From J&J
McKENZIE, TN (June 30) – Winning is the name of the game in racing. The more you race the better chance you have to win. Most racers will tell you that they’d race every night if they could. Each summer the Ohio Speedweek and Pennsylvania Speedweek offer Sprint car racers just that chance. Last week, David Gravel not only picked up his first career All-Star Circuit of Champions feature win, but the 18 year-old also claimed the Ohio Speedweek title. Tim Shaffer won three times during the event, while Cory Haas, Brad Haudenschild, LeRoy Perfect, Terry Gray, Brian Herbert, Lynton Jeffrey and Ed Lynch, Jr. were also recent J&J winners.
ALL-STARS SPEEDWEEK
It was clear early in the week that 2009 All-Star champion Tim Shaffer was going to be tough to beat behind the wheel of the CH Motorsports No. 83 Kistler-powered J&J. On the second night of Speedweek last Saturday, Shaffer picked up his first checkered flag at K-C Raceway in Chillicothe, Ohio. On Thursday night at Sharon Speedway, Shaffer became the a repeat winner.
SHARON SPEEDWAY
Tim Shaffer charged from the ninth starting spot in last Thursday night’s 30-lap feature event to the win. Shaffer took advantage of a lap 12 restart and gained control behind the wheel of the CH Motorsports No. 83 J&J. He was chased by fellow J&J racer, Brandon Wimmer in Rick Ferkel’s No. 0 J&J, who ultimately finished second.
LIMALAND MOTORSPORTS PARK
David Gravel has continued to improve every race and after running out of fuel on the last last lap in the last corner while leading earlier in the Speedweek, he wasn’t about to let another one get away on Friday night. The 18 year-old was a man on mission at Limaland Motorsports Park starting from the pole. Several restarts gave the likes of Tim Shaffer chances to over take the No. 89g DDR Motorsports, P&M Transportation sponsored J&J, but Gravel was too strong all night.
“I wasn’t going to run out of fuel tonight,” said the winner. “I wasn’t going to let this one get away from me. I have to thank my crew and my dad…they have continued to work hard. We brought Rob Hart onto the team a couple of months ago and he has us going in the right direction.”
FREMONT SPEEDWAY
The finale of the nine race All-Star Speedweek was another classic at Fremont Speedway. Tim Shaffer once again was the class of the field behind the wheel of the CH Motorsports No. 83 Kistler-powered J&J. Shaffer grabbed the lead with five laps remaining to pocket the $10,000 first prize and his third triumph of the 28th annual Ohio Sprint Speedweek.
A 43rd birthday gift for himself turned out to be his 23rd career All-Star triumph. Early in the race it was Phil Gressman setting the pace in the No. 53 Ludwig Propane, Level Performance J&J. Ultimately, he finished third after a torrid battle with both Shaffer and defending Speedweek champion Stevie Smith.
“The car just kept getting better and the track came to us,” said Shaffer, following the win in the No. 83 Kistler Engines, VRP Shocks, Kistler Racing Products, Technique Roofing sponsored J&J. “I have to thank Aaron Call and Janet Holbrook, Kistler Engines, J&J Chassis and it goes on. These people stand behind us and it’s awesome and a lot of fun,” continued Shaffer in the Engine Pro Victory Lane. “Three wins this week is pretty darn good. You get greedy and want more, but this week is tough.
2010 SPEEDWEEK CHAMPION
With his fifth place finish at Fremont, Gravel captured the 2010 Ohio Sprint Speedweek Championship. In the finale at Fremont, Gravel paced the field in qualifying for the third time during the Speedweek.
“I wasn’t even dreaming about this..this is awesome. We just ran consistent nine nights in a row and even got a win (at Lima on Friday). We had four top fives this week. The crew and all the sponsors…Rob Hart has this car going consistently awesome at every track we went too,” admitted the youngster.
WILLIAMS GROVE SPEEDWAY – 358
Cory Haas put on a show in Michael Barshinger’s No. 39 J&J on Friday night at Williams Grove Speedway. Haas started 10th and worked his way into the top three with just a couple of laps in the books. Despite a track the was taking rubber, Haas was still able to dart from third to first on lap 15 and grab the lead. He led the final five laps to score his first victory of the season and 15th of his career.
SPRINTS ALASKA
Leroy Perfect led the way again in Sprints Alaska action on Friday night. Perfect raced his No. 27 J&J to victory at Mitchell Raceway in Fairbanks after also winning two heat races and the dash event.
FREMONT SPEEDWAY – 305
Brad Haudenschild came home victorious in Saturday night’s Fremont Federal Credit Union 305 wingless Sprint program. Haudenschild raced the R&B Enterprises, Vision Express backed No. 10 J&J and was involved a three-way battle early before taking control of the main event following a lap 12 restart.
“That was a blast,” said Haudenschild, following his second win. “I want to thank Rich Farmer (Fremont promoter)…I thought (the track) was beautiful. I thought I was going to lose it the last couple of laps. I was driving pretty hard.”
UNITED REBEL SPRINT SERIES
Brian Herbert won Saturday night’s United Rebel Sprint Series feature event at I-76 Speedway in Ft. Morgan, Colorado. The win was his third URSS victory in 2010 driving the No. 97 J&J.
HATTIESBURG MOTORSPORTS PARK
Terry Gray was victorious on Saturday night at Hattiesburg Motorsports Park in Mississippi. Gray piloted his familiar No. 10 J&J to score the victory.
HUSET’S SPEEDWAY
Lynton Jeffrey had just enough tire at the end to come home victorious. Jeffrey was patient early and in the end it was his No. 12 Vortex-backed J&J that crossed the start/finish line first when it mattered most. Jeffrey won Sunday night’s Outlaws sprint division feature at Huset’s Speedway.
“You’ve got to pace yourself with these tires,” said Jeffrey. “That’s how I’ve won all my races here this year. You have to save some for the end of the race.”
Fellow J&J racer Mark Dobmeier brought the Lunstra/Dobmeier No. 13L J&J home third.
PENNSYLVANIA SPEED WEEK
Ed Lynch, Jr. competed in the Ohio Speed Week and then made his way east to compete in the Pennsylvania Speed week. Lynch stormed to victory in Night #2 of the PA Speedweek at Bedford Speedway. Lynch, Jr. piloted his No. 2L J&J from the front row and led every lap to capture the victory.
OTHER RECENT WINNERS
Eddie Gallagher has picked up a pair of victories recently racing his No. 1 J&J. Gallagher won at Riverside Speedway in West Memphis, Ark. on June 12 and earlier in May picked up a victory in Atwood, Tenn.