SRL Top 10 Countdown, Schlick
Schlick began the season with nothing but question marks. After driving for successful car owner Dave Reed, for four events in 2016, Ricky and his father Howard Schlick decided to take up the car owner role, and purchase the car of 2016 championship runner-up Ryan Cansdale. With the final purchase only a month before the season’s inception, it left little time to assemble the team, and make preparations for the highly competitive series.
But right out of the gate, the team showed promise by finishing seventh, second and fourth, ranking fourth in the championship standings. A suspension failure, at Madera Speedway, set the team back with a 19th place finish. Schlick rebounded, however, with a fourth place effort at the Irwindale Event Center, his home track, and then his $10,000 win at Rocky Mountain Raceway in West Valley, UT. The win came in a combination race with the Northwest Super Late Model Series, and additional championship drivers from Colorado National Speedway.
Another top 10 finish, at Tucson Speedway, found Schlick entering race number eight, at Kern County Raceway, within striking range of the championship. A blistered tire at the halfway mark, ended those championship hopes, however, and cost the team two laps and an eventual 20th place result. Despite the setback, Schlick finished the season strong, in the tight battle for second, by coming home fourth in the season finale at the Bullring at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
“I felt really good about our results last year”, Schlick told the SPEARS SRL Southwest Tour Series. “It brings a lot of confidence to my team and I, to be contenders for wins and even for the championship last year. I definitely didn’t expect to be as good as we were our rookie year, with all the Super Late Model stuff being relatively new to me.”
Looking ahead to 2018, Schlick is optimistic that he will continue his success, and expects to improve upon last season. He will be bringing back the same perimeter car that he drove last season, with a few improvements from Crew Chief Rj Johnson.
“My Crew Chief, R.J. Johnson, has worked hard this off-season, with our number 48 machine, and he is ready for Madera”, Schlick commented. “I learned a lot this past season, and I am ready to take that knowledge and experience into this season. I feel it will make us even more competitive.”
Ricky Schlick is proudly supported by S&J Towing, Racing 4 Rachel, Ricky Schlick Racing, OC Autism, Autism Speaks, Air Hollywood, Supra Footwear and Swifty Springs. On March 31st, several of Ricky’s sponsors will come together to support Racing 4 Rachel, named for Ricky’s sister with autism. Air Hollywood, owned by Talaat Captan, and Ricky Schlick Racing will partner together to raise money and bring awareness to autism through a very special event.
Air Hollywood is the largest aviation film studio in the world, featuring the filming of movies, commercials, T.V. shows, music videos and feature films. Any films where you see airplane, or airport scenes, it is most likely filmed on their sites. Air Hollywood also hosts elaborate dinner gatherings, featuring the “Pan Am” experience. Customers are served dinner on a 747, with Pan Am Stewards and Stewardesses set in the 1970’s genre. They also host “Open Sky for Autism” where individuals with autism are afforded the opportunity to experience everything associated with air travel, to help them prepare for a real world flight. This is all done free of charge and includes a complimentary meal.
On March 31, Air Hollywood and Ricky Schlick Racing will create a short version of the “Pan Am” experience, for those who would purchase a ticket to support Racing 4 Rachael. The experience will include a tour of the aviation themed Air Hollywood film studio, located in San Fernando, CA. In addition it will involve an opportunity for supporters to get on the plane, take pictures, and partake of beer, wine and hors d’oeuvrers. All information about tickets, prices and times should be posted shortly, at either the Air Hollywood or OC Autism websites.
One week prior, on March 24th, Ricky will open the SPEARS Southwest Tour Series season at Madera Speedway. Schlick will look to bounce back from last year’s mechanical failure, at the facility, and get his potential championship effort, off to a fast start. If last year was any indication, Schlick will be tough to beat in 2018.
