Kendell Lopez Begins the 2010 Season with a Podium
Friday, April 2, 2010
Friday, April 2, 2010
It's been a long and busy winter for the Independence, Mo native Kendell Lopez, but last weekend the season began on the fast Toyota Speedway at Irwindale. Kendell, just getting off her rookie season and moving into her second season, qualified 4th quick out of the ten S-2 cars that entered on the 27th of March, 2010 and finished third behind two champions, Rod Johnson, Jr. and Travis Thirkettle.
"It was so amazing getting back behind the wheel in these S-2's," exclaims Kendell. "We came to the track earlier on Thursday and the High Point Racing team was able to rent the track for a team practice. That certainly helped, but as soon as I strapped in the car for the first time this year, it was like I never left!"
Kendell had the opportunity for a Thursday practice in her High Point Racing Rent Your Ride #59 S-2, and it certainly helped her get her line back and ready for the race on Saturday. "My spotter Steve (Mason) really helped me work through some of the rookie drivers on the racetrack," explains Kendell, "There were a couple close calls in the practice runs, but we made through it and kept the car straight for Saturday!"
Kendell qualified to start on the inside of row number 3 for the start of the 2010 S-2 season opener and right off the start she was making it three wide with the two leaders. The two champions, Rod Johnson, Jr. and Travis Thirkettle battled just ahead of Kendell throughout the main event and Lopez held tight and managed a podium finish by the time the checkered flag threw.
Kendell's last race before this past weekend was on the 6th of November in 2009 at an exhibition race in Las Vegas where she qualified on the pole and capped off the evening with a top five finish. She ended the 2009 season third in points in her rookie season in the Langers S-2 Series with six top five finishes out of the eight races she entered and her lowest finish was only sixth.
There have been a lot of changes for the 19 year old Latina that happened throughout the off season, and one of the biggest changes is that you will see Kendell driving on both sides of the U.S.! Throughout the off season, Kendell signed on with MPM Marketing and was then signed by Mays Motorsports based out of Georgia. Kendell will be driving the #14 Pro All Stars Series Late Model, a super late model touring series that covers the east coast.
"We are very excited going into this season," says Kendell. "We have a lot of great people behind us this year and I am more than determined to make a name for myself in the Pro All Star Series on the east coast."
Kendell has proved that she is a very quick learner throughout her rookie season of 2009, and even though there is going to be a transitional period going into the Late Model series on the East Coast, Lopez will be ready and open to learn from the team to make her faster and faster week in and week out.
Fast Facts on the Weekend:
- Kendell started out the first race of the year qualifying 4th and finishing on the podium.
- Due to some rule changes in the S-2 Class, Kendell will be going into the April 10th event at Toyota Speedway on the top of the points chase.
The next race on the schedule is coming up on April 10th so be sure to follow Lopez and her amazing accomplishments as a driver in the Langers S2 Sportsman's via her official website, www.kendelllopezracing.com. While at the website, be sure to sign the guestbook to let young Kendell know that you stopped by.
Special Thanks To: Rent Your Ride (www.rentyourride.com, Rocking L Ranch, MPM Marketing (www. marketwithmpm.com), Aviation Fuel Depot, High Point Racing (www.highpointracing.com), Racecar Factory, Racing Plus (www.racingplus.com) and Aviation Fuel Depot.
"It was so amazing getting back behind the wheel in these S-2's," exclaims Kendell. "We came to the track earlier on Thursday and the High Point Racing team was able to rent the track for a team practice. That certainly helped, but as soon as I strapped in the car for the first time this year, it was like I never left!"
Kendell had the opportunity for a Thursday practice in her High Point Racing Rent Your Ride #59 S-2, and it certainly helped her get her line back and ready for the race on Saturday. "My spotter Steve (Mason) really helped me work through some of the rookie drivers on the racetrack," explains Kendell, "There were a couple close calls in the practice runs, but we made through it and kept the car straight for Saturday!"
Kendell qualified to start on the inside of row number 3 for the start of the 2010 S-2 season opener and right off the start she was making it three wide with the two leaders. The two champions, Rod Johnson, Jr. and Travis Thirkettle battled just ahead of Kendell throughout the main event and Lopez held tight and managed a podium finish by the time the checkered flag threw.
Kendell's last race before this past weekend was on the 6th of November in 2009 at an exhibition race in Las Vegas where she qualified on the pole and capped off the evening with a top five finish. She ended the 2009 season third in points in her rookie season in the Langers S-2 Series with six top five finishes out of the eight races she entered and her lowest finish was only sixth.
There have been a lot of changes for the 19 year old Latina that happened throughout the off season, and one of the biggest changes is that you will see Kendell driving on both sides of the U.S.! Throughout the off season, Kendell signed on with MPM Marketing and was then signed by Mays Motorsports based out of Georgia. Kendell will be driving the #14 Pro All Stars Series Late Model, a super late model touring series that covers the east coast.
"We are very excited going into this season," says Kendell. "We have a lot of great people behind us this year and I am more than determined to make a name for myself in the Pro All Star Series on the east coast."
Kendell has proved that she is a very quick learner throughout her rookie season of 2009, and even though there is going to be a transitional period going into the Late Model series on the East Coast, Lopez will be ready and open to learn from the team to make her faster and faster week in and week out.
Fast Facts on the Weekend:
- Kendell started out the first race of the year qualifying 4th and finishing on the podium.
- Due to some rule changes in the S-2 Class, Kendell will be going into the April 10th event at Toyota Speedway on the top of the points chase.
The next race on the schedule is coming up on April 10th so be sure to follow Lopez and her amazing accomplishments as a driver in the Langers S2 Sportsman's via her official website, www.kendelllopezracing.com. While at the website, be sure to sign the guestbook to let young Kendell know that you stopped by.
Special Thanks To: Rent Your Ride (www.rentyourride.com, Rocking L Ranch, MPM Marketing (www. marketwithmpm.com), Aviation Fuel Depot, High Point Racing (www.highpointracing.com), Racecar Factory, Racing Plus (www.racingplus.com) and Aviation Fuel Depot.