Da Kine Will Rogers Competes In NASCAR K&N Pro Series West Race At Sonoma Raceway

Will Rodgers (Orange No. 40 Ford Fusion) lines up through Turn 9 for a restart behind the Sonoma Raceway Official Pace Car Toyota Camry. Image Credit: Kai Robertson (2019)

Da Kine Will Rodgers Competes In NASCAR K&N Pro Series West Race At Sonoma Raceway

Yes! You read this correctly. It doesn't happen that often but a person born in the state of Hawaii finds himself competing at the beginning rungs of high-level American motorsports competition, in the Levin Racing No. 40 Ford Fusion sponsored by Risk Management / Port of Tucson.

Third car from the front (Orange No. 40 Ford Fusion), Will Rodgers exits Turn 6, The Carousel, setting up for the long, uphill straight toward a potential passing opportunity at the right-hander at Turn 7. Image Credit: Kai Robertson (2019)

Will Rodgers, 24, shares a very memorable sounding name with a writer and cultural humorist from the first third of our last American century - Will Rogers, and although that he may posses a sense of humor & wit, Will is looking to make his mark as a race car driver ... from Maui!

While he competed a full season in the K&N Pro Series West in 2017 and finished 5th in points within a field of 14 drivers who drove every race in the season (total drivers who scored points - 64), his first and only race in the 2019 K&N Pro Series West season was at Sonoma Raceway's Procore 200.

Will Rodgers during pre-race press conference at Sonoma Raceway before the Procore 200, Will first K&N Pro Series West race of the 2019 season. Image Credit: Kai Robertson (2019)

During the Q & A Session on Saturday at Sonoma Raceway Will Rodgers was asked how is this year's track configuration different than last year. Rodgers stated, "With the carousel, one needs to be more conservative at coming down to the carousel [from Turn 4 through Turn 5], it's a huge rise getting over from the top [entering Turn 6] and when you do it right, the car stays planted; but if you do it wrong, it comes up out of the race track, you start to wheel hop and then you're trying to get it to land in the right spot."

Noah Grayson wins Procore 200 NASCAR Pro Series West at Sonoma Raceway. Image Credit: Kai Robertson (2019)

This kid could use a full-time ride, in many ways he has earned consideration - in this, his first race of the season, in an unfamiliar car, prepared for him by a new team, he qualified at P8 and finished the race advancing two positions ahead at P6.

Race Results >>>

This, in itself shows progression, especially understanding that the track Rodgers raced at and won on before was now in a new and more difficult configuration, he was additionally passed by two drivers from behind which means he actually bested four drivers in order to finish in this strong P6 in a field of 32 drivers who competed in the K&N Pro Series West Procore 200.

Will Rodgers leads a gaggle of cars through Turn 8. Image Credit: Kai Robertson (2019)

Aloha in the Hawaiian language can be understood as either Hello or Goodbye. For a car owner and sponsors who like to see a consistent top ten finish, Da Kine Will Rodgers should hear a welcomed Aloha before the end of the season because, for Will, there will not be an Aloha heard in regards to becoming a full time Kamaaina race car driver who hails originally from our 50th state - Mahalo.

... notes from The EDJE




TAGS: Hawaii, Maui, Will Rodgers, Sonoma Raceway, K&N Pro Series West, Procore 200, Levin Racing, No. 40, Ford Fusion, Risk Management, Port of Tucson, Kai Robertson, The EDJE