JOHNSON KEEPS ROLLING ALONG THROUGH THE HOOSIER STATE WITH AN SOLID 15TH PLACE RUN AT TRI-STATE SPEEDWAY’S RACY QUARTER MILE OVAL

HAUBSTADT, INDIANA (May 14, 2016) – After traveling from the northern end of the Hoosier State to the southwestern corner, just north of Evansville, Jason and the JJR crew were ready to do battle at Tri-State Speedway aboard the Mesilla Valley Transportation (MVT)/Schoenfeld Headers #41 Maxim Racing machine.

There was 30 powerful sprint cars lining the pit area off turns three and four preparing their equipment for two high speed laps around Tri-State Speedway’s quarter mile, high-banked dirt oval in time trials. Jason was the 28th car to hit the surface to take his two laps at speed. His first lap was a good one at 12.627 seconds. Carrying his speed into turn one he rolled around quickly and down the back chute, but his second lap came in slightly slower at 12.880 seconds. The quicker of his two laps would end up 16th quick overall when the last competitor sped underneath the checkered flag.

With six cars to transfer from each of the three heat races, there would be no time for shenanigans in these heat races. The Louisiana wheelman would be lining up sixth in heat race number one with Critter Malone to his inside. David Gravel and Parker Price-Miller were in row one with always fast Joey Saldana and Kraig Kinser in row two. When the drivers were given the green signal to ‘get going’, Price-Miller was on the hammer and led the field after one lap. Jason was running in the same position he started in the Priority Aviation/Kenny’s Components #41 as he closed the gap on fifth running Malone. He ran out of laps to make the pass as Price-Miller took the victory over Gravel, Kinser, Saldana and Malone. Jason secured the sixth and final transfer position to move the MSD Performance/www.racediecast.com entry into the 40 lap feature event.

Even though the calendar said it was the middle of May, the chill in the air made it feel like the tail end of winter. With temperatures in the 40’s they moved the program along and lined up the 40 lap feature event. Jason would roll the Waco Metal/Valvoline Maxim onto the outside of row eight with Terry McCarl to his inside as the 24 starters assembled the A-Main field. Dash winner Kerry Madsen shared the front row with David Gravel with Donny Schatz and Parker Price-Miller in the second row. As Jason peered through the shield of his Bell Racing helmet he went through his final thoughts before the green lights illuminated around the speedway. Gravel used the high side to lead Madsen through the first set up turns as the field got up to speed. Jason was holding his starting spot early on as he was racing with Paul McMahan, Critter Malone and Bryan Clauson for position when Daryn Pittman spun to a stop with 9 laps completed. Restarting from the 14th position, the Cajun Sensation jumped on the gas and headed to the top side. He jumped the cushion and tapped the wall in turns one and two where he left a mark, but fortunately maintained his position in the running order as the yellow was shown for Bryan Clauson making it a complete restart. When racing resumed, Jason surrendered a spot on the restart to Jamie Veal in the Indy Race Parts #71. Gravel was showing the way at the front of the pack as he entered lap traffic with Brady Bacon running a close second. Jason was still in a tight battle for position with Veal, McMahan and Paige Polyak on Tri-City’s tight and racy oval. Gravel would take the win over Bacon, Price-Miller, and Schatz with Madsen rounding out the top five. Jason brought home the Priority Aviation Services, LLC machine with a 15th place finish, his 24th top 15 on the season – a 75% top fifteen success rate for the season.