RPW Exclusive: All Starts With Practice: HBR & Jimmy Phelps Help DIG Race Products Get Ready For ’24

Column By: BOBBY CHALMERS / RPW – LAKE CITY, FL – While most Dirt Modifieds teams were either driving home to the Northeast after competing in the Short Track Super Series’ Sunshine Swing or heading south in preparation of the slate of events during the DIRTcar Nationals, two teams and one parts manufacturer were hard at work Sunday in Lake City, FL, improving their equipment for the 2024 season.

How were they doing that? We’re talking about practice.

DIG Race Products rented the All-Tech Raceway for the day to test out a few things for this coming racing campaign.

The two teams that took part in the test were runner-up in Modified points at Lernerville Speedway for 2023, Garrett Krummert, as well as Jimmy Phelps, third place in last year’s Super DIRTcar Series points.

For Phelps, it was a very productive day.

“The test went well for all of us,” Phelps said. “We did some work with the guys from DIG and it helped knock some of the rust off this driver. It was definitely worth the stop.”

The “Baldwinsville Bandit” enjoyed success in his HBR #98H in 2023, including a runner-up finish to Matt Sheppard in the final race at the Dirt Track at Charlotte, so he’s hoping to keep the momentum rolling into ’24.

“We have been working hard in the shop to get things ready so we can hopefully be quick right out of the box,” he said. “Here at All-Tech helped us see if some of that stuff might work.”

What was the plan for Phelps and company?

“We were trying some of the stuff that DIG has been working on to get their teams better as well as our car,” he said. “It also helped us scuff some tires for Volusia this week so we can be a little ahead of the game.”

After a night of practice and then four-straight nights of racing for the Short Track Super Series, the All-Tech Raceway presented a challenging surface for the two drivers, but played right into everyone’s agenda.

“It was pretty hard and slick from last night (Saturday’s STSS racing),” Phelps said. “However, it was just fine for what we all of us were looking to do.”

For the HBR team, working with Brandon & Dale Planck and DIG Race Products has helped to improve the team’s performance and Phelps believes things are only going to get better.

“The Planck’s and DIG Shocks are a huge part of our efforts at HBR,” he said. “They continue to strive to help their customers succeed and it’s important to our program to be part of that development.”