Bucky Lasek - Pocono Race Report
First off I'd like to thank Dodge Motorsports and their Viper Cup Racing Series for giving me this wonderful racing experience. When Cindi Lux first came to me and told me about this series I was all ears and very excited to maybe get an opportunity to jump in one of these race cars. I'm a professional skateboarder with 28 years under my feet with 20 being professional and I'm also a racer at heart. I do have a shifter kart plus I've attended random track days in my personal cars along with some schools including Skip Barber and Miller Motorsports park were I first met Cindi. Racing gives me the same feeling I had when I first started skating in the sense of learning and always wanting to progress. This experience has done just that. Getting to drive a 640hp Dodge Viper ACR-X at Pocono with top speeds up to 170mph and corner speeds up to 150mph. I was truly grateful and honored to be given this rare opportunity.
When I first got to the garage area where the cars were being prepped I got to see the Lux Performance crew wrenching on the cars. Slowly I started to meet everybody along with the other celebrity driver (legend NHRA Mopar ProStock Drag racer Allen Johnson). As the ice got quickly broken with the great personalities within the whole crew we began to instantly bond.
The fellow Viper Cup racers were really cool to get to know. All of them were very gracious and welcomed me into their inner circle. The first time I drove the Viper was in the wet on Friday which got my attention quickly. But each session the car got easier and easier to drive. This concept of a “turnkey” racecar you can order from Dodge is incredible. They are so stinking fast!!!!
Prior to the race weekend even started, somebody warned me of these “special toys” that Fred Lux created. But nobody really wanted to talk about them at the track. Which then raised my curiosity even more? At one point someone said a name "The Crippler". It made no sense to me and I just carried on.
Well after a great day of practice things began to wind down. Fred pulled out these 2 Rascal looking scooters that senior citizens drive around. Well I here the crew all chuckling and giggling, at one point one said just get on it and floor it. Well, I'm no dummy and they actually wouldn't have let me (I hope) even if I tried. (They probably would have knowing them like I do know). Let me just tell you this, those things ended up doing like 60mph+. It was like watching a skilled driver with whiskey throttle on a 250 dirt bike launching from a dead stop. Fred Lux impressed the hell out of me with his skills on the Crippler and craftsmanship this entire weekend.
Cindi Lux who I cannot thank enough for the great experience and opportunity was a great coach and friend. She's the best at driving and setting the car up so it's balanced and easy to drive. Their crew made me confident that I was driving a fast yet safe car. And Gary Johnson with Dodge Motorsports was so easy going and he made my weekend even more enjoyable.
I can't forget to mention that hanging with all the other teams and drivers along with the track officials was an all time high for me as well. I ended up on podium in the last race with a 3rd place. I owe a great experience and one that I'll never forget to Lux Performance Group along with Dodge Motorsports. I think Dodge has a lot of guts to build this race car and its going to be a big hit once more people find out about it.
Once again, thanks for everything. Now back to my skateboard.
- Bucky Lasek
