Montieth and reclaiming the final transfer spot. One lap later the trio went three-wide off turn 2 in a heated battle to advance to a heat race. Ultimately Newlin lost the spot, blaming himself for a couple bad choices during the battle.

Newlin was determined to make the most of his 2nd starting spot in the 8-lap D-main. It had been a better night thus far for the team and it would only be right if the end result reflected it. He held the position throughout the event, never allowing Montieth to get close enough to challenge for the position, and transferred into the C-main. Newlin would start 13th in the C-main. It was another chance to test himself. That’s all he could ask for against such a tough field. It was another 10 laps of learning. Zach brought it home 12th, ending his night with a much more confident feeling than 24 hours earlier.

There were plenty of smiles around the Burke Motorsports pit when the weekend concluded. “Tonight was definitely a turn around. I just need to keep learning“, Newlin said. “We had a new shock package on the car this weekend, so we were learning that. We made changes to that program based on what we experienced last night. After hot laps tonight, my confidence was back. We still have to change some things on the car, but we will get there“, he concluded.

Wrap Up

By the time the 58th Annual Champion Oil National Open weekend had come to a close, two important things had happened. Number one: Zach Daddy had learned a lot in a short period of time by racing in an environment of elevated competition. Number two: fans had taken notice of Newlin. Sprint car fans are passionate and knowledgeable about their sport, especially those in Central PA, and they are seasoned enough to look beyond results to see things. Those fans saw something in Newlin. Social media contained comments like “Zach Newlin will be he next young driver to develop into a good 410 driver in a year or two“. Will the predictions come true? I suggest you follow along and find out.

You can follow Newlin Racing on Facebook or Twitter to get the latest schedule updates & other news about Zach’s 358 & 410 sprint car teams!  Click here for all the info you need to stay informed!

SPECIAL THANKS:

We want to express our sincere appreciation to our sponsors and marketing partners!
Please support those who support racing!

Grove Financial and Associates, Chaz Scheaffer & Derek Fry
Dillman Hauling, LLC.
Kriner Racing Engines
Sander Engineering
DMI – Diversified Machine, Inc.

Maxim Chassis

SOCIAL MEDIA:

Fans can follow Newlin Racing the 2020 season at:
(Facebook) www.facebook.com/NewlinRacing
(Twitter) @NewlinRacing

PUBLIC RELATIONS:

Follow or contact Addicted2Dirt PR & Media Management at:
(Twitter) @Addicted2DirtPR #TeamA2D
(Facebook) http://www.facebook.com/Addicted2DirtPR
(Website) Addicted2DirtPR.com
(Email) [email protected]