With a New Chassis and Renewed Intensity, Gates Has Come Out of the Corner Swining in 2016 at Fonda Speedway
Story and Photos By: MATT NOLES / RACERSGUIDE.COM
SPRAKERS, NY- May 25, 2016- More often than not, those who don’t yet understand ask why where others who do understand ask why not.
Kenny Gates has spent his entire racing career surrounded by four fenders. It doesn’t really stand to wonder why the multi-time Fonda Speedway pro-stock champion has become the most successful driver in the history of the division. It also doesn’t stand to wonder why he remains one of the top threats week in and week out either. After all, when you’ve seen a thing or two, you know what decision to make and when to make it.
The thing about Gates is this; he’s quite possibly the most neutral and level person in the pit area at any race track he frequents. He doesn’t have anything to prove to anybody; not to drivers or fans, friends or foes, he just has to be. Though the aforementioned statement is true, he’s certainly proving one thing thus far into the 2016 season; his career is far from being over.
Through the first four weeks of competition at the Fonda Speedway in Fonda, New York Gates has finished no worse than second. This past Saturday, the West Winfield, New York native came up through the field with a vengeance to take his third consecutive feature win at the historic Montgomery County oval.
For Gates, the decision to change chassis manufacturers over the off-season has proven to be the correct one and the on-track results prove that the judgment of the wily four-fendered veteran is more than sound; it’s almost prophetic.
“There was a little stress walking into this season with a new chassis,” said Gates after his victory Saturday night. “But I’ve been running against these Jacr Chassis’ for years and I know that Andy [Ryder] builds a good car so I wasn’t really that nervous about it.”
For years, and certainly by choice, Gates found success behind the wheel of his HRD Chassis. A car, though outdated by today’s standards, that Gates had won every title in including last year’s Fonda triumph. However attached he had become to ‘Old Faithful,’ Gates understood that he had to make a change or else he’d be left behind by his competition.
“These new cars are so much lighter than my old one,” continued Gates. “You can put the weight where you want to and I knew I needed one to keep up with everybody else.” The driver of the familiar No. 35 pro-stock has quickly gone from one end of the spectrum to the other. Where he was concerned with keeping up with his competition last season, thus far in 2016 it seems like his competition is becoming concerned with keeping up with him; my how the tables have turned.
“I knew we were going to win in this car as soon as we went out for practice,” said Gates of his pre-season test sessions. “We were the fastest car in the second and third practice session here at Fonda and we didn’t even bother going out for the last one. I knew there wasn’t much more I could do to it; the car is just that good.”
In all reality, Gates should have won all four features this year at ‘The Track of Champions,’ but unfamiliarity with the new car led him to a runner-up finish instead. “I actually took the lead and led a bunch of laps the first night out,” continued Gates. “But as the race went on the car just kept on getting looser and looser and I got passed.”
After losing only one race, Gates and his team made a few adjustments and the car has been nearly perfect ever since. “We’ve been lucky enough to get three-in-a-row,” stated Gates. “This car is just really, really good.”
One victory does not make a winning streak and in all reality, neither does two; but to win three straight, that usually signals the start of a dominating season. “Tonight was the night that proved we have something good going on here,” Gates said. “It was the first night that I had to start further back in the feature and I was a little nervous going into this week because I had to start mid-pack and work my way to the front in 20-laps.”
If Saturday night was a final exam for Gates, he aced it easily. “I could put the car anywhere I wanted to tonight,” Gates stated. “It’s doing what I want it to do and handling really well. Andy Ryder built a great chassis and it has it all; good side bite, good forward bite and it’s making me look good.”
Winning three consecutive features often leaves a successful driver with an annoying feeling of having a target on his or her back. Gates is no different in this respect. “We’re running really, really well right now so you figure that the competition is going to have to try something different,” said Gates. “There might be a little bit of rubbing fenders the next time I come up through the field but that’s racing and we’ll just deal with it as it comes.”
With the second month of the season quickly coming to an end, Gates is looking for more of the same as far as results are concerned. “If we start getting booed in victory lane, then we’ll really know we’re on to something,” concluded Gates with a chuckle. “If you get booed for winning too much at Fonda, well, then you know you’ve done something.”
Matt Noles is a contributing writer for Racer’s Guide and Speedway Illustrated. He currently resides in Sprakers, New York.
