|
Jason Statler has consistent weekend in Chico & Tulare
By Gary Thomas
May 20, 2007... Consistency is something Jason Statler has had throughout the majority of this season and it continued over this past weekend as the San Jose driver brought home a pair of top 10 finishes at two of California’s premier dirt tracks. The 2004 King of California came into the weekend looking to rebound from last Saturday’s Dave Bradway Jr. Memorial and he kicked off the weekend with a solid night of action in Chico.
Friday’s event in Chico marked Silver Dollar Speedway Point Race #8 and "The Big Guy" came into the night sitting fourth in points. Jason began the night on a good note by qualifying seventh fastest with a 12.601 aboard the Tom Rolfe Trucking, DF Rios Construction, Pheasant Run Shopping Center, Platinum Powder Coating No. 10. He then started fifth in the third heat race and finished fifth to transfer the Northgate Rock, Hansen Machine, Ringers Gloves, Trimble Motorsports No. 10 into the 25 lap feature.
Jason lined up third in the main event and got into second early on. On lap 13 he was running close to the leader Stephen Allard when he and Brandon Wimmer made contact in turn four. Jason got sideways but was knocked back straight by Jonathan Allard and although the motor died, "The Big Guy" was able to get it lit back up and continue on. A red flag happened that same lap and on the restart Wimmer was able to get around him for second. Jason remained composed though and got back around Wimmer on a restart with about eight laps to go. He had one look at the leader but couldn’t inch ahead and at the checkered flag he scored a second place finish in the Yak Graphics, Brian’s Paints, Stephanie’s Custom Interiors, Weld Racing No. 10. It helped him move up to third place in Silver Dollar Speedway points, just 14 behind leader Jonathan Allard.
On Saturday Jason and the team made the haul to Tulare’s Thunderbowl Raceway for Golden State Challenge Series Round #12. "The Big Guy" qualified with a fastest lap of 13.983 which was good enough for seventh quickest for the second night in a row. He then lined up on the outside of the second row in the night’s opening heat race and held off Jonathan Allard to pick up a second place finish.
Jason’s qualifying lap was good enough to get him into the dash and he pulled the number one pill to put the T-5 Industries, BR Motorsports, Rod End Supply, Bell Helmets No. 10 on the pole for the six lap contest. This was the third time Jason has been in a dash this season and he brought home a third place finish to give himself an inside row number two starting spot for the 30 lap Chris & Brian Faria Memorial main event.
The opening lap saw Jason get loose in turn three and nearly lose the car, but he was able to hang onto it and straighten it back out. He lost a lot of spots, however, and with a caution coming out after one lap was scored complete, he sat in 10th place. As the race went on he got back up to as high as seventh before a car was able to get by him with a handful of laps left and at the finish Jason brought home an eighth place finish.
This coming weekend will see Jason and the Tom Rolfe Trucking team compete in three straight night’s of Golden State Challenge Series competition beginning with a race in Petaluma on Friday.
Friday’s event at the Petaluma Speedway is a make up date from the rain out on April 21 and will be the 13th Round of action for the Golden State Challenge Series. Jason goes into the night sitting fifth in Golden State Challenge Series points.
On Saturday and Sunday it will off to the extremely fast Calistoga Speedway ½ mile for the annual Golden State Challenge Series Memorial Day weekend double header.
On Saturday it will be the annual Salute to Walter T. Ross, a night paying respect to the former Northern Auto Racing Club President and long time car owner. His famous #56 graced victory lane at Calistoga Speedway on 11 occasions and was one of the most recognizable sprint cars of its era. Ross passed away in 1987 from ALS and this race recognizing him has become a tradition on Memorial Day weekend at Calistoga.
On Sunday it will be the 24th annual Tribute to Gary Patterson. Also known as the Dancing Phantom, the Preacher, the Hostile Hipee or just simply GP, Patterson was one of the most colorful characters of his time and considered Calistoga Speedway to be one his favorite tracks. GP was taken from us in an accident at Calistoga Speedway on Memorial Day weekend 1983, but his memory lives on and Calistoga has payed tribute to him on Memorial Day weekend every year since his death.
Jason is the defending Calistoga Speedway track champion and is coming off a season that saw him win his very first Calistoga Speedway main event, which happened in August during a Civil War Series event. Don't forget to come by and check out the new Jason Statler Tee Shirts.
For more info on Jason Statler and Tom Rolfe Trucking Racing visit http://www.statlerracing.com
www.sprintcarchallengetour.com
www.placervillespeedway.com
www.stocktondirttrack.com
www.thunderbowlraceway.com
|
This message was edited on
May 20, 2007 at
08:45:34 PM by Gary Thomas
Jason Statler goes into Memorial Day weekend fifth in Golden State Challenge Series points. GSC teams will have three consecutive days of racing begining at Petaluma on Friday. Jason won a Civil War race at Petaluma last September.
Jason also captured a Civil War race last season at Calistoga Speedway where the series will be at on Saturday and Sunday."The Big Guy" is the defending Calistoga Speedway track champion.
Photo's by Davy Thomas
Photos by Johns Racing Photos
www.sprintcarchallengetour.com
www.placervillespeedway.com
www.stocktondirttrack.com
www.thunderbowlraceway.com
|
