RAGIN’ CAJUN DOMINATES THE OPENING NIGHT OF THE 2017 WORLD OF OUTLAW SEASON AT VOLUSIA SPEEDWAY PARK TO COLLECT ONE OF THE PRESTIGIOUS GATORS

BARBERVILLE, FLORIDA (February 17, 2017) – After taking Thursday off to prepare for the World of Outlaws (WoO) Craftsman Sprint Car series opener at Volusia Speedway Park, Jason and the JJR Marshall Racing team was one of 36 potent teams entered for the WoO season debut. Philip, Jeff and Jakob worked hard to put together a new car after a fast run to the front was curtailed by a racing incident, the new Maxim Racing machine was rolled out of the trailer. With their immaculate presentation, the forty-one always looks fast even if it is only sitting still without its’ Kistler Engine fired. Jason would be the 28th car to hit the fast half mile for his time trial laps at the DIRTcar Nationals. The track was fast as it normally is and the Louisiana native mashed the loud pedal and got his Fischer Body Shop/CCC hot rod rolling. He darted around the first lap in 13.174 seconds, which was good but not good enough for the Ragin’ Cajun. He stayed on the throttle and bolted around Volusia Speedway Park the second time stopping the clock at 13.161 seconds. The second of his two fast laps was good enough for third quick overall in time trials. Earning the right to sit on the pole to start the third heat race, Philip and the team prepped and made their final adjustments as they rolled to the staging area as the second heat was running. With his hands on his MPI steering wheel, the tap of the tow truck fired his Kistler Engine as Jason took command of the top spot and paced the field. He shared the front row with Logan Schuchart with the formidable pair of Brent Marks and Mark Dobmeier sitting right behind. When the green flag was unfurled, Jason darted into the lead and started to set sail in the Priority Aviation Services, LLC/Jonestown KOA #41. He was cruising at high speeds as his chrome Weld Racing wheel glistened under the lights as everyone else was giving chase. He would take the win over Brent Marks with Dobmeier, Joey Saldana and Aaron Reutzel rounding out the transfer positions.

Keeping the momentum moving forward, Jason was one of the coveted eight drivers to earn a spot in the Craftsman Club Dash. Fellow Missouri resident, Brian Brown sat on the pole with Christopher Bell driving the Tony Stewart Racing (TSR) #14 entry to his outside. When the green flag waved, Bell took the point position with Jason driving the Valvoline/Waco Metal #41 Maxim into the runner-up spot. He was chasing Bell but ran out of laps as the checkers flew over Bell to bring home a second-place finish ahead of Brown, Jason Sides, Brad Sweet, Ian Madsen, and Daryn Pittman with Brent Marks rounding out the finishing order. Starting from the outside of the front row for the 30-lap feature event, the Ragin’ Cajun knew getting a good start and getting into clean air would not hurt. After the four-wide salute to the fans filling the stands, it was time to go racing – World of Outlaw style! The yellow lights were turned off and the green lights replaced them as Jason dropped his right foot and seized the lead. He was using the top side of the speedway to allow the cushion that had built up to help him scoot around the turns at speed in the Engler Machine & Tool/Pro Powder Coating (PPC) #41. As he came off turn four on the tenth circuit he caught the frontstretch wall as the yellow flag came out for a slowing Donny Schatz. Jason did not sustain any damage and when the green reappeared he took off once again and was setting a torrid pace. Brian Brown dropped to the bottom but Jason cruised off the top side and start extending his lead. Brad Sweet, aboard the NAPA Auto Parts Kasey Kahne Racing #49, made his way by Brown and another caution around lap twenty brought his side-by-side with the Ragin’ Cajun. The two speed chauffeurs raced together early with Jason never relinquishing the lead as he reached the back of the field. He was extending his lead and crossed the stripe 3.5 seconds ahead of Sweet who finished in the runner-up position ahead of Christopher Bell, and Brian Brown with Daryn Pittman completing the top five.

The jubilant driver climbed out of the cockpit of his Mesilla Valley Transportation (MVT) Maxim Racing machine and climbed atop the wing with confetti falling everywhere and camera flash bulbs popping. First WoO race of 2017. First win. First gator. Following the victory a grateful Jason explained, “Congrats to my guys who worked so hard over the winter to get us ready for the season. And after Wednesday night they just busted their tails to get this car together so we could race.” He continued, “The win is huge for our operation, for our team, for the people working on this team and for my self-confidence.” They look to carry that momentum and their winning ways forward as they get back at it at Volusia’s “World’s Fastest Half-Mile” on Saturday night against the best in the business. A great run for the forty-one!