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Lap traffic issue slows Statler at Petaluma
By Gary Thomas
Petaluma, CA - September 18, 2007... San Jose’s Jason Statler headed to the Petaluma Speedway this past Saturday night looking to run up front with the highly competitive California Civil War 360 sprint car series. The night started out on a positive note but ended on a sour one when lapped traffic took away a shot at making the main event. For the evening of competition at Petaluma he utilized the engine and paneling of the Los Gatos Construction Company No. 20 owned by Werbach Motorsports.
Jason won this Petaluma event last season to give him some confidence heading into it and the last time he competed with the Civil War Series he brought home a third place finish at Calistoga. The event started off very good with Jason earning his first fast time of the season by turning a lap of 12.241 around Petaluma’s 3/8 mile clay oval. The lap was also a new Petaluma Speedway track record and got the night started off on the right note.
Jason was in the opening heat race and after finishing sixth he was set for the 12 lap B-main where he started on the pole. "The Big Guy" took the lead and led eight laps before getting involved with a lap car and putting him out of contention ending the night early. "It seems like whenever we qualify well something always happens later in the night," Jason said. "Hopefully we can find a happy median at the next race."
The ‘04 King of California will look for good things this Saturday as he takes to the Marysville Raceway Park for another night of Civil War competition with the Werbach Motorsports engine under the hood as well as the No. 20 paneling. Jason hasn’t ran at Marysville since 2003 but the track has had a complete overhaul since then and we’ll look forward to checking it out this weekend and seeing the improvements.
The following weekend’s events are a little bit up in the air right now. If Jason gets his 360 back he will be at the Johnny Key Classic in Watsonville on September 28 and the Civil War Series finale at Placerville on Saturday the 29th. If he doesn’t get the 360 back there is a possibility that the Double Zero team could head to Kings Speedway in Hanford with the 410 engine for the Tachi Open Wheel Invitational. Right now things aren’t set in stone for either so stayed tuned to future press releases.
For more info on Jason Statler visit http://www.statlerracing.com
Photo by Steve Lamothe
www.sprintcarchallengetour.com
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