From J&J
McKENZIE, TN (Jan. 19) – It was another solid week for J&J Auto Racing in International Sprint car competition. Ricky Logan broke through to win the Auckland Championship in New Zealand, while Donny Schatz won his third straight Sprint car feature in Sydney. Jamie Maiolo was victorious in western Australia for the second consecutive week. Meanwhile, the awards continue to come in for CH Motorsports following their incredible 2010 season. Last week, the team was recognized by the National Sprint Car Poll as 2010 Team of the Year.
AUCKLAND CHAMPIONSHIP
Ricky Logan scored a thrilling win in Saturday night’s Auckland Championship at Springs Speedway in Western Springs, New Zealand. Logan raced Keith “Simbo” Simpson’s No. 10 Lucas Oil-backed J&J to victory, making a dramatic pass for the lead around the outside of both the leader and a lapped car.
“The Simpson team did an excellent job in preparing the car for the feature run and at the drop of the green flag I felt pretty confident I was driving the winning car,” admitted Logan. “Hopefully now that we’ve broken that barrier maybe we’ll be able to roll off a few more wins.”
TYREPOWER SYDNEY SPEEDWAY
Donny Schatz concluded his annual Australian Tour with his third consecutive victory at Tyrepower Sydney Speedway last Saturday night. The four-time World of Outlaws champion stormed from the 14th-starting position in the No. 15 Shaver-powered J&J and raced into the lead during the later stages of the 35-lap Integrity Locksmiths Sprintcar Grand National.
Ben Atkinson, who drove a team J&J car to Schatz, led the early stages of the race. Schatz worked his way to the front, which was filled with J&J runners including Aussie native, Glenn Saville (No. 75 J&J), who was in third early in the race.
“I’m not sure what happened to Ben there as he was later passed by Garry (Brazier) and Joey,” Schatz admitted following his victory. “The car has been really good these final three runs.”
Atkinson (No. 2 J&J) came home fourth and Ian Loudoun (No. 18 J&J) finished seventh.
AHG Sprintcar Series
Jamie Maiolo picked up his second victory of 2011 by claiming Round 10 of the AHG Sprintcar Series at the Coates Hire Bunbury Speedway last Saturday night. Maiolo (No. 99 J&J) closed the gap in the championship standings after leaders Mark Wells (No. 21 J&J) and Luch Monte (No. 17 J&J) tangled with only a couple of laps to go while battling for the victory. Maiolo, a five-time AHG champion, was plagued earlier in the year with some bad luck, but on Saturday the tables were turned and he went on to win the feature event.
“It was a good win but I also know it was a fortunate win,” claimed Maiolo. “Luch and Wellsy were quick and it looked like we would have to settle for 3rd, but after that accident we claimed the lead. And with two to go, no one was taking it from me. I hope both Luch & Wellsy are okay, and I look forward to racing those guys next week. I just want to thank my team sponsors and family for helping me get this done”
CH Motorsports “Team of the Year”
J&J Auto Racing would like to congratulate CH Motorsports team owners Aaron Call and Janet Holbrook on receiving the North American 410 Sprint Car Poll 2010 Team of the Year Award. Their driver Tim Shaffer won 20 feature events this past season, including his thrilling triumph in the 50th Knoxville Nationals A-Main. The team won 16 All-Star Circuit of Champions main events en route to a second straight All-Star title and twice won five consecutive races.
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