Jason Hentrich Joining NEMA Midget Field in 2014
Reigning Borgers Speedway 600 Dirt Micro Sprint champion Jason Hentrich of Willow Grove, PA will be moving up to the Northeastern Midget Association (NEMA) Midgets in 2014. “We are really looking forward to it, Hentrich said. “This has been something we had always wanted to do. We just came off a successful season in asphalt Micros so we decided that it was time to try it.”
Hentrich has driven for two seasons at Borgers Speedway, a 1/7 mile paved oval in Saylorsburg, PA. Hentrich described the track as “absolutely perfect for TQ Midgets and Micros.” Hentrich found success at Borgers: nine wins in the last year and a half, including seven wins and the 600 Micro championship this season. “We ran 25 races; every one of them was in the top three. I had only one DNF this season. We were pleased with everything, and about a month ago we were giving an opportunity to buy someone’s USAC program out.”
Hentrich sold his Hyper asphalt car and purchased two Midgets from a USAC national Midget team. He will drive the #67 for his father, Larry Hentrich, with a new Ford Esslinger powerplant. Hentrich will retain all of his current sponsors: Hyper Racing, NPS Racing Engines, Bitner Automotive, Keizer Wheels, and Hoosier Tire Mid Atlantic. Beast Chassis and Esslinger Engines will join the new venture.
Hentrich plans to run at least 10 NEMA races, while running Borgers when time permits. Hentrich estimates that he will make a minimum of 20 starts in the new asphalt/dirt Hyper. Hentrich’s paint scheme honors USAC racer Keith Kunz. “I ended up becoming friends with a guy who worked for him so our cars were done similar to his and we kind of stuck with it.”
“The biggest goals for us are to finish races, learn from every practice, heat and feature, and just try to progress forward. If we happen to have some success then we will try to race for the Rookie of the Year with NEMA, but we will just take it one race at time.”
Originally a dirt track racer, began his driving career in 2006 at Bridgeport Speedway in Swedesboro, NJ driving for a friend. The next year Hentrich bought his own car and raced weekly at Bridgeport. He later expanded to Greenwood Valley, along with one-offs at Airport and Linda’s. He next raced TQ Midgets in the ATQMRA before the father and son team was formed. “I never raced Quarter Midgets because honestly we just didn’t have the time because dad always had Midgets… but it wasn’t till about two years ago when my dad and I teamed up together and got serious.”
Jason Hentrich’s father Larry has been involved with ARDC and NEMA Midgets since the early 1970s. “He has been a car owner and mostly a crew chief, but has worked with so many really great drivers like Doug Craig, Billy Hughes, Lou Cicconi, Jan Opperman, Van May, Pancho and Dana Carter, Phil DiMario”
“It’s nice working with my dad because he can read a car as I feel what it’s doing and a lot of times we don’t have to say too much … he already knows what’s got to be done by the time I come into the pits. As a team we have good chemistry, because they all have been together for so long. … My crew is seasoned. We have five guys and all have them have been with my dad for 15 to 25 years. They are a great group of guys, and have been with my dad since the 1980s.”
“As I grew up I learned at a very young age about Midget racing, about being disciplined and the purpose of preparing race cars during the week at the shop. Through my teenage years, while working on Midgets, I studied drivers like Doug Craig, Billy Hughes, Phil DiMario, and Lou Cicconi, and once I got started Lou Cicconi, and Phil were a huge help, getting me going. I still have a lot to learn and it’s nice because when I have a question I can call either one and they always point me in the right direction.”
Once again, Bertrand Motorsports has been instrumental in welcoming another team to NEMA.
“It should be a busy year next year. I’ve been really thankful for Tim Bertrand and his entire family. He is a big part of this helping us get things going too. … Tim has helped us with motor questions and made the connection for us with Esslinger. We discussed which chassis to go with and what to look for. He has been a huge help for us.”
Sources: Nicholas Teto/YankeeRacer.com