Jake Hesson, of Marysville, turns in some practice laps earlier this year after adding some new additions to the car. (Photo provided)
With Ohio Sprint Speedweek just days away, local driver Jake Hesson will return to the gauntlet of races, but this season things will be dialed back for the driver.
“With the coronavirus scheduling is a nightmare,” Hesson said. “All of these tracks are trying to get as many races in as possible.”
Hesson will return to speedweek to participate in the opener at Attica Raceway Park in Seneca, but that may be it for this season.
“Last year I raced in three of the events of speedweek, but this year I have other obligations to race for an owner in a 305 (sprint car),” he added.
Hesson said the tradition of speedweek is huge across Ohio in sprint car circles.
“Speedweek hits all the ideal tracks,” he said. “All the big hitters will be coming and the local boys will be trying to beat them.”
The races will draw 40 plus cars a night, according to Hesson and each track will be filled with standing room only for spectators, which means bigger winnings for drivers.
While Hesson can only attend one of this year’s speedweek events that doesn’t mean he isn’t driving. He recently committed to a six-series race at Atomic Speedway that kicks of this evening in an event called Open Wheel Wednesdays.
“Track owners are trying to figure out ways to get more racing in,” Hesson said.
The local driver not only races in the series at Atomic, but also in the FAST on Dirt series were he has put in four races this season.
With the delayed start to this year’s season, Hesson put in a new engine and suspension package and said it has taken some time to get used to in those first four races.
“We struggled the first couple of races, but we have been fine-tunings some things trying to get the car dialed in,” Hesson said.
The fine-tuning has been paying off for the driver, as he was able to win a heat and qualifying event during his last race.
“We are hoping to take some of that success into (tonight’s) race and hopefully have some success to carry us into Friday,” he added.
Hesson said the season so far has been going well as they ‘haven’t knocked anything off’ of the car this year.
He is a 2017 graduate of Marysville High School and has been racing for the past eight years.