A SHREDDED LEFT REAR TIRE EARLY DEFLATES JOHNSON’S RUN IN THE 55TH ANNUAL KNOXVILLE NATIONALS RESULTING IN A 22ND PLACE FINISH

KNOXVILLE, IOWA (August 15, 2015) – For the teams at Knoxville, Saturday can be stressful if you have not locked in to the main event. Fortunately for the Priority Aviation Services, LLC/Fischer Body Shop team they had their Maxim Racing entry locked-in and starting from the ninth position. But that did not mean they did not have worked to do.

During the heat of the day, Jason, Philip, Cole and Tim worked to put the finishing touches on the Mesilla Valley Transportation (MVT)/Waco Metal #41 to give themselves their best chances at scoring a good finish. It is important to remember that 109 of the best drivers showed up with dreams of just making the 55th Annual Knoxville Nationals and there were only 25 available spots in the field. Jason and the JJR team earned one of those coveted spots aboard the Dissolvalloy Frac Ball Revolution/Momentum Racing Suspension entry with their third place podium finish on Thursday night.

An enormous crowd packed the grandstands. The pit area was filled to capacity with powerful 410 sprint cars. The teams were amped as there was a buzz in the air. It was show time!

After being introduced and getting his picture taken with the 2015 Knoxville queen and her court, Jason climbed into his custom fitted safety seat and buckled his Crow Enterprizes belts. He pulled on his Shell Shock custom painted Arai Helmet and Oakley racing gloves ready for the 50 lap championship finale. The cars fired their engines and rolled around the black clay of Knoxville Raceway. Donny Schatz and Kerry Madsen made up a formidable row one. Jason shared row five with Sheldon Haudenschild. When the green flag waved, Schatz showed the way as Jason maneuvered his FK Rod Ends/ISC Racers Tape machine further back in the field. The pace was fast and furious and with 15 laps in the books Jason shredded his left rear tire going into turn three. He rolled into the work area on his Weld Racing wheel and the crew changed the tire but he had to rejoin the back of the field. He continued to battle for positions on the track but when Schatz took his ninth Knoxville Nationals checkers, Jason rolled home with a 22nd place finish. While not the finish he was looking for on this night, he was proud of his team and sponsorship partners for their support getting him in the show with a podium run on his qualifying night. Success is certain never handed out, but rather earned and rewarded to those that persevere. The Ragin’ Cajun and his team definitely know that and will keep digging as they have the true grit that results in that type of success!