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Photo by Johns Racing Photos
Jason Statler scores season best GSC finish at Placerville
By Gary Thomas
Placerville, CA – March 23, 2008…Rebounding from last week’s event at Ocean Speedway former GSC King of California Jason Statler found good fortune at Placerville Speedway Saturday night to record his best finish of this early season.
The Los Gatos veteran has always been solid at the Placerville Speedway having scored a number of top finishes over the years, as well as a Golden State Challenge Series win at the track in 2004. Statler came into the evening sitting eighth in the current GSC point standings and looked to put the DF Rios Construction, Pheasant Run Shopping Center No. 00 up front.
“The Big Guy” began the night by cutting a 10.426 second lap in qualifying placing him 10th fastest in the 26 car field. Following a fourth place finish in his heat race, Statler then found himself on the outside of the front row in the evening’s six lap dash, which sets the line-up for the first four rows of the main event. At the waving of the green flag in the dash the driver of the D & D Roofing, Yak Graphics No. 00 fell into the third position where he would run for the duration of the contest.
The third place finish set Statler up for an inside row number two starting position in the 30 lap main event. Cool evening time temps kept the surface moist all night, which made for some hooked up racing action during the feature. Drivers were on the gas in the main event and the Mark Bristow tuned machine ran solidly in the top 10 throughout as Statler battled with a host of racers. After 30 laps of hard fought competition the ’04 GSC champ brought the Double Zero mount home in the sixth position.
The finish marked Statler’s first top 10 of the season and gives everyone some confidence as we get into the part of the season where the action begins to pick up. “We’ve been improving each race and I think we’re getting the combination right and it won’t be long till up we’re running up front fighting for some wins,” Statler said in the pits following the race.
Statler had been very fast the previous week in Watsonville, but a pair of incidents left him with a further back finish than he would have hoped. The Placerville finish should be a sign of things to come as the weeks go on with the Golden State Challenge Series. This coming Saturday night will see the Statler Racing team make the haul to the Tulare Thunderbowl Raceway for Round five of the GSC season. Statler’s last victory at the 1/3 mile clay oval came during the Chris Faria Memorial in 2005.
For more info on Jason Statler log onto http://www.statlerracing.com
www.sprintcarchallengetour.com
www.placervillespeedway.com
www.stocktondirttrack.com
www.thunderbowlraceway.com
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