JOHNSON AND THE JJR MARSHALL RACING TEAM STAND UP TO A DEMANDING 40 LAPS AT PLACERVILLE IN BRAD SWEET’S SHORT TRACK OUTLAW SHOWDOWN TO BRING HOME A TOP TEN FINISH

PLACERVILLE, CALIFORNIA (March 29, 2017) – The World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series visited Placerville Speedway on Wednesday night for Brad Sweet’s Short Track Outlaw Showdown presented by Riebes Auto Parts. Jason certainly has experienced some highs and lows at the track over the past 24 months, starting with a low point in 2015 when he was injured. A determined individual, he used that situation and experience as a springboard to making himself and the team stronger and better as he came back with a vengeance on March 23, 2016 to collect the victory upon his return to the track aboard the Mesilla Valley Transportation (MVT)/K&N Filters #41 Maxim. A true 180 degree turn in fortunes for Jason and the JJR Marshall Racing team at Placerville’s demanding quarter mile track.

There were 38 team registered and lined up in the pit area at the demanding, high banked quarter mile oval. After hot laps were completed, the next order of business was time trials where each competitor gets two laps on the track by themselves to lay down their fastest time. Jason was the twentieth car to hit the track, the first car out in Flight B, and got his Kistler Engine powered Maxim up to speed. He was boogying around this bullring and stopped the clock in 10.492 seconds his first time around. He stayed on the hammer and was consistent, but slight slower the second time around turning a lap of 10.654 seconds. The faster of his two laps was quick time in Flight B and second overall to David Gravel on the night with his lap of 10.467 seconds.

Earning a pole position starting spot in the third heat race, Philip, Jeff and Jakob prepared the Dissolvalloy Downhole Revolution/Valvoline #41 for heat race competition as the qualifying races begun. The Louisiana native rolled out for his heat race with Rico Abreu to his outside as they shared the front row with the California duo of Tim Kaeding and Andy Forsberg perched in row two. When the green flag waved, the Ragin’ Cajun set sail and was racing in clean air at the front of the pack. He would lead all ten laps to collect the win and move onto the Craftsman Club Dash.

The Craftsman Club Dash at Placerville Speedway on this night was slated for eight fast laps around this oval. Jason shared the front row with David Gravel as a zero pill was pulled. Gravel wasted little time seizing the top spot as Jason was wheeling his speed machine. But it was Shane Stewart who would take the Dash victory as he crossed under the checkers ahead of Gravel, Bud Kaeding, Daryn Pittman, Rico Abreu, Greg Wilson, and Brad Sweet with Jason rounding out the field with an eighth place finish.

It was now show time in the Short Track Outlaw Showdown for the drivers and teams who earned a prestigious spot in the starting lineup. The drivers were ready. The teams were ready. And, the standing room only crowd that came to see these high flying speedsters were ready for 40 laps of high speed action at Placerville Speedway. Jason would start in the eighth starting spot with fellow racer and this race’s promoter, Brad Sweet, to his inside in row four. The always well-prepared Priority Aviation Services, LLC/Winters Performance Products #41 glimmered under the lights as Jason flipped the shield down on his Bell Racing helmet. One last tug on his Crow Enterprizes safety harness as the field aligned in the four-wide salute to all the wonderful fans. Once the field was set and in their two-by-two stance it was go time at Placerville Speedway. The roar of the engines filled the air and Shane Stewart wheeled his Larson Marks Racing #2 into the top spot. The Ragin’ Cajun was racing right in the middle of all of the high speed action. Dust, dirt and cars were just flying around this quarter mile playground. A few early race stoppages, both cautions and red flags, gave the drivers some respite from the chaos and allowed them to regather themselves. Jason was running in the ninth spot in the restart order and as the race reached the midway point. Stewart was still leading, but surrendered the lead to hard charging David Gravel on the 22nd lap. Jason was embroiled in a tussle for position to hold onto a top ten spot in the running order. He was successful as David Gravel took the win over Rico Abreu, Brad Sweet, Greg Wilson and Kyle Hirst as Jason crossed the finish line in tenth. Another top ten run for the forty-one, his tenth in this young season, which is a 58.82% top ten success rate!