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Photos by Johns Racing Photos
Statler wins Johnny Key Classic
By Gary Thomas
Watsonville, CA - October 2, 2007...Former King of California Jason Statler had been on a win drought heading into this past Friday’s Johnny Key Classic at the Ocean Speedway in Watsonville. His last victory came on Memorial Day and he has been poised to get back into victory lane since putting the DF Rios Construction 00 team back together in late June.
After weeks of hard work to get the program back up to where he can showcase his talents, Jason was able to put it all together at the Key Classic and drove the Mark Bristow tuned 00 into victory lane and picked up his first career Johnny Key Classic win. Following his win in the five lap qualifying dash, the Los Gatos driver was set to start the 50 lap main event from the front row. Jason jumped into the lead and proceeded to lead all 50 laps, but it wasn’t a cake walk as he had Brent Kaeding trying to steal the lead away on multiple occasions.
The Johnny Key Classic is run in two 25 lap segments and after picking up the win in the first stanza, Jason had to deal with the 13-time King of California breathing down his neck. After changing some stuff during the break, it took "The Big Guy" a few laps to get going, but when he did he was able to drive away and bring home the victory aboard the DF Rios Construction, Pheasant Run Shopping Center, Kaeding Performance, YAK Graphics 00. There were a couple of tense moments in traffic but Jason didn’t let it phase him and remained up on the wheel to pick up season win number two.
To be able to win this race is huge for Jason since he grew up around San Jose and started racing there, which is where the Johnny Key Classic was held at prior to this year’s running at Ocean Speedway. With this win under his belt Jason and the Double Zero team will now head to one of the biggest 360 sprint car events on the West Coast, the Pacific Sprint Fall Nationals at Chico’s Silver Dollar Speedway.
The Fall Nationals is an ultra competitive event that features nearly 100 cars fighting it out over three days of racing. Last year saw Jason finish sixth during his preliminary night and then charged from 17th to 10th in the 40 lap finale on Saturday evening. He also finished sixth in the event in 2005 and seventh in 2003. The winner of Saturday night’s main event will pocket $4,000 and Jason will take to the track on Thursday night looking to gain as many points as possible towards an up front starting birth on Saturday.
For more on Los Gatos, California driver Jason Statler visit http://www.statlerracing.com
www.sprintcarchallengetour.com
www.placervillespeedway.com
www.stocktondirttrack.com
www.thunderbowlraceway.com
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