CAJUN ROLLS IN THE GREAT LAKES STATE: JOHNSON STRONG RUN IN THE MESILLA VALLEY TRANSPORTATION (MVT) #41 MAXIM ENDS EARLY WITH A 20TH PLACE FINISH AT I-96 SPEEDWAY IN THE RUMBLE AT MICHIGAN

LAKE ODESSA, MICHIGAN (June 1, 2018) – Those ominous clouds always seem to be lurking wherever the World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series schedule takes the traveling series, but on Friday those clouds were paired with and dominated by the bright blue skies with some sunshine making for a great race day at I-96 Speedway’s dirt oval. The full field of WoO competitors filled the pit area as 30 race teams registered for their chance to race for the winner’s trophy awaiting them in victory lane.

The Eunice, Louisiana native would be the 28th car out for his two time trial laps around the big oval. He rolled into the staging area aboard the Mesilla Valley Transportation/Waco Metal #41 Maxim and waited patiently for his turn. He pushed off, fired his Engler Machine & Tool/Kistler Engines powerplant, and took the green. The time of his first circuit came in at 14.370 seconds, with a quicker second lap at 14.172 seconds. He was 19th quick overall for the night.

Jason would start seventh in the first and fastest heat race with quick timer Logan Schuchart on the pole as David Gravel completed the front row. Row two was made up of Donny Schatz and Giovanni Scelzi with Ian Madsen and Ryan Ruhl in row three. When the green flag waved it was go time at Lake Odessa as the competitors went to battle around I-96 Speedway. Early race action was stopped as Dustin Daggett took a wild ride right in front of Jason in turns 3 and 4 on the opening lap to bring out the red. When racing resumed, Jason got back to work and had his Hoosier Racing Tires and Weld Racing Wheels rolling as he moved up to sixth place on lap three, and immediately began pressing Ruhl for the fifth spot. The Ragin’ Cajun would get that spot on lap five as stay in fifth to the finish as he crossed the line behind heat race winner David Gravel, Donny Schatz, Giovanni Scelzi and Ian Madsen with Ruhl locking down the sixth and final transfer position.

For the 35-lap feature, Jason would roll off from the inside of row seven in the Dissolvalloy Downhole Revolution/Jonestown KOA #41 with Greg Wilson’s #W20 to his outside. He tightened the chinstrap on his Bell Racing Helmet from the comfort of his Fibreworks Composites custom fitted seat and then headed onto the track. Following the traditional salute to the fans, polesitter Sheldon Haudenschild and Joey Saldana brought the field under the waving green flag as the field raced towards turn one. Haudenschild led with Saldana and Daryn Pittman chasing as David Gravel and Donny Schatz started to find speed. Jason was wheeling his mount front the 14th position as he was behind Wilson. On lap 6, the Ragin’ Cajun moved up three spots into the eleventh spot as he tried to close the gap on tenth running Cory Eliason. A red flag or Chase Ridenour, who took a vicious hit entering turn one that sent him into a series of flips with 14 laps in the books, halted the field on the track. With open red flag conditions on the track, Philip, Tyler and Patrick refueled the car. Regrouped and ready for their side-by-side restart, Jason would restart beside Jason Sides as the driver of the #7s used the top side to steal the position. The Ragin’ Cajun roared back and moved into the top ten with 20 laps to go. A yellow for Giovanni Scelzi paused the racing as he drifted to a stop with a flat rear tire on the backstretch. Restarting from the tenth position Jason quickly moved into the ninth spot in the running order. The next lap while racing at speed, Schatz slowed with a tire going down on the outside of the frontstretch as it appeared he wanted to exit the speedway and Jason clipped his left rear while he was racing for position sending him into a series of rolls coming to a stop on the inside of turn one. Jason’s night was done as they towed his car to the pit area as he was scored with a 20th place finish. David Gravel took the win over Shane Stewart, Brad Sweet with Donny Schatz and Brent Marks rounding out the top five. A disappointing night ending a strong run for the forty-one team.

A Strong Run at I-96 Speedway Ends Way Too Early Resulting in a Disappointing 20th Place Finish!

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