UNFORTUNATELY A FLAT VISIT TO THE SOONER STATE: A STRONG SURGE FORWARD THWARTED WHEN RIGHT REAR TIRE GOES FLAT LATE IN THE TWISTER SHOWDOWN AT SALINA HIGHBANKS SPEEDWAY IN OKLAHOMA

PRYOR, OKLAHOMA (May 5, 2018) – After a top five finish in front of the hometown fans back at the Lake of the Ozarks on Friday evening, it was a quick turnaround for Jason and the JJR #41 team as they completed their maintenance routines and headed to Salina Highbanks Speedway for the Twister Showdown on Saturday evening. The track is situated just off Interstate 20 in Pryor, Oklahoma. There were 21 car registered for action at the high banked, 3/8-mile oval as the fans waited in line at the ticket booth to get in for the show.

It was a beautiful evening in Oklahoma with clear blue skies overhead and the sound of sprint car engines purring in the pit area with Lake Hudson off to the East on the horizon. Jason would be the 19th car to take his two individual time trial laps as he waited patiently in the cockpit of his Mesilla Valley Transportation (MVT)/BMRS #41 Maxim Racing entry. When Oklahoman, Danny Jennings, pulled off the racing surface in turn one the Ragin’ Cajun entered the track from turn three and pounded the loud pedal. He took the green flag and rode smoothly through the 22 degree banks of turn one and two before charging down the backstretch and through turns three and four. He completed the first lap in 12.233 seconds. He continued to make his way around the second time, this time improving his time to 12.230 seconds which was 13th quick overall.

When the World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series officials posted the 8-lap heat race lineups, the Louisianan who now resides in Rocky Mount, Missouri would start fifth with Kraig Kinser to his outside. Quick timer, Jacob Allen, started from the pole position with Californian Cory Eliason sharing the front row, with Brad Sweet and Brent Marks following close behind in row two and Zach Chappell starting from the rear of the field. Allen led the field under the green flag as Kinser used the outside lane to take control of the fifth spot directly in front of Jason aboard the Dissolvalloy Downhole Revolution/Jonestown KOA #41. Allen was leading as Sweet moved into position to challenge for the lead from the runner-up position. Allen would hold and take the win over Sweet, Eliason, Marks and Kinser as Jason locked down the sixth position to advance into the feature event.

For the 30-lap feature, the Pro Powder Coating (PPC)/K&N Filters Maxim piloted by Johnson would start from the outside of row eight. The track had started to take on rubber but the lane was narrow. When racing got up to speed in the main event, Donny Schatz drove into the lead from his outside front row starting spot. He would lead the first 4 laps as Jason worked his way around the building cushion to move forward before getting over the berm and losing a few spots. Schatz surrendered the lead to Brad Sweet in the NAPA Auto Parts #49 with five down as Jason started to drive forward again gaining some positions back. By the midway point of the race he was just outside the top ten and looking for more. He would get more as he continued to move forward into tenth, and then was racing for position and took over the ninth position. He was running comfortably in that position when the surface finally took a toll on his right rear Hoosier Racing Tire with 7 laps to go, as he came to a stop in turn three with a flat tire. The race had past the halfway point so the team did not have any time in the work area. Racing resumed and Jason and the JJR team’s run forward ended with a 16th place finish after a strong run forward.

Forward Momentum Thwarted as Tread and Air Leave Right Rear Tire in the Twister Showdown at the Salina Highbanks!

We are proud to represent all of our dedicated and loyal supporters:

Mesilla Valley Transportation (MVT); Saich Family; Jonestown KOA; Dissolvalloy Downhole Revolution; Waco Metal; Fischer Body Shop; Maxim Racing; Pro Powder Coating (PPC); Valvoline; P1 Performance Racewear; All Pro Aluminum Cylinder Heads, Inc.; AutoMeter; Bell Racing USA; Brown & Miller Racing Solutions (BMRS); Chalk Stix Torsion Bars; Crow Enterprizes, Engler Machine & Tool, Inc.; Fibreworks Composites; FK Rod Ends; Factory Kahne Shocks; Fuel Safe Systems; Greber Racing Components; Hoosier Racing Tire; ISC Racers Tape; K&N Filters; Kistler Racing Engines; KSE Racing Products; Max Papis Innovations (MPI); MSD Performance; Schoenfeld Headers; Shell Shock Paint; Vortex Racing Products; WELD Racing; Wilwood Engineering; Winters Performance Products; and, www.racediecast.com.