4/30/10
Ray Graham Looking For Consistency In 2010
By Dan Johnson
Ray Graham Looking For Consistency In 2010
By Dan Johnson
Every race teams set goals during the off season that they would like to achieve the
following year. Some think of going for track championships. Others dream of Classic
wins. Newbies would like to add their name to the prestigious Rookie of the Year list.
Des Moines, Iowa’s Ray Graham has simple, but realistic goals for 2010. “We want to
have a better year than last year, and we’d like to finish every race,” he said as he looked
ahead to the 2010 race season at Oswego Speedway.
Ray expanded, “We were only on the track at the end of two non winged races last
year, and we won them both. We finished one winged race, the King of Wings, and
finished fourth. Other than that, we had mechanical issues, which took us out early.
Two consecutive weeks, we had master cylinders go bad. Wilwood Manufacturing said
it was a fluke, they were just bad. Another week, the kill switch burned up, taking us out
of contention.”
Historically, Graham Racing has been a model of consistency, with the 2009 being an
aberration. “You just can’t prevent flukes like that from happening,” Ray said in
retrospect. “But, we did run well, and we got our first Oswego win last year. We’ve been
trying for that for a few years, and finally got one. Then, we got the second, so we were
really grateful for that.”
following year. Some think of going for track championships. Others dream of Classic
wins. Newbies would like to add their name to the prestigious Rookie of the Year list.
Des Moines, Iowa’s Ray Graham has simple, but realistic goals for 2010. “We want to
have a better year than last year, and we’d like to finish every race,” he said as he looked
ahead to the 2010 race season at Oswego Speedway.
Ray expanded, “We were only on the track at the end of two non winged races last
year, and we won them both. We finished one winged race, the King of Wings, and
finished fourth. Other than that, we had mechanical issues, which took us out early.
Two consecutive weeks, we had master cylinders go bad. Wilwood Manufacturing said
it was a fluke, they were just bad. Another week, the kill switch burned up, taking us out
of contention.”
Historically, Graham Racing has been a model of consistency, with the 2009 being an
aberration. “You just can’t prevent flukes like that from happening,” Ray said in
retrospect. “But, we did run well, and we got our first Oswego win last year. We’ve been
trying for that for a few years, and finally got one. Then, we got the second, so we were
really grateful for that.”
Another good run for Ray and his team came just when everyone looks to be on top of
their game, Classic Weekend. Ray brought the #90 home for a podium finish in the 2009
version, with a third place in the 200 lap endurance test. Ray was biding his time, waiting
for go time, when an unforeseen thing happened to him on his way to the front. Ray picks
up the story from there. “We were running well, waiting. Then, the footbox came down in
my lap, and I had to drive with the footbox on me the end of the race. The car was better
than where we finish. I’m not saying by any stretch that we would have won, as Otto’s car
was excellent, and he drove a great race. He deserved to win. We were happy with a third
in the Classic. It was a good race for us.”
their game, Classic Weekend. Ray brought the #90 home for a podium finish in the 2009
version, with a third place in the 200 lap endurance test. Ray was biding his time, waiting
for go time, when an unforeseen thing happened to him on his way to the front. Ray picks
up the story from there. “We were running well, waiting. Then, the footbox came down in
my lap, and I had to drive with the footbox on me the end of the race. The car was better
than where we finish. I’m not saying by any stretch that we would have won, as Otto’s car
was excellent, and he drove a great race. He deserved to win. We were happy with a third
in the Classic. It was a good race for us.”
“This year, we want a good, dependable car, and we would like to be able to contend for
the track championship, but we’ll have to see how things go,” the 10 year supermodified
veteran added. “Consistency is what you look for, and that’s what wins races, and
titles. If you keep breaking, you can’t work on making the car go faster. You have to fix
what broke, instead of trying to find speed.”
While Graham has sights of a track championship on his radar, he knows the road to
the 2010 title wont be an easy one. “Just look at the field we’ll have weekly,” he said.
“We’ll have a bunch of past champions, Classic winners, and 14 ,15 or more drivers in
the field weekly will have won features here. You have Otto, Doug Didero, Joe Gosek,
Greg Furlong, Tim Snyder, Joey Payne, Jerry Curran, Pat Lavery, Jeff Holbrook, Dave
McKnight, Bentley when here’s here, just right off the top of my head. I know I’m missing
some, but you get what I mean.”
“Being a fan this year is going to be great,” he exclaimed. “It’s a great value for
entertainment, and even the heat races will be exciting. By the second or third race, I
think we’ll consistently have 26 or more cars weekly. It should be a great year at the
speedway.”
Of those 26 cars Ray spoke of, one of those will have Ray’s attention, front and center.
Kody Graham, Ray’s 18 year old son, is stepping into the supermodified ring this
season, wheeling one of the family cars. Kody got his first taste behind the wheel of a
supermodified last Classic Weekend, and will be back for a bigger helping this year.
