5/28/2025
Kody Hartlaub
Hartlaub Working on Mental Game to Reach Next Level
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
York Haven, PA – May 28, 2025
by Addicted2Dirt PR & Media Mgmt
Image Credit: Jeremy Zarfos / WRT Speedwerx
In recent years, Kody Hartlaub has made a pretty regular habit of getting better as the race night goes on. It was never a surprise to see him pass five or ten cars in an A-main to salvage a night that got off on the wrong foot in qualifying.
This season has been the opposite for the East Berlin, PA driver. He has had a good car and been on his game early in the night, logging good qualifying efforts, including his first overall quick time at Lincoln Speedway.
So, how does the driver of the Brewer Home Improvements, J Fuels, Bigham Appraisal, Moose Blocks, Griffith Plumbing Services, T&N Solutions No.95 explain the contrast to past seasons?
QUICK RESULTS:
Date/Location: April 27, 2025 / BAPS Motor Speedway, York Haven, PA
Stats: Group 4 Qualifying 1st, Heat 3rd (4), A-main 9th (5)
Date/Location: May 7, 2025 / Lincoln Speedway, Abbottstown, PA
Stats: Group A Qualifying 8th, Heat 5th (4), A-main 22nd (19)
Date/Location: May 10, 2025 / Williams Grove Speedway, Mechanicsburg, PA
Stats: Group B Qualifying 10th, Heat 7th (5), B-main 12th (8)
Date/Location: May 17, 2025 / Lincoln Speedway, Abbottstown, PA
Stats: Qualifying 1st, Heat 8th (4), A-main DNF 24th (19)
Date/Location: May 18, 2025 / BAPS Motor Speedway, York Haven, PA
Stats: Group 4 Qualifying 3rd, Heat DNF 9th (2), B-main 9th (17)
Date/Location: May 23, 2025 / Williams Grove Speedway, Mechanicsburg, PA
Stats: Group B Qualifying 6th, Heat 3rd (2), B-main 9th (12)
“The problem has mostly been the driver.”, Hartlaub said.
His face wore a grin, but he was quite serious.
“The guys are giving me a great car. I need to get myself to a place where I’m as good as the car. I have really been working on the mental side of the game. Fans probably don’t realize how big that part of it is.”, Hartlaub added.
Hartlaub has had conversations with veteran Danny Dietrich about the mental approach to sprint car racing. Among other things, they discussed thinking two laps ahead, setting up moves, and when to be aggressive.
The bottom line: the driver is still a huge part of this sport.
Sure, equipment matters. It’s true everyone has mostly the same stuff to race with and that setup knowledge is important. That said, a perfect car is still only as good as the driver at the wheel.
“We have been good early whether the track is heavy or slick. It was really cool to get my first quick time but then we got hit in the heat race and ended up starting in the back of the feature.”, Hartlaub shared.
“We know we have a fast car. We just need to put a full night together. That means making the right adjustments on the car and it means me being better in the seat.”
OUTLAW SWING
Hartlaub qualified for the World of Outlaws A-main at Lincoln Speedway but fell short of making the field at Williams Grove.
“I should have been more aggressive at Lincoln in the feature. With the competition at that level, you have to be on all the time.”, Hartlaub said.
“We were disappointed to miss the show at Williams Grove. The track was a little different than normal at the start of the night, and we overreacted. We made changes early that we shouldn’t have. We need to get better at thinking ahead and not being reactive. That’s as true in the pits as it is behind the wheel.”
THE INCIDENT
One night after setting quick time at Lincoln, Hartlaub had another good night going at BAPS Motor Speedway. He qualified 3rd in his group and was running 2nd in his heat race when his battle for that spot with Aaron Reutzel came to an abrupt end.
Reutzel was passing Hartlaub on the high side coming off turn four at the halfway point of the heat race when he made a hard left, creating contact and causing Hartlaub’s No.95 to spin.
Reutzel was penalized and sent to the rear of the field for the move. Hartlaub showed his displeasure with the Texas driver for the move.
“I’m not proud of what I did there in the heat of the moment.”, Hartlaub said.
“It’s not an excuse, but it is frustrating when we work so hard and it’s taken away by a move like that. I needed to win that heat to get in the redraw, so I was racing hard to get to the front. I do appreciate the officials at BAPS (Motor Speedway) for making the call right away.”
To ‘add insult to injury’ as the saying goes, the team’s truck that tows their race rig lost an engine on the way home that night.
UP NEXT
Hartlaub will be back in action Saturday, May 31st, at Lincoln Speedway’s Steve Smith Tribute race.
ABOUT KODY HARTLAUB
Kody started racing go-karts in 2005. Over five seasons he won championships at Hunterstown and Shippensburg, and finished 2nd in the PA State series. Following the 2009 season, he moved up to race 600 micro sprints on a limited basis, but then spent a few years away from the sport. In late 2015 Kody tested in a 358 sprint car and started a partial schedule in 2016. In 2018, he raced the majority of the season but then sat out again in 2019. He returned to 358 sprints in 2020 on a very limited schedule, then in 2021 he was able to complete his first full season at Lincoln Speedway.
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
2024 410 Sprint car rookie of the year at Williams grove and lincoln speedways
2023 Lincoln Speedway 358 Sprint car champion, including 3 victories
2022 358 sprint car Rookie of the Year at Williams Grove Speedway
2022: 2nd in Lincoln Speedway & SUMMER SERIES 358 sprint car points
2022: 5th in Williams Grove Speedway 358 sprint car points
2021: first career 358 sprint car victory (Lincoln Speedway)
Follow Kody’s season:
Website: KodyHartlaub.com
Facebook: Kody Hartlaub Racing
X (Twitter): @KodyHartlaub
THANKS TO OUR 2025 PARTNERS!
Brewer Home Improvements
J Fuels
Bigham Appraisal
Moose Blocks
Griffith Plumbing Services
T&N Solutions
SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
Sponsorship opportunities with NinetyFive Motorsports are available for the 2025 season! Email us at Hartlaub.Kody@gmail.com.
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