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Photo by Johns Racing Photos
Jimmy Pettit brings home pair of top fives during weekend
By Gary Thomas
Chico, CA – August 10, 2008…With the Joe Hunt Magnetos Wingless Sprint Car Series season winding down Chico’s Jimmy Pettit continued his strong ’08 assault by leading main event laps on a pair of different nights and came close to picking up two more wins, before capping the weekend with a runner-up finish in Placerville.
This past weekend saw the wingless spec sprint division compete in the final Silver Dollar Speedway/Placerville Speedway double-header of the season and Pettit went into it after moving back into the top five in the point standings the previous week.
The two night adventure started off with the 24th point race of the Hunt Magnetos wingless season and the driver known as “Loveshack” began the night by finishing second in the opening heat race. Pettit then lined-up on the pole position for the 20 lap main event and sliced his way into the lead at the waving of the green flag.
The Chico racer has been strong from the front row this season, but immediately began to feel the heat from a host of drivers including Terry Shank Jr and Billy Aton. Pettit held the bottom of the speedway the best he could and hung onto the lead for 11 laps until Shank made the top side work in turn four to take over the top spot.
Pettit then hung in second over the next few laps, until Aton made an aggressive move in turn four on lap 15 and ran over the front end on the Pep Boys, Ing Excavation No. 24p causing the left front shock to break as well as other damage. It resulted in Pettit dropping back to fifth where he would go on and finish at the checkered flag. In post race tech however, it was found that Shank was using an illegal tire and Pettit was bumped up to fourth in the rundown.
On Saturday Pettit headed for the Placerville Speedway for the first time in many weeks in an attempt to maintain a top five position in the wingless sprint point standings as the season nears its completion. The evening was kicked off with the veteran driver picking up the win in the second heat race, which earned him a front row starting spot in the main event.
When the green lights came on Pettit jumped into the lead for the second night in a row and once again quickly had a battle on his hands as Taylor Simas moved in to challenge for the lead. Much of the race saw Simas try and steal the lead away, but “Loveshack” gave it everything he had trying to keep the youngster at bay. The 14th lap then saw Simas steal the lead away, but a caution that same lap called the pass back and Pettit maintained the lead for the restart.
When the green lights came back on the pair continued their torrid battle and with just a few laps left in the feature Simas was able to make the move for the lead heading down the backstretch. Pettit remained glued to his bumper for the remainder of the race, but wasn’t able to get by and brought the Kevin Sharrah Designs, Pro Machine Racing Engines No. 24p home in the runner-up spot.
Although disappointed he didn’t get into victory lane after leading so many laps during the weekend, Pettit was pleased with the consistent outing. “It was a good weekend for us and I just have to thanks all of our sponsors and supporters for helping out all season because without them we couldn’t be out here,” the Chico competitor said.
This Friday will find Pettit and the rest of the Joe Hunt Magnetos/John Padjen Motorsports wingless sprint car teams in action at the Silver Dollar Speedway for the 26th wingless point race of the season. Pettit goes into it sitting fifth in points, despite missing six races and will look to continue to gear up for the big Wednesday night Gold Cup Invitational, which is coming up on September 3.
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Jimmy Pettit will look for his fifth victory of the season this coming Friday night at the Silver Dollar Speedway in Chico. Photo by Davy Thomas
www.sprintcarchallengetour.com
www.placervillespeedway.com
www.stocktondirttrack.com
www.thunderbowlraceway.com
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