Reading: Kenny Koretsky pre-race notes

Koretsky, Nitro Fish Wear Team Eyeing Ninth-place Finish

READING, Pa., Oct. 7, 2004 - Drag racing's numbers game comes down to just a handful for Kenny Koretsky as he prepares for the last three NHRA POWERade Series races of the season.

Numbers foremost in the Richboro, Pa., Pro Stock driver's mind are six and 21, followed by 10 and nine.

Koretsky's Nitro Fish Wear Dodge Stratus is six points behind 10th-place Warren Johnson, 782-776. And Koretsky is 21 points out of ninth place, occupied by Rickie Smith at 797.

"We are excited because we have a good opportunity to finish as high as ninth in POWERade points, something we've never done before," Koretsky said. "In all the years I've been racing in Pro Stock, this is the closest I've been to the top 10 . . . and we're determined to get there."

His next opportunity unfolds at his home track, Maple Grove Raceway, with the completion of the rain-delayed Lucas Oil Nationals, Friday through Sunday. Heavy rain postponed the event on Sept. 18.

"We never had the chance to make a run under good conditions last month," Koretsky added. "The weather looks good this time and the track should be fast. Obviously, we want to run well here because we'll have a lot of friends and fans coming out to watch us. Eddie (Guarnaccia, the crew chief) has the car working well and Larry Morgan is still providing us with powerful Hemi engines. It would be great to leave here in the top 10."

Koretsky discovered the kind of potential he has last weekend at Joliet, Ill. He registered his quickest and fastest quarter-mile runs, 6.684 seconds at 205.94 mph and 6.695 at 205.29. Morgan was a tick quicker at 6.680 seconds. Koretsky started eliminations in eighth place but never really had a chance to challenge first-round foe Jeg Coughlin Jr.

"That engine had a lot of power and the car made a right turn (toward the guard wall) so I shut it off," Koretsky said. "We're always learning something with these cars."

If Koretsky has his way, learning what it feels like to win a race would be next, on Sunday.

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