|
Jason Statler returns to racing action and charges to 6th in Antioch
By Gary Thomas
Antioch, Ca - April 5, 2008…After having to miss last weekend due to the flu, former King of California Jason Statler was back in the saddle this past weekend with a double-header of racing competition and he ended it with a solid drive in Golden State Challenge Series competition.
Friday evening however, saw Statler and the Double Zero team make the short drive to Watsonville to kick off the Wright One Construction 360 Sprint Car Series at the Ocean Speedway. Last season Statler captured the Johnny Key Classic at the quarter-mile track and he comes back this year looking to run the series on a regular basis.
A 32 car field convened at the Santa Cruz County Fairground facility and the Los Gatos racer timed the DF Rios Construction, D & D Roofing Maxim 10th fastest. After finishing runner-up in his heat race, Statler lined-up sixth in the feature and was running in the top five when he nowhere to go as a car spun directly in front of him. He contacted the spun car and the damage was too severe to continue and it put an end to the night.
On Saturday Statler and the team were back in action with the Golden State Challenge Series at the Antioch Speedway. High winds during the day time took their toll on the speedway as the night wore on, but the “Big Guy” was able to make movement as he kept up his reputation as being one of the hardest chargers in Northern California.
When the Golden State Challenge Series returned to the Contra Costa County Fairgrounds track in ’03, Statler was the driver who claimed victory. This year he went into Antioch sitting 10th in GSC points and he kicked off the night on a good note by timing in eighth quickest aboard the Pheasant Run Shopping Center, YAK Graphics No. 00.
“The Big Guy” was set to line-up in the second row of his heat race, but as he idled around the track, the engine didn’t sound right and he pulled off the speedway and back to the trailer to allow crew chief Mark Bristow and the team to asses the situation. He was unable to compete in the heat, but got out for the B-main and dominated the 12 lap contest to pick up the victory.
Statler started in the fifth row for the 30 lap GSC feature and it was immediately apparent that the bottom side was going to be the preferred groove. Knowing that, the Los Gatos gasser tried to put his machine a little higher than most as the race wore on. Statler settled into eighth during the middle stages of the feature and following a yellow flag period on lap 23, he made his move.
He had been trying to get a run, up in the middle part of the racing surface in turns one and two, and on the restart it paid off as he charged around the outside of both Mike Henry and Roger Crockett to move into sixth. Statler then applied pressure to the rear of Bud Kaeding over the final few laps, but couldn’t get by and brought home a sixth place finish at the checkered flag.
Next week will find Statler competing close at home once again as the Golden State Challenge Series invades the Ocean Speedway for the second time this season. The team will look to overcome the bad luck at the speedway as both events this year have ended with dnf’s for the Double Zero machine.
------------------
Photo by Johns Racing Photos
www.sprintcarchallengetour.com
www.placervillespeedway.com
www.stocktondirttrack.com
www.thunderbowlraceway.com
|
