From J&J
McKENZIE, TN – A trio of winners in Ohio and Pennsylvania drove J&J Auto Racing cars to the victory lane last weekend. Brian Smith started the parade Friday night with a victory at Attica Raceway Park. Defending URC champion Robbie Stillwaggon raced to victory in the URC’s event at Big Diamond Speedway, and Brandon Spithaler opened the Mercer Raceway Park schedule in style by winning the season opener for the third straight year.
ATTICA RACEWAY PARK
Brian Smith pulled off the upset last Friday night at Attica Raceway Park earning the victory in the O’Reilly Auto Parts 410 Sprint class on a Kistler Racing Products FAST (Fremont Attica Sprint Title) Championship night.
Smith raced his No. 2+ J&J past Byron Reed and Dean Jacobs with seven laps to go in the main event and then held off all the challengers during late restarts to capture his second career victory at Attica.
“I’ve raced with them guys (Byron Reed and Craig Mintz) long enough to feel like I belong there sometimes,” said Smith. “I got inside of Byron and then we came off of two and he lifted the front wheels when he picked the throttle back up, so I knew under the caution when we came back down for the green if I could take off real late his car would probably lift up and give me a little bit of a break.”
Caleb Griffith (No. 40DD J&J) raced from 12th to finish seventh, and Duane Zablocki (No. 9Z J&J) earned the Hard Charger award after racing from 19th to 11th.
URC – BIG DIAMOND
Robbie Stillwaggon put on a show Saturday night as the Rislone URC Sprint Series opened their 2013 campaign at Big Diamond Speedway. Stillwaggon started the No. 89 J&J 14th and was on a mission in the 25-lap main event. By lap six, he was into the top-five and moved into fourth by lap 13. He moved into second on lap 21 and made his move for the lead one lap later. The move was successful, and he went on to pick up his fourth career URC triumph.
MERCER RACEWAY PARK
Brandon Spithaler has a knack for the dramatic, especially in season openers at Mercer Raceway Park. Spithaler wheeled the No. 22 J&J into second and used a bold move entering turn one on the final lap to earn the victory.
“We’re three for three, I love opening night,” exclaimed Spithaler after exiting the car. “I thought that I was faster, but I didn’t know if I would be able to get by without a little help from the lapped traffic.”
Spithaler took advantage of the leader dealing with lapped traffic and took the lead on the final lap. He had to avoid a pair of lapped cars himself in the final corners in order to claim the victory.