Inside Line Promotions
– EAGLE, Neb. (July 25) – It’s hard to know how to feel about a second-place finish.
Sure, it’s a great result. But it’s oh so close to a victory, which is the ultimate outcome that every driver seeks.
Jack Dover has experienced more of the mixed emotions the past two weeks than some drivers do in a season. The 21-year-old from Springfield, Neb., has four runner-up finishes in his last five races – including two last weekend.
“That’s always my goal every night, to get a top three,” he said. “But I’m sick of these seconds. It’s starting to get really frustrating. It’s making me work harder and harder.”
Dover started his weekend on Friday at Crawford County Speedway in Denison, Iowa, with the ASCS Midwest Region.
“It was a really, really rough track,” he said. “It was probably the roughest track I’ve been on.”
Dover started second and finished third in his heat race, but still earned a trip to the redraw. He was the seventh of eight drivers to draw and he pulled the No. 1, picking up the pole position.
“We took off and the top three were running right together,” Dover said. “You could throw a blanket over us. There was a red flag with about 10 laps to go and Brian Brown had an issue and couldn’t get back in line, so that moved me up to second.
“I was trying to find the smoothest line. It was pretty much who had the better car that went through the holes better.”
Dover was unable to pass Ryan Anderson, who held on for the top spot by about six car lengths.
On Saturday, Dover had to come from the middle of the field in the feature.
He charged from sixth to win his heat race and he was the high-points driver in the redraw. However, he drew the No. 6 to start on the outside of the third row. Actually, Dover dropped a couple of spots in the first two laps before working his way to the front.
He ran the top groove for about 10 laps before moving to the bottom, which is where he was able to pass cars. Dover methodically drove his car to the lead with about two laps remaining, but a caution waved and the running order was reverted to the last completed lap.
Dover restarted second with two laps remaining and the leader stayed on the bottom, preventing Dover from getting the lead back. He settled for second place again.
“It’s probably the first time I’ve been on the bottom that much at Eagle,” Dover said.
He will race at Knoxville Raceway in Knoxville, Iowa, on Saturday for one last tune-up before the ASCS National Tour’s 360 Knoxville Nationals the following week.
“We’ve got a new car, a new engine and we’re going to try some new shocks out,” Dover said.
QUICK RESULTS –
July 22 – Crawford County Speedway in Denison, Iowa – Heat race: 3 (2); Feature: 2 (1).
July 23 – Eagle Raceway in Eagle, Neb. – Heat race: 1 (6); Feature: 2 (6).
SEASON STATS –
28 races, 27 features, 6 wins, 20 top fives, 25 top 10s, 26 top 15s, 27 top 20s
UP NEXT –
Saturday at Knoxville Raceway in Knoxville, Iowa
FAVORITE NUMBER –
4: Runner-up finishes in his last five races.
SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS –
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/JackDoverRacing
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/#!/jackdoverracing
ON THE AIR –
Dover was a featured guest on the ASCS Show with Racinboys on June 14 after his win at the Eagle Nationals. His interview starts around 18:40.
http://www.meridix.com/mbp/general/index.php?liveid=Racinboys&recordid=19427
He was also on the ASCS Show with Racinboys on June 7. Check out the link below for his interview, which begins around the 6:50 mark.
http://www.meridix.com/mbp/general/index.php?liveid=Racinboys&recordid=19351
Here’s a link to some on-board video of Dover winning his heat race at Knoxville Raceway on June 4:
SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT – ButlerBuilt
Founded in 1985, ButlerBuilt manufactures custom seats for race car drivers, including some of the top sprint car drivers in the world. For more information, visit www.butlerbuilt.net.
“They built very good products and are thorough about following up on safety and ways to improve,” Dover said. “Every time I’ve been in a wreck, Jeannie Bulter calls and wants to see pictures to look at the impact.”
Dover would also like to thank Thorpe’s Body Shop, Trail Performance Coatings, Inc., Home Pride Companies, Inc., Certified Transmission, Shaver Engines, Eagle Motorsports, Inc., and The Oil Medics for their continued support.