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Jason Statler charges from 13th to 5th in Chico and scores top 10 in Tulare
By Gary Thomas
San Jose, CA - April 1, 2007... "The Big Guy" Jason Statler put on one of his patented charges on Friday night at Silver Dollar Speedway in Chico and backed it up with a top 10 the following night in Tulare. The track surfaces each night were challenging to say the least and Jason handled both of them well, showing the form that won him the 2004 Golden State Challenge King of California Series championship.
On Friday night Jason and the Tom Rolfe Trucking, DF Rios Construction, Pheasant Run Shopping Center team began the battle for the 2007 Silver Dollar Speedway track championship. Jason pulled an early number in qualifying and turned a 13.050 on the still greasy track to earn 14th quick out of the 26 cars that took times. He then lined up on the outside of the front row in the night’s second heat race. "The Big Guy" jumped out to the lead and walked away from the field to easily win the heat race aboard the Platinum Powder Coating, BR Motorsports, Yak Graphics No. 10.
Jason lined up in the 13th starting position for the 25 lap feature event. The track was hooked up like the Silver Dollar Speedway of old and Jason got his elbows up and put the hammerdown. The defending hard charger of the year with the Golden State Challenge Series masterfully carved his way through the field in an exciting display of driving, and brought home a well earned fifth place finish. It was a solid end to the opening night of Jason’s bid for his first career Silver Dollar Speedway track championship. The track was right down Jason’s alley as he can wheel a sprint car as good as anybody in the state of California when it gets choppy.
Saturday it was on down to Tulare for Golden State Challenge Series Round #6. Jason began the night by turning a fastest lap of 13.843 in qualifying, which placed him 17th quickest overall. He then lined up on the outside of the front row in the night’s opening heat race. Jason blasted into the lead as the green flag waved, but Jonathan Allard closed in after a few laps. Allard stuck to Jason and the two former King of California’s put on an awesome display while battling for the lead. Allard was able to get around Jason on the final lap, but the second place finish transferred the No. 10 machine into the 30 lap main event.
Jason started in the 14th position for the feature and unfortunately the Thunderbowl Raceway had become one lane on the bottom. "The Big Guy" ran a smooth race and got what he could to bring the Tom Rolfe Trucking, DF Rios Construction, Pheasant Run Shopping Center No. 10 home in the tenth position.
This coming weekend will see Jason and the Tom Rolfe Trucking team head for two night’s of action. On Friday it will be Point Race #2 at Silver Dollar Speedway and on Saturday it will Golden State Challenge Series Round #7 at the Antioch Speedway bullring.
Jason has a huge fan following at Antioch Speedway and he always runs well at the 1/4 mile track. In 2003 Antioch was the site of Jason’s first career Golden State Challenge Series win. Last season in the one GSC race at Antioch he was extremely quick and was running fourth, but got taken out by an accident that started in front of him. He restarted and drove back to finish ninth.
For more news and info on Jason Statler visit http://www.statlerracing.com
www.sprintcarchallengetour.com
www.placervillespeedway.com
www.stocktondirttrack.com
www.thunderbowlraceway.com
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This message was edited on
April 01, 2007 at
04:41:03 PM by Gary Thomas
"The Big Guy" Jason Statler charged from 13th to 5th in Chico on Friday. Photo's by Gary Thomas.
Jason took 10th on Saturday in Tulare. He's shown here having a torrid battle with defending King of California Jonathan Allard in heat race action. Photo courtesy Paul Trevino.
www.sprintcarchallengetour.com
www.placervillespeedway.com
www.stocktondirttrack.com
www.thunderbowlraceway.com
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