From J&J
McKENZIE, TN – (Aug. 22) Throughout the weekend, J&J Auto Racing teams had success in Sprint car events across the country. Eric Williams was victorious at Lernerville, while Tony Stewart won another Sprint car race in a J&J. Tim Shaffer, fresh off his All-Star Great Plains title was also victorious in a J&J last weekend and joined in victory lane by J&J drivers Ed Lynch, Jr., Justin Whitesell, Tyler Drueke, and Donny Schatz.
LERNERVILLE SPEEDWAY
Eric Williams will remember Friday night’s Sprint car feature at Lernerville Speedway for quite a while. Williams drove the No. 7 J&J to victory in the competitive division, fighting off a challenge from Rod George en route to his first career victory at Lernerville. It’s the second time in 2012 that Williams has won, previously winning his first Sprint car feature earlier this year at Mercer Raceway Park.
PITTSBURGH PENNSYLVANIA MOTOR SPEEDWAY
Ed Lynch, Jr. won his 16h career Sprint car feature at Pittsburgh PA Motor Speedway last Saturday night. Lynch drove his familiar No. 2L J&J to victory in the Black Jack 21 Super Sprint Car Special. Lynch raced past early-leader Brandon Spithaler and led the rest of the race. Spithaler would finish third in the No. 22B J&J.
BOONE COUNTY RACEWAY
Tyler Drueke scored another victory last Friday night at Boone County Raceway in Albion, Neb. The youngster drove the No. 12 J&J to victory in the Holt Co. Sprints division. It was his fourth victory of 2012.
ALL-STARS BUTLER BATTLEGROUNDS
Tim Shaffer, who earlier last week clinched the UNOH All-Star Circuit of Champions Great Plains Region Championship, won his 50th career All-Star feature victory on Saturday at Butler (Mich.) Battlegrounds Speedway.
“The CH Motorsports team has been up and down and we’ve had a lot of seconds this year,” said Shaffer, after his fifth victory of the season. “We’re just trying to get as many wins as we can the rest of the way. Dave Lawrence and James Chambers and the new guys are starting to gel as a team. That’s when it becomes fun.”
Shaffer was able to manage his tires on the CH Motorsports No. 83 J&J to the finish line as the track became extremely abrasive.
ASCS – SOD PLYMOUTH SPEEDWAY
Tony Stewart continued to win Sprint car races last weekend as he wired the field in the ASCS SOD event at Plymouth Speedway. Stewart continued his torrid summer behind the wheel of the Tony Stewart Racing (TSR) No. 14 Office Depot/Mobil 1/Coca-Cola J&J winning for the sixth time in his last nine starts.
“I was a little worried I gave that one away,” said Stewart following the victory. “This is our ninth win of the year with this car, so we’ve had a lot of fun with it. Unfortunately, it’s kind of like kids leaving summer vacation; my schedule’s starting to dwindle down, and I’ve got to go back to that boring stock car stuff.”
Stewart was originally scheduled to race in Plymouth on June 16, but weather didn’t cooperate. He praised track owner Ed Kennedy, race organizer Irish Saunders and promoter Eric Saunders for their efforts following the addition of the 1/5-mile dirt track bullring — positioned inside the 3/8-mile asphalt track at Plymouth Speedway — which was completed in March.
“It was a lot of fun. I’ve never been on a track this small before, but it made for good racing. It’s pretty neat. Mr. Kennedy and Irish Saunders and everybody, Eric, they do an awesome job here… It’s been a lot of fun, and thank you guys from Plymouth. I appreciate you guys having me.”
SPORTSMAN’S SPEEDWAY
Justin Whitesell joined the list of J&J winners last week by racing to his third career triumph in the 305/Outlaw Sprint Warrior division at Sportman’s Speedway this past Sunday night driving the No. 17 J&J.
WORLD OF OUTLAWS – NODAK SPEEDWAY
Donny Schatz continued his recent winning ways by winning on Sunday night at Nodak Speedway in Minot, N.D. The victory was his first at his hometown track. The driver of the Tony Stewart Racing No. 15 STP J&J led the final 34 laps to pick up his seventh WoO A-Feature of the season and 120th of his career.
“These guys have been giving me a great car every night these past couple of weeks,” said Schatz, who has won for the fourth time in the last five races. “I could drive anywhere on the track. I was going for it tonight. To hear the crowds’ reaction and to get that trophy in front of the grandstands means everything to me.”
Other solid finishes:
Several J&J drivers finished well in last Saturday night’s USCS Senoia Summer Nationals III at Senoia Raceway. Morgan Turpen (No. 80 J&J) won the Goodyear Speed Dash and finished second in the 30-lap race and was joined in the top-five by Terry Gray (No. 10 J&J) who finished third ahead of Eric Riggins, Jr. (No. 47 J&J), and Derek Hagar, who drove Jay Hancock’s No. 1a J&J to a fifth-place finish. Johnny Bridges (No. 07 J&J) gave J&J five in the top-seven by racing to a seventh-place finish.