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Photo by Steve Lamothe
Broken crank slows Statler at Placerville following podium at Ocean
By Gary Thomas
June 4, 2007...After scoring another top five finish in Golden State Challenge Series competition Friday night in Watsonville, engine issues slowed Jason Statler’s progress while headed for another strong run on Saturday in Placerville. The former King of California has been extremely consistent recently and was coming off his first win of the season, which he accomplished Saturday night May 25 in the Salute to Walter T Ross at Calistoga Speedway.
Jason and the Tom Rolfe Trucking team began the weekend with a race close to home at the Ocean Speedway in Watsonville. "The Big Guy" kicked off the cool and chilly evening by qualifying eighth quickest aboard the DF Rios Construction, Hansen Machine, Yak Graphics No. 10. Qualifying eighth was important because the top eight cars make the dash and with only 21 cars showing up for the night, it was unlikely that any of the top qualifiers would miss a transfer spot in the heats barring any unforseen circumstances. Jason finished fourth in his heat and then pulled the number two pill for the dash. In the six lap dash he got the jump and led all the way to pick up his first dash win with the Golden State Challenge Series this season.
The 30 lap feature saw Jason settle into third after getting passed by Jonathan Allard on lap two. He ran a smooth race and was able to get back under Allard on a lap 20 restart. Jason then ran in second until lap 28 when Allard was able to get back under him. Jason went on to score a third place finish, which marked the fourth straight race he had finished in the top five with the Golden State Challenge Series.
On Saturday Jason and Tom Rolfe Racing made the tow over to Placerville Speedway for another night of GSC action. Jason once again qualified eighth quick in the Pheasant Run Shopping Center, Ringers Gloves, Northgate Rock No. 10. He started third in the second heat race and quickly moved up to second. Jason put very heavy pressure to the back of leader C.J. Humphreys and with less than two laps to go "The Big Guy" powered his way into the lead. He went on to pick up his second race win of the year.
Jason started seventh in the dash and moved up to fifth to put the Platinum Powder Coating, T-5 Industries, BR Motorsports Maxim in the third row for the 30 lap main event. He ran in the top five early on till motor issues forced him to pull into the infield and put an end to the night.
Jason and the team will be back in action at Silver Dollar Speedway for the first time in three weeks this Friday night for Point Race #10. Going into the night Jason sits third in points, 14 behind leader Jonathan Allard. On Saturday Jason will be in action at Petaluma Speedway for Golden State Challenge Series Round #18. He goes into the evening sitting fifth in GSC points.
After Petaluma the Golden State Challenge Series will be right back in action on Monday night at the Southern Oregon Speedway in Medford, OR. Jason has had a rough go of it in the last couple GSC events in Medford as both have ended with him getting upside down on the backstretch. He’ll look to change his luck up this year if mother nature cooperates as last season’s event at the track fell victim to rain.
Following Monday’s race in Medford, Jason and Tom Rolfe Racing will continue driving North to compete in the 36th annual Dirt Cup at Skagit Speedway in Alger, Washington. Last year’s Dirt Cup ended on a sour note as contact from another car during heat race action on Friday night sent Jason upside down hard in turn three. The car was severely damaged and he was forced to scratch from the rest of the weekend. With $25,000 up for grabs to the winner, Jason will be trying hard to put the No. 10 machine into victory lane.
For more 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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