From J&J Auto Racing
McKENZIE, TN (April 6) – Racing action picked up around the United States as the racing season begins to heat up. Dean Jacobs, DJ Foos, Ryan Taylor, Mike Bittinger and Steve Lines were all victorious last weekend driving J&J Sprint cars.
ATTICA RACEWAY PARK
410 DIVISION
Friday night’s 2011 season opener at Attica Raceway Park was just what Dean Jacobs was looking forward to. Jacobs led all 30 laps of the O’Reilly Auto Parts 410 Sprints main event behind the wheel of Joe and Diane Seeling’s No. 97 J&J sponsored by Northwest Ohio Towing and Recovery and NAPA Truck Center to earn his 10th career victory at Attica.
“We knew we were building a good team last year and it would pay off this year,” said Jacobs, following the victory. “Our plan was to come here and win tonight. Of course, it helps to start up front, but (crew chief) Matt (Frishe) has worked his tail off on this thing the last couple of years. I’ve got the attitude I’m just going to have fun…and it was a blast tonight.”
Jacobs was followed to the finish line by fellow J&J racer, Phil Gressman (No. 53 J&J), who started third. Two-time and defending All-Star champion Tim Shaffer raced the C&H Motorsports No. 83 J&J from 12th to finish fourth.
305 DIVISION
D.J. Foos, the reigning Attica 305 champion, dominated the Fremont Fence 305 25-lap feature. Foos, who took the lead on the second lap scored his ninth career triumph by lapping up to ninth-place aboard the No. 11F Burger King/Buck Shot Farms/Level Performance sponsored J&J.
“The car was awesome,” said Foos. “I have to thank my mom and dad for all they do. I’ll tell you what though, I’m a little out of racing shape. ”
PORT ROYAL SPEEDWAY
Ryan Taylor was the man of the night on Saturday at Port Royal Speedway. He led all 25 laps in the main event driving the No. 20 Evans Heat Treating sponsored J&J. He jumped out front early and fended off all challenges en route to the win.
LINCOLN SPEEDWAY
Mike Bittinger scored an impressive win at Lincoln Speedway on Saturday night. Bittinger crossed the start/finish line first in the No. 12 CnP Farms/Press Start Games/KC Automotive sponsored J&J on lap 25, but didn’t make it back around on the cool down lap. Bittinger didn’t realize he had won the race and was still working his way around the famous dirt track when he jumped the cushion trying to get by a lapped car, which resulted him in rolling his car.
“I’m the only guy who can win it and wear it all at the same time,” admitted Bittinger. “I wasn’t counting the money before I got it, but I guess I’d better start counting now. I got up to those lapped cars and couldn’t do anything with them. I thought I saw one to go, and I was trying to get under the No. 44. I never saw the checkered flag. I looked at the board, and thought I’d better keep going.”
Bittinger took advantage of his pole position starting spot taking the early lead and never looking back.
ADELAIDE SPEEDWAY CITY
Steve Lines continued his impressive Sprint car season in Australia by scoring Saturday night’s Orrcon Steel Champion of Champions at Adelaide’s Speedway City. Lines raced the Monte Motorsports No. 7 J&J to victory in a race that included several incidents.
“It is good to be back home racing on my local tracks,” admitted Lines. “Monte Motorsports have given me a great car and there is no better way to repay them then with another feature win. We had a pretty tough time out west so it is good to get a great result. I really must thank Orrcon Steel and Wendy (Turner) for putting on this event. I also must thank the fans for coming out on a pretty cold night.”
OTHER SOLID J&J FINISHES
Defending USCS National series champion Terry Gray (No. 10 J&J) came home fifth in Saturday night’s 30-lap USCS Outlaw Thunder Feature event at Columbus (Miss.) Speedway. Eric Riggins (No. 47 J&J) was seventh and Lee Sowell (No. 51) was 10th.