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(Photo by Mike Leone)

Inside Line Promotions – BARBERVILLE, Fla. (Feb. 17, 2014) – A missing variable plagued Danny Lasoski during his season-opening week of racing in Florida.

“No matter what we did we were three tenths of a second off the pace,” he said. “We couldn’t find the speed. I just couldn’t put my finger on it.”

The veteran, who recorded at least one win each of the past two years during the five-day UNOH DIRTcar Nationals Presented by Summit Racing Equipment at Volusia Speedway Park, struggled to create momentum during the 43rd edition of the famed event.

After last Wednesday’s opening night was rained out, Lasoski started the event on Thursday with the UNOH All Star Circuit of Champions by qualifying 10th quickest. However, a mechanical failure forced him to the pits midway through his heat race while he was running in a lock-in position to the feature.

“We broke a piston in our primary engine during the All Star race,” he said. “It broke a piston and we were behind the eight ball from then.”

Lasoski scratched from the remainder of the race that night and he returned to the fast half-mile track on Friday for the World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series season opener, which marked the first of three straight Outlaws races.

“When you race with the Outlaws you’ve got to put yourself in position,” he said. “When you’re missing three tenths that’s everything.”

The absent speed hampered the team during qualifying each night, which buried Lasoski in the lineups. He timed in 27th quickest, 25th quickest and 23rd quickest, respectively, and missed the heat race inversion all three nights.

Lasoski advanced to a lock-in position during his heat race on Friday and Sunday, and he rallied to finish second in the Last Chance Showdown on Saturday to make the main event each night.

“When you start 24th, it’s just difficult,” he said.

Lasoski was able to maneuver from 24th to 14th during Friday’s feature to earn the Hard Charger Award, which was the highlight of the week.

“Basically just having a car to go where somebody wasn’t,” he said was the key. “If they were running the bottom I could run the top. I feel we had a car that could run in the top three that night. I just started too far back.”

Lasoski pulled into the infield early during the features on Saturday and Sunday, finishing 22nd and 18th, respectively.

“I’m not a guy who wants to be in the way,” he said. “As fast as Volusia is, if you don’t pick off a few cars in the first couple of laps, in a matter of four or five laps you’re lapped traffic. I’m just not going to be in the way of the leaders.”

Lasoski will put the sour taste of the opening week of competition behind him as he heads to East Bay Raceway Park in Tampa, Fla., for the 38th annual Winter Nationals this Thursday through Saturday.

“I’ve won 410 races down there,” he said. “It’s been a long time since I’ve been there, but everyone has great things to say about the place.”

Fans can watch Lasoski compete this weekend at East Bay Raceway Park via Pay-Per-View at http://www.xsan.tv.

QUICK RESULTS –

Feb. 13 – Volusia Speedway Park in Barberville, Fla. – Qualifying: 10; Heat race: DNF (4); B Main: DNS (3).

Feb. 14 – Volusia Speedway Park in Barberville, Fla. – Qualifying: 27; Heat race: 5 (7); Feature: 14 (24).

Feb. 15 – Volusia Speedway Park in Barberville, Fla. – Qualifying: 25; Heat race: 6 (7); B Main: 2 (4); Feature: 22 (22).

Feb. 16 – Volusia Speedway Park in Barberville, Fla. – Qualifying: 23; Heat race: 5 (6); Feature: 18 (23).

SEASON STATS –

4 races, 0 wins, 0 top fives, 0 top 10s, 1 top 15, 2 top 20s

UP NEXT –

Thursday through Saturday at East Bay Raceway Park in Tampa, Fla., for the 38th annual Winter Nationals

MEDIA LINKS –

Website: http://www.DannyLasoski.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/DannyLasoski

APPAREL –

Lasoski has t-shirts and hoodies for sale at his race trailer at every race. For a list of his scheduled races, visit http://www.DannyLasoski.com.

SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT – Ditzfeld Transfer

Based in Sedalia, Mo., Ditzfeld Transfer is one of the leading transportation, warehouse and distribution service providers in the Midwest. For more information, visit http://www.DitzfeldTransfer.com.

“Ditzfeld Transfer has been with me from Day 1 in my racing career,” Lasoski said. “Ron Ditzfeld and his boys give us a truck and make sure that thing never gives us a bit of an issue. He is not only a great partner, he’s a great friend.”

Lasoski would also like to thank the Creason Pipeline Services, Michael Ross Foundation, Open Joist, Engler Machine & Tool, Arctic Cat, Triple X Race Co., Kistler Engines, Lincoln Auto Auction, Penske Racing Shocks, Wings Unlimited, Winters Performance Products, Speedway Motors, QA1, MSD Ignition, Hoosier Racing Tire, Five One Media, Driver Websites, Ocala Lawns and Michael Hodges for their continued support.

INSIDE LINE PROMOTIONS –

Inside Line Promotions specializes in affordable public relations and media management for motor sports drivers, teams, sponsors, tracks, series, events, organizations and manufacturers. ILP Founder Shawn Miller leverages professional journalism with new media technologies and social networking to improve your exposure and the return on investment for your sponsors.

To meet the media relations needs of your program and to join Team ILP, contact Shawn at 541-510-3663 or InsideLinePromotions@gmail.com. For more information on Inside Line Promotions, visit http://www.InsideLinePromotions.com.