RAGIN’ CAJUN BRAVES THE BULLRING AT RIVER CITIES SPEEDWAY IN NORTH DAKOTA AND GRABS A TOP FIVE FINISH TO KICK OFF THE SECOND LEG OF THE NORTHERN TOUR WITH THE WORLD OF OUTLAWS

GRAND FORKS, NORTH DAKOTA (August 18, 2017) – The Month of Money is in the rearview mirror, but there is still a lot to do with 29 races left on the World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series schedule in 2017. Jason and the JJR Marshall Racing team headed to the Peace Garden State, North Dakota, to kick off the Second Leg of the Northern Tour at River Cities Speedway challenging quarter mile oval. It may be small, but it is fast and racy and the grandstands were packed full of eager race fans to see the best in the business go at it in Grand Forks. There were 39 teams registered to compete on this night.

The field was split into two sets for qualifying, Flight A and Flight B, with the Priority Aviation Services, LLC/Schoenfeld Headers #41 set to go in Flight A. The Louisiana native would be the twelfth car to push off for his two individual performance laps. His Kistler Engines power came to life as he dropped his right foot down on the loud pedal. He took the green and his Hoosier Racing Tires took hold and catapulted him forward. He crossed the timing stripe the first time with the reading showing 10.002 seconds, which was a great lap. He stayed on the accelerator and turned a consistent, but slightly slower lap the next time around stopping the clock at 10.106 seconds. The quicker of his two laps was third quick overall in Flight A.

Earning a front row starting spot in the first and fastest heat race, he rolled to the outside of polesitter, Jason Sides, aboard the Mesilla Valley Transportation (MVT)/BMRS #41 Maxim primed to take the green flag. It would not be easy as Kraig Kinser, Dusty Zomer, Jamie Veal and Jac Haudenschild were tailing close behind in rows two and three. When the green lights illuminated it was Sides to the lead with Jason close behind in second place in the 10-lap event. The sun was setting as the Weld Racing wheels glistening in the evening light. Sides went on to capture the victory as Jason came home second to secure the final transfer spot to the Craftsman Club Dash as Kraig Kinser, Dusty Zomer, and Jamie Veal locked down the final transfer spots to the A-Main.

Sitting fifth in the Pre-Dash Inversion, the team was hoping for a ‘6’ pill to be pulled. No such luck as a zero pill was pulled putting Jason Sides on the pole with Jason starting fifth as Sheldon Haudenschild, Donny Schatz, Shane Stewart fit in between the two as Brad Sweet, Kerry Madsen and Daryn Pittman rounded out the field. On the initial start, it was Haudenschild to the lead with Sweet using the outside line to power his way in front of the Cajun Sensation. Haudenschild would lead all six laps to take the win as he was followed across the line by Sides, Stewart, Sweet and Schatz with Jason securing the sixth position in the Waco Metal/KSE Racing Products #41 ahead of Pittman and Madsen.

With his starting position set for the 40-lap feature, Jason and the JJR Marshall Racing crew button down their final race setup and got the Fischer Body Shop/CCC Maxim ready to roll around River Cities Speedway. It was time to go racing . . . quarter mile style! After the traditional salute to the incredible fans in the stands it was Sheldon Haudenschild showing the way for the first eight laps. Jason was toiling in the front half of the second five in the running order early. He was just outside the top five, but was racing a smart and decisive race. Brad Sweet to take over command of the lead on lap nine as Jason was using his MPI Innovations steering wheel to maneuver around the challenging, but fun racing oval. He would move into the fifth position around the three-quarter mark of the race as his Maxim Racing machine was handling and responding to his actions inside the cockpit. North Dakota native, Donny Schatz, would wrestle the lead away from Sweet and go on to take the win in his home state over Sweet, Madsen and Pittman with the Ragin’ Cajun securing the last spot in the top five. It was his 19 Top 5 in the season, which is a very respectable 28.79% Top 5 Success Rate. A great run for the forty-one to kick off the Second Leg of the Northern Tour at River Cities Speedway.