JOHNSON MAKES THE BEST OF A FRUSTRATING EVENING AS HE BRINGS HOME A 17TH PLACE FINISH ON NIGHT THREE OF THE SECOND ANNUAL WINTER HEAT SHOWDOWN

SOMERTON, ARIZONA (January 6, 2016) – With a stellar field of cars in the pit area, Jason and the JJR #41 team were ready to go racing at Cocopah Speedway for the third night of action in the Second Annual Winter Heat Showdown. After Mother Nature washed out racing on Tuesday night, the drivers and teams were back at the 3/8th mile oval in the desert on Wednesday night to fight for one of the 24 starting spots up for grabs in the $5,000-to-win event.

Heat race number four found Jason and the Mesilla Valley Transportation (MVT)/Waco Meta1 #41 speedster on the pole with Tasker Phillips’ #7t to his outside. Former boss, Steve Kinser, was on his rear bumper in the Arctic Cat #11 with Jason Solwold on the outside of row two. The Louisiana-born gasser paced the field slowly and jumped on the loud pedal a little too early on the initial green flag bringing the field back under caution. On the next go round, he waited patiently and as they exited turn four he called for all his Kistler Engine power and was off to the races. Unfortunately, Phillips did not get going creating a second false start, which put Jason back a row on the next restart. This time Kinser stole the top spot when the green flag waved with Jason tracking down the runner-up position and bringing home a second place finish as he followed the King across the start finish line.

The Ragin’ Cajun then buckled into his Crow Enterprizes safety belts and rolled out for the 10 lap Qualifier 2 race. He would start on the outside of row two in the Priority Aviation Services/Dissolvalloy Frac Ball Revolution Maxim. When the action got up to speed, Craig Dollansky checked out at the front of the pack with Robbie Price running second. Jason was locked in a fierce battle with Joey Saldana, Kyle Larson and Bill Balog for the next few spots in the running order. Jason would eventually bring home a fifth place finish behind Dollansky, Price, Larson, and Saldana.

When all the evening’s points were tabulated, Jason was forced to run the first B-Main where he would start from the fourth position. With only four spots transferring to the main event, it was once again go time for the Eunice, Louisiana native. He did just that as he brought his Maxim up to speed. Working the high side, he built up his momentum and then made the necessary passes to secure a third place finish behind Dale Blaney and Jacob Allen to advance into the A-Main field.

With 30 laps on a wet, rough and relatively fast surface, Jason would need to get going early from his 21st starting spot. Pole sitter, Kyle Larson, brought the field up to speed as they raced by the flag stand. Jason was working hard inside the cockpit of his Fischer Body Shop/Winters Performance Products #41. He was making his way forward in traffic before the leaders started catching the field. Settling in, he patiently made his way around the top and then cutting across the corners trying to reign in his speed machine. On the last lap, a rear tire on his sprint car deflated as he rolled to a stop in turn four as the checkered flag waved over race winner Shane Stewart. Jason would be scored with a 17th place finish.

After three nights of action, Jason sits in 13th place in the overall point standings with 448 points. There are 47 cars that have competed in the event to date. Jason, Philip and the JJR team will be back in action on Friday and Saturday night at Cocopah Speedway to close out the Second Annual Winter Heat Showdown. Come out and catch up with the Cajun Sensation and the entire JJR team.