By Nate Mink | OF THE MORNING CALL
August 2, 2009
-- At a 2007 race in Milwaukee, Kory Rabenold looked on as one of Andy Belmont Racing's drivers aborted his vehicle in the middle of a race because he felt the car was handicapping his chances to compete.
As the driver stormed off to the grandstands to watch the race with his parents, Belmont assumed his racing team's day was finished.
Then, Rabenold, of Slatington, a family friend of Belmont and racing competitor, hopped in and strapped up.
''Kory got in it just to prove a point,'' Belmont said. ''The car was wounded. He went a half second faster, and I'm like, OK. Kory's a pretty good kid. He listens well. He works hard. He wasn't born with a silver spoon in his mouth.'' He finished the race 27th as a relief driver.
Now two years later, the 20-year-old Rabenold is racing for Belmont again. Four weeks ago, the 2007 Northern Lehigh grad was asked to race for Belmont for the remainder of the racing season while he tries to attract sponsors that will enable him to race a full schedule next year with his family-owned Rabenold Racing.
Belmont, who's race team is based out of Mooresville, N.C., looked for simple qualifications when searching for a driver to close out the year -- someone who embraced the opportunity and is not bitter they're not driving an A-car with an A-motor.
One name stood out.
''He's the only person I would even consider,'' Belmont said.
''My phone rang, and I couldn't believe it,'' Rabenold said. ''How many times do you get a phone call like that for that big an opportunity?''
It was a no-brainer for Rabenold to hop on board with Belmont.
Rabenold's father's self-built business, Buzzy's Auto Body, was putting out a lower performance car -- Rabenold called it a steady top-20 car -- leaving him at a disadvantage at each track.
''If I can get a little sponsorship money and get better stuff I know I can do a lot better,'' Rabenold said. He finished 16th Saturday at the Pennsylvania ARCA 200.
As it is, though, he has to earn his finishes with technique rather than horsepower.
''When you don't have it as good as the other guys, you gotta make sure your line is perfect and when to lift out on that gas and on the brake,'' Rabenold said. ''Sometimes you gotta run it in deeper into the turn because you gotta pull the motor up off. These other guys don't have to do that. They can ease into the turn, and out of it, they're gonna be fast anyway.''
A lower budget vehicle hasn't kept him out victory lane, however.
In just three years, he went from a 13-year-old rookie of the year in the four-cylinder division at Mahoning Speedway to points champion.
In 2007, he competed in four ARCA races, with his two best finishes, a 12th and 16th, coming at the ''Tricky Triangle'' at Pocono.
Saturday, Rabenold made his 2009 Pocono debut because lacking sponsorship funds kept him home back in June, the last time the ARCA series was in town.
When he's not in the car, Rabenold works at his father's business, a possible job option if a racing career fails to materialize.
''I always said don't worry about it, there's always next year,'' Kory's father, ''Buzzy'', said about Kory having to sit out. ''Yeah, he might've been a little disappointed, but you'd never know it.''
Optimism is high interest will be shown in 2010. Until then, Rabenold will travel the country in the No. 14 car, always appreciative he even has a car to drive, even though it's middle-of-the-pack.
August 2, 2009
-- At a 2007 race in Milwaukee, Kory Rabenold looked on as one of Andy Belmont Racing's drivers aborted his vehicle in the middle of a race because he felt the car was handicapping his chances to compete.
As the driver stormed off to the grandstands to watch the race with his parents, Belmont assumed his racing team's day was finished.
Then, Rabenold, of Slatington, a family friend of Belmont and racing competitor, hopped in and strapped up.
''Kory got in it just to prove a point,'' Belmont said. ''The car was wounded. He went a half second faster, and I'm like, OK. Kory's a pretty good kid. He listens well. He works hard. He wasn't born with a silver spoon in his mouth.'' He finished the race 27th as a relief driver.
Now two years later, the 20-year-old Rabenold is racing for Belmont again. Four weeks ago, the 2007 Northern Lehigh grad was asked to race for Belmont for the remainder of the racing season while he tries to attract sponsors that will enable him to race a full schedule next year with his family-owned Rabenold Racing.
Belmont, who's race team is based out of Mooresville, N.C., looked for simple qualifications when searching for a driver to close out the year -- someone who embraced the opportunity and is not bitter they're not driving an A-car with an A-motor.
One name stood out.
''He's the only person I would even consider,'' Belmont said.
''My phone rang, and I couldn't believe it,'' Rabenold said. ''How many times do you get a phone call like that for that big an opportunity?''
It was a no-brainer for Rabenold to hop on board with Belmont.
Rabenold's father's self-built business, Buzzy's Auto Body, was putting out a lower performance car -- Rabenold called it a steady top-20 car -- leaving him at a disadvantage at each track.
''If I can get a little sponsorship money and get better stuff I know I can do a lot better,'' Rabenold said. He finished 16th Saturday at the Pennsylvania ARCA 200.
As it is, though, he has to earn his finishes with technique rather than horsepower.
''When you don't have it as good as the other guys, you gotta make sure your line is perfect and when to lift out on that gas and on the brake,'' Rabenold said. ''Sometimes you gotta run it in deeper into the turn because you gotta pull the motor up off. These other guys don't have to do that. They can ease into the turn, and out of it, they're gonna be fast anyway.''
A lower budget vehicle hasn't kept him out victory lane, however.
In just three years, he went from a 13-year-old rookie of the year in the four-cylinder division at Mahoning Speedway to points champion.
In 2007, he competed in four ARCA races, with his two best finishes, a 12th and 16th, coming at the ''Tricky Triangle'' at Pocono.
Saturday, Rabenold made his 2009 Pocono debut because lacking sponsorship funds kept him home back in June, the last time the ARCA series was in town.
When he's not in the car, Rabenold works at his father's business, a possible job option if a racing career fails to materialize.
''I always said don't worry about it, there's always next year,'' Kory's father, ''Buzzy'', said about Kory having to sit out. ''Yeah, he might've been a little disappointed, but you'd never know it.''
Optimism is high interest will be shown in 2010. Until then, Rabenold will travel the country in the No. 14 car, always appreciative he even has a car to drive, even though it's middle-of-the-pack.