From J&J
McKENZIE, TN (April 27) – J&J Auto Racing teams were represented well last weekend in Sprint car action across the United States. Chad Layton, Tyler Bear, Terry Gray and Mark Dobmeier all raced J&J Auto Racing Sprint cars to victory lane during a busy weekend of short track racing.
Williams Grove Speedway
Chad Layton and the Middleswarth Racing Team proved persistence does pay off on Friday night as they emerged victorious in the $6000-to-win Tommy Classic for sprint cars at Williams Grove Speedway in central Pennsylvania.
Layton piloted the No. 7 Middleswarth Potato Chips J&J from the outside front row starting position and took the race lead on lap 5 of the 30-lap race. Layton led for the next six laps until Stevie Smith raced in front of him. Layton then patiently battled fellow J&J racer and defending All-Star Circuit of Champions titlist Tim Shaffer in the CH Motorsports No. 83 Kistler powered J&J for the next dozen laps.
On lap 25, Layton continued to track down Smith and retook the lead exiting turn four. During the final four laps, Layton, Smith and Shaffer sliced and diced for the lead position with Layton ultimately coming out on top.
The victory was his first of the season and his sixth career triumph at the famous half-mile dirt oval. Shaffer concluded the evening in third, and was joined in the top-five by Doug Esh, who brought the Trone Motorsports No. 39 J&J from deep in the field to finish fifth.
Port Royal Speedway – 305
Tyler Bear scored his second Sprint car victory of the 2010 season on Saturday night racing the J&S Fabrication No. 25 J&J to victory in the 305 Sprint division at Port Royal Speedway. Bear started fourth and raced into the lead on the opening circuit. He was able to race the No. 25 J&J right through the slickest part of the track and eventually won by a straightaway.
USCS Gastonia Speedway
Terry Gray kick started 2010 with Friday’s United Sprint Car Series victory in the 30-lap USCS Outlaw Thunder Tour feature race at Carolina Speedway. Gray drove his familiar No. 10 Risolone sponsored J&J. The eight-time USCS champion started on the pole next to fellow J&J racer Lance Moss and promptly took control of the feature race. Moss stayed within striking distance for most of the race, despite battling Erin Crocker (Evernham) for second. Josh Weller raced the No. 63 J&J to a fifth place finish.
River Cities Speedway
Defending River Cities Speedway champion Mark Dobmeier started the 2010 RCS season in style by racing to victory in the 25-lap Sprint car feature event. Dobmeier raced his No. 13 Lunstra/Dobmeier J&J from the pole position and led early before exchanging the lead with Lou Kennedy, Jr. Dobmeier used lap traffic and low move through turns one and two to secure the point position.
“Sometimes, it’s a disadvantage to start on the front row because you can’t search the track,” admitted Dobmeier. “You’re stuck in what lane you think is the best. I was running the top, but Lou showed me there was a good bottom groove in Turns 1 and 2. It was a great way for us to start the year.”