From J&J
McKENZIE, TN – With the Sprint car racing season about to kick off in the United States, the action in Australia and New Zealand has been fast and furious for months. American Sprint car stars Ricky Logan and Shane Stewart continued a successful season for J&J racers by scoring impressive Sprint car victories in New Zealand and western Australia.
WORLD SERIES SPRINTCARS – AUSTRALIA
This summer’s down under tour for reigning ASCS Champion Shane Stewart has taken him all across the continent. A victory in Brisbane early on was a confidence builder. On Wednesday night, he got to enjoy another trip to victory lane when he scored the win in Round Thirteen of Hi-Tec Oils World Series Sprintcars at Manjimup Speedway in Western Australia.
Stewart drove the Monte Motorsport No. 17 Miracle Recreation Equipment backed J&J to the win.
“I’m so pleased to get this win for Monte Motorsport,” grinned an obviously relieved Stewart at the presentations, “Luch, my car owner goes in for knee surgery tomorrow so I’m really happy to get him a main event the night before he goes into hospital. Dylan (Buswell – crew chief) did some homework this week on a few things with our set up and it really made a difference, hats off to him for giving me a great racecar tonight. I can’t say enough about KRE Engines, Factory Kahne shocks, J&J chassis’ and Monte Motorsport.”
Early in the race it was Stewart’s Monte Motorsport teammate, Steve Lines, who paced the field. Lines had the Monster Energy No. 7 J&J out front until he hooked the cushion. Stewart took advantage and gained control of the race. Lines’ luck really turned sour a few laps later when he lost power.
Stewart led the rest of the way to take home the victory and was followed by another J&J racer, Jamie Maiolo, to the finish line.
NEW ZEALAND
Ricky Logan has competed in New Zealand during his off-seasons for the past five years. This year’s tour got off to a slow start as the crew battled through some engine issues, but that seems to be behind them now.
Logan scored victories in consecutive weekends behind the wheel of the No. 10 Lucas Oil-backed J&J. First it was a triumph at Bay Park Speedway at Tauranga, and then last weekend, he put on a great performance at Western Springs Speedway near Auckland. He won the feature event and while doing so broke his own track record in the process.
“It’s been a good tour and we’re happy to be winning races,” admitted Logan. “The guys worked hard to figure out some issues we had in the motor department, but they figured it out. I want to thank Jack Elam and his crew for building us a really good car.”