ROD LASKEY TRIES TO OVERCOME BAD LUCK IN TRI-CITY’S PRO STOCKS
by Brian Spaid

August 2, 2003 

                “It’s better to have bad luck than no luck at all.”

                Tell that old adage to Pro Stock driver Rod Laskey and he will counter that bad luck is the worst of all.

                On May 25, the Seneca racer finally scored his first career feature win in his third year of competition. Fans and drivers alike were thrilled to see Laskey in victory lane. The likeable, blonde-haired drill rig mechanic was living out a dream.

                “That win made it all worthwhile,” said Laskey, 27. “It was the best. The car felt right and I knew I was running good. Everything clicked right that night and the racing gods were with me.”

                After that win, however, something happened because Laskey angered racing gods and they started to frown on him. A lot.

                “I have no answer for all this bad luck since then,” said Laskey shaking his head.

                One week after his win, a heat race crash caused some damage to his Chevrolet Monte Carlo No. 1R. That was nothing compared to the hard rollover Gary Proper made in Laskey’s his car during the Pittsburgh Circle Track Club Senior Series race held later that night.

                “That crash put a lot of stress on the car.”

                That was only the beginning. Since then, Laskey has suffered various mechanical problems and was involved in a few other incidents. One night, he was racing through turn three when the entire transmission suddenly froze and was ripped from the car lying on the track in a steaming heap. A few weeks later, his engine blew.

                “That was a killer. I have to thank my boss, Rob Carbaugh, for really helping me get the car back on the track. Without his help, and the help I received from Jeff Pennewell, I wouldn’t have raced the rest of this year.”

                With all this bad luck, it begs the question why Laskey keeps on trying.

                “This is a good test. It’s been tough and aggravating. All racers go through ups and downs, and I’ll make it though this. The general public really doesn’t understand the dedication we racers and our crews have to this sport. You sacrifice weekends and nights to work on the car and go racing. You spend a lot of money to have a lot of fun.”

                Through it all, Laskey likes to talk about all the different people in his life as a racer.

                “Jason Johns and I have very similar stories. We both helped out Les Myers on his DIRT Modified crew. We both raced drag cars, then both went dirt track racing about the same time. I started in 2001, and he came out in 2002.”

                In addition to Johns, who hails from Oil City, Laskey enjoys a close friendship with two-time track champion Bobby Whitling. The “Seneca Slider” was smiling alongside Laskey in victory lane after that initial win on May 25.

                “When I first started out, Bobby told me that I had to get seat time. He convinced me to go on the road and race as much as as I could. In my first year, I started out at midseason. I ran 23 races during the last part of 2001. Seat time is what I needed and it’s still valuable.”

                Laskey’s co-workers Scotty Carbaugh of Seneca and Dick Pascorell of Franklin have also endured bad luck thoughout this season. In fact, Carbaugh became the first driver to fly out of the ballpark off turn one and land in the pond.

                “Scotty’s ready to come back out. I was actually going to be out of town last Sunday, and he was going to drive my car, but the races rained out. Scotty, Dick and I compare notes a lot, and they’re great racing friends.”

                Laskey won’t single out just those drivers either.

                “One of the best things about racing is all of the people I’ve met. When you start out racing, you hear the stories from the old-timers about fights they used to have, and it’s not like that in the Pro Stocks. We all pretty much get along. Stuff may happen on the track, but you have to shrug it off and move on. Winning was great, but I love to have a good race with another driver even if it’s just for fifth or sixth place. Running door-to-door with guys like Jason, Bobby, Scotty, Dick, Darrell Bossard and the Iorios is the best.”

                In addition, Laskey’s crewmen give him a lot of help and encouragement. They include Eric Moorehead of Seneca, Mike Micco and Mike Snyder of Oil City, and Jay Kent of Sharon. His girlfriend, Heather Quigley, and his parents, Mel and Ruth Laskey, are also supportive.

                “Those crew guys are just as dedicated to this as I am” said Laskey. “Eric’s right there working virtually every night on the car. He’ll take it out in the Mechanics Race later this season.”

                Among Laskey’s sponsors are Pennewell Sandblasting & Painting, Creekside Auto Service and Changing Times Telephone Service of Oil City, River Ridge Golf Course and R.N. Carbaugh Repair of Seneca, Randy’s Auto Sales of Dempseytown, Subway Restaurants of Seneca and Franklin, and Sehman Tire of Franklin.

                Despite all his bad luck, it is obvious that Laskey enjoys racing and the huge family of drivers, crewmen, friends and fans that gather each Sunday at Tri-City. Although he has been down a little lately, he still loves the sport and the challenges it brings. Winning his second feature will definitely make it more worthwhile.