From J&J
McKENZIE, TN (April 19) – A number of J&J Auto Racing teams were victorious this past weekend in dirt track action both in the United States and Australia. Steve Rando, Terry Gray, and Ray Allen Kulhanek were winners in the United States, while Liam Dowling and Dylan Buswell won feature events in western Australia and Ben Atkinson earned the track championship in Sydney.
ATTICA RACEWAY PARK
Steve Rando earned his second career victory at Attica (Ohio) Raceway Park on Friday night behind the wheel of his brand new No. 19r Garza Construction/Attitudes Hair Salon/Davis Fabrication/Northcoast Sealing/ Kistler Racing Products sponsored Kistler-powered J&J. It wasn’t easy for Rando as he endured a number of caution flags before taking the victory.
“We got to start up front and that’s huge, but the car was good and easy to drive,” said Rando, following the win. “The high line was where I wanted to be, but I almost blew it off the top a couple of times.”
ASCS GULF SOUTH
Defending a championship is never easy, and 2010 ASCS Gulf South Region champion Ray Allen Kulhanek knows winning races is a big factor in a championship season. Kulhanek put his first win in 2011 on the board last Friday night with a victory in the 30-lap Smiley’s Racing Products ASCS Gulf South Region main event at Golden Triangle Raceway Park.
Kulhanek started David Miller’s No. 21T Miller’s RV Park/B&M Jr. sponsored/Custom Automotive Machine-powered brand new J&J in the third position. He took the lead in the early going and was in command the rest of the way to earn his 11th career ASCS Gulf South victory.
PERTH MOTORPLEX
A pair of J&J racers won Friday night at Perth Motorplex in Western Australia. Liam Dowling (No. 87 J&M) won the winged Sprint car feature event, while Dylan Buswell was victorious in the non-wing Sprint car main event.
USCS – TRAVELERS REST SPEEDWAY
Defending USCS National champion Terry Gray earned his second victory of 2011 on Saturday night after leading the final 10 laps of the 30-lap USCS at Travelers Rest (S.C.) Speedway. Gray raced his familiar No. 10 Rislone Engine Treatment sponsored/Wesmar powered J&J past fellow J&J racer and former NASCAR team owner and crew chief, Ray Evernham (No. 19 J&J), to secure the win.
Early in the race Evernham set the pace with another J&J racer, Lance Moss (No. 23 J&J) chasing him lap after lap. Gray, who started fifth, got past Moss on lap 15 and then tracked down Evernham. It was all J&J up front as Evernham, Moss, Morgan Turpen (No. 80 J&J) and Eric Riggins (No. 47 J&J) dueled for the second spot. The final finish was Gray, Riggins, Evernham, Turpen and Moss.
TRACK CHAMPIONSHIP – TYREPOWER SYDNEY SPEEDWAY
Northern Australia driver Ben Atkinson concluded a solid first season behind the wheel of the Gary Rush Racing No. 2 Pick ‘N Payless sponsored J&J by claiming the Sprint car Track Championship at Tyrepower Sydney Speedway. He earned fourth victories and two other podium finishes at the clay oval.
“We’ve had a pretty strong season and looking back on it there is a lot to be proud of,” said Atkinson. “It’s great to be able to reward my car owner, Garry Rush and all of my hard working team with the best possible outcome to the season. Our goal this season was to be as consistently strong as possible, and I feel that despite a few bad runs along the way we achieved that. To be honest winning the Sydney Track Championship was just a bonus. It’s a great honor to join the list of drivers, some of the country’s best ever, that have won the Sydney Track Championship over the years.”
Atkinson thanked owner Rush and crew John Barrett and Tim Gleeson for all of their handwork this season.
Other solid finishes:
Morgan Turpen (No. 80 J&J) finished second in Friday night’s USCS race at Carolina Speedway in Gastonia, N.C. Johnny Bridges led the first 11 laps and Turpen led a number of laps before finishing second. Lance Moss (No. 23R J&J) was third ahead of Terry Gray (No. 10 J&J), and Matt Linder (No. 1x J&J)….Steve Lines finished second behind the wheel of the Monte Motorsport No. 7 J&J in the South Australian 410 Sprintcar Championship at Murray Bridge Speedway.