Fan Friendly Modified Driver Calling Albany-Saratoga & Lebanon Valley Speedway
Story By:Rob Hazor/Albany Saratoga Speedway PR
Photos By:Dave Dalesandro/Racersguide.com
Malta NY…. Elmo Reckner has been pounding the dirt behind the wheel of racecars since 1979. The Ballston Lake, NY driver has come quite a ways since his championship Hobby Stock days now driving his familiar number 17 Modified around the Capital Region weekly. Elmo Reckner Motorsports will return to Albany-Saratoga and Lebanon Valley Speedway in 2016 for weekly competition.
It takes some drivers years to visit victory lane in the Modified division, however after moving up from Sportsman in 2005, Reckner claimed victory one season later for his first career Big Block win at Albany-Saratoga Speedway in 2006. Since then he’s spent a majority of his seasons calling the ‘great race place’ home on Friday nights competing against talented peers on the 4/10-mile clay oval.
Reckner finished 9th in final points respectively at Malta including multiple top five finishes. Despite missing out on victory lane in 2015, he’s ready to hit the track running with the Troyer Race Car. Some new Penske Shocks along with a newly freshened Walt Market big block should keep Reckner in the hunt for a win during the summer months.
“Albany-Saratoga is right in our back yard and after a hard days work on Friday night it’s nice to unwind close to home with great racing and great people,” said Elmo Reckner
He continued saying, “We’re excited to get back to the track in the spring and see if we can put the Wendy’s Troyer Race Car in victory lane at Albany-Saratoga. They treat us well, it’s a great environment, and we’re happy to be part of the action.”
If Reckner was running for President of Modified racing he might use the slogan “Let’s make big blocks great again.” Lebanon Valley was a learning curve for Elmo Reckner in 2015. By seasons end he had found a rhythm on the high banks, but admittedly needed more horsepower. The team had spent a majority of the season trying to work out the kinks in the LS7 Spec Big Block program, but struggled to find enough speed to keep them competitive.
During this off-season Reckner has bulked up his big block program after acquiring a Performance Tech power plant. And 18-degree beast with all the good stuff cost a bit more, but increased the teams Lebanon Valley program 10 fold. Upgrading the engine package for Lebanon wasn’t the only change for Reckner and team, as he also has purchased a new Bicknell Racing Chassis for the high banks.
Elmo plans to toss a new Penske shock package on, strap in, and be in the hunt come spring for some more top 10 finishes. His goal is to finish more laps at Lebanon than he did in 2015, reduce the DNF’s, and if the opportunity presents itself make a visit to victory lane. The team and its driver are still learning at the valley of speed, but posses the tools to get the job done.
“We still have a lot to learn at Lebanon Valley. It’s going to take some more adjusting and fine-tuning, but we aren’t afraid of the challenge. We’ll get after it each week and hopefully have some good results this season to show for it,” said Reckner.
Elmo Reckner Motorsports thanks the fans for the continued support and looks forward to seeing everyone at the track. Reckner also gave special thanks to Walt Market and Dave Hunt for their continued help in maintaining the engine program, Carbs By James for fine tuning the carburetor, Dick Hicks from HICO Fabrication for keeping the gear up to par, Dave Reedy from Penske shocks.
He also gave praise and thanks to his sponsors; Wendy’s, The Glass Man, Holmes Excavation, Elmo’s Auto Body, and Elmo’s Speed & Supply. Elmo then gave thanks to his crew for their tireless efforts in keeping the two-car team going. Crew chief Adam Gross, Chris Reckner, Tom Martin, James Venditti, and all those that help when they can. A final thanks to the employee’s of Elmo’s Auto Body and Elmo’s Speed & Supply for helping make things run smoothly.
When the season begins in 2016 fans of Albany-Saratoga and Lebanon Valley can rely on seeing another friendly face in the crowd with Elmo Reckner on hand. He truly is one of the nice guys in dirt track racing, which adds to the already positive atmosphere surrounding the great race place.
More info about Elmo Reckner Motorsports online at www.elmosspeedandsupply.com or Facebook at www.facebook.com/elmorecknermotorsports.
Info about Albany-Saratoga Speedway can be found online at www.albany-saratogaspeedway.com, Facebook at www.facebook.com/Albany-Saratoga-Speedway, on Twitter, and on Instagram.
Lebanon Valley Speedway info can be found online at www.lebanonvalley.com, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/lebanonvalleyspeedway, and on Twitter.