“Kody is going to run the older car,” the proud father commented. “The plan is weekly,
and we’ll see how it goes. There is no pressure on him this year, all we look for him to
do this year is have fun, get some seat time, and keep it in one piece. He’s never raced a
car before, he’s done some motocross things, but he’s never raced a car before. A
supermodified will take a couple of year. He can race the track, get into a comfort zone,
and be smooth. He’ll be fine, he’s a smart kid and has no pressure on him. He did ok
last year when he went out Classic time. By the second session he was out, he turned
like an 18.2.”
the track championship, but we’ll have to see how things go,” the 10 year supermodified
veteran added. “Consistency is what you look for, and that’s what wins races, and
titles. If you keep breaking, you can’t work on making the car go faster. You have to fix
what broke, instead of trying to find speed.”
While Graham has sights of a track championship on his radar, he knows the road to
the 2010 title wont be an easy one. “Just look at the field we’ll have weekly,” he said.
“We’ll have a bunch of past champions, Classic winners, and 14 ,15 or more drivers in
the field weekly will have won features here. You have Otto, Doug Didero, Joe Gosek,
Greg Furlong, Tim Snyder, Joey Payne, Jerry Curran, Pat Lavery, Jeff Holbrook, Dave
McKnight, Bentley when here’s here, just right off the top of my head. I know I’m missing
some, but you get what I mean.”
“Being a fan this year is going to be great,” he exclaimed. “It’s a great value for
entertainment, and even the heat races will be exciting. By the second or third race, I
think we’ll consistently have 26 or more cars weekly. It should be a great year at the
speedway.”
Of those 26 cars Ray spoke of, one of those will have Ray’s attention, front and center.
Kody Graham, Ray’s 18 year old son, is stepping into the supermodified ring this
season, wheeling one of the family cars. Kody got his first taste behind the wheel of a
supermodified last Classic Weekend, and will be back for a bigger helping this year.
“Kody is going to run the older car,” the proud father commented. “The plan is weekly,
and we’ll see how it goes. There is no pressure on him this year, all we look for him to
do this year is have fun, get some seat time, and keep it in one piece. He’s never raced a
car before, he’s done some motocross things, but he’s never raced a car before. A
supermodified will take a couple of year. He can race the track, get into a comfort zone,
and be smooth. He’ll be fine, he’s a smart kid and has no pressure on him. He did ok
last year when he went out Classic time. By the second session he was out, he turned
like an 18.2.”
Those laps had the proud father beaming. “I had more fun watching him out there than I
did racing myself, it’s a real proud moment that’s for sure.”
“I’m really looking forward to running with year with Kody,” Ray added. “We won’t
actually be racing each other for a while, but watching him through the process and
being out on the track with him will be a thrill.”
C&C Metal Fabrication, S&S Tractor Parts, AcroFab, and Mimis Mini Storage have been
the loyal sponsors for Graham Racing for years,and return on the car in 2010 as well.
Dave Iosue, Buck Graham, Frank Clavelli, Kirk Stenson, Tom Kuryla, Tom Hemphill,
Logan Stenson, Joe Clavelli, Aric Iosue, and Dave Sgarlata are the men behind the
scenes keeping the 90 in top form week in and week out.
“I can’t thank the crew and sponsors enough for all they do,” Ray added. “Without
their help and support, we wouldn’t be able to do this and have the fun that we are. All
their dedication is amazing and I can’t thank them all enough.”
“I would like to thank the fans for coming out and supporting us also. Without the fans,
there’s nothing. The stands have been getting more crowded as time goes, and it’s fun
to race with more people in the stands. The fans are a special part of Oswego
Speedway. This year should be a great year to be a fan at the track.”
Ray and Graham Racing picked up that much anticipated feature win last year at
Oswego, and look for more returns to victory lane in 2010. They also look for a more
consistent year, as well as also bringing a second generation driver into the
supermodified fold as well.
did racing myself, it’s a real proud moment that’s for sure.”
“I’m really looking forward to running with year with Kody,” Ray added. “We won’t
actually be racing each other for a while, but watching him through the process and
being out on the track with him will be a thrill.”
C&C Metal Fabrication, S&S Tractor Parts, AcroFab, and Mimis Mini Storage have been
the loyal sponsors for Graham Racing for years,and return on the car in 2010 as well.
Dave Iosue, Buck Graham, Frank Clavelli, Kirk Stenson, Tom Kuryla, Tom Hemphill,
Logan Stenson, Joe Clavelli, Aric Iosue, and Dave Sgarlata are the men behind the
scenes keeping the 90 in top form week in and week out.
“I can’t thank the crew and sponsors enough for all they do,” Ray added. “Without
their help and support, we wouldn’t be able to do this and have the fun that we are. All
their dedication is amazing and I can’t thank them all enough.”
“I would like to thank the fans for coming out and supporting us also. Without the fans,
there’s nothing. The stands have been getting more crowded as time goes, and it’s fun
to race with more people in the stands. The fans are a special part of Oswego
Speedway. This year should be a great year to be a fan at the track.”
Ray and Graham Racing picked up that much anticipated feature win last year at
Oswego, and look for more returns to victory lane in 2010. They also look for a more
consistent year, as well as also bringing a second generation driver into the
supermodified fold as well.