From J&J
McKENZIE, TN (May 9) – A trio of young drivers won their first Sprint car race of 2012 last weekend using J&J Auto Racing cars. Jerod Roller (No. 5 J&J) and Derek Hagar (No. 9jr J&J ) swept the USCS events, while Pete Miller III piloted the No. 3 J&J to his first 2012 win at Lernerville Speedway. Tyler Bear (No. 25 J&J) and Kyle Reinhardt (No. 21 J&J) also were victorious last weekend.
USCS Action
The 2006 United Sprint Car Series presented by Goodyear Rookie of the Year, Derek Hagar, put on a show last Friday night before the largest crowd of the season at Smoky Mountain Speedway. Hagar, who started his No. 9jr J&J third, passed another J&J runner, Morgan Turpen (No. 80 J&J), who led the early portions of the race. The two would hold their spots to the finish with Hagar taking his first win of 2012.
The following night it was another young J&J runner that stole the show, Jerod Roller, who delighted the capacity crowd in the USCS Thunder in the Smokies Round #2 at 411 Motor Speedway in Seymour, Tenn. Roller (No. 5 J&J) passed early leader and reigning champion Terry Gray in Brian Thomas’ No. 67 J&J, on lap four and went on to become the seventh different winner in seven USCS 2012 main events. The triumph was Roller’s first career USCS victory.
Hagar was fourth and Gray ended up finishing fifth.
Lernerville Speedway
Ed Lynch, Jr. was looking to steal the show last Friday night at Lernerville Speedway. The all-time Sprint winner has 105 career wins at the famed track and it looked for awhile he’d pilot that familiar No. 2L J&J to another win. Birthday boy, Pete Miller, III, wouldn’t have anything to do with it and challenged the veteran lap after lap until the two made contact. Miller was able to keep his No. 3 J&J going and would go on to celebrate his 21st in style by scoring the feature win.
Path Valley Speedway
Tyler Bear made it two wins in two races at Path Valley Speedway in 2012 by driving the No. 25 J&J to victory in the PA Sprint Series 305 Sprint Car feature. Bear started on the pole and led from the onset. Fellow J&J racer, Ryan Lynn, made a race of it and once got beside Bear. After the final restart on lap seventeen, Bear powered away to win by several car lengths over Lynn.
The victory was the third of 2012 for Bear.
New Egypt Speedway
Kyle Reinhardt was victorious last week at New Egypt Speedway driving Scott McClaren’s No. 21 J&J to the win in the 20 lap A-Main. Reinhardt took his time as he patiently chased Danny Massey through heavy lapped traffic until he made the winning pass with only 3 laps remaining. Reinhardt would lead the rest of the way and earn his second career feature win at New Egypt.
Other strong performances: David Gravel was the fast qualifier on consecutive nights at Eldora Speedway in World of Outlaws competition. Gravel paced the 33-car field Friday in the DDR No. 89G J&J and was poised to challenge for his second career WoO triumph late in the race before he was involved in restart crash. Gravel and his team led by Tyler Swank bounced back Saturday and paced the 36-car field in qualifications. Gravel came home fourth in the 30-lap main event…Donny Schatz raced the Tony Stewart Racing (TSR) past quite a few cars in the Outlaws event at Eldora. He raced the TSR No. 15 STP/Chevy J&J from 12th to second on Friday and from 24th to sixth Saturday.
Jack and Bonnie Elam and the staff J&J Auto Racing send their thoughts and prayers out to the Hodnett family and the Keen family.