CHASING A BISON (OR RATHER A SHARK) IN NORTH DAKOTA: GRAVEL SETS QUICK TIME AND THEN BRINGS HOME ANOTHER TOP FIVE FINISH AT THE BEST DIRT TRACK – RIVER CITIES SPEEDWAY IN THE NORTHERN TOUR
GRAND FORKS, NORTH DAKOTA (June 7, 2019) – As the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series forges forward in the 2019 season, their new destination to display their high speed show landed in Grand Forks, North Dakota at River Cities Speedway, affectionately called The Best Dirt Track. This high-banked 3/10th mile dirt/yellow clay mixture oval has been known to feature some great racing and nothing less would be expected on this night with 25 speed stars lining the pit area on the backstretch at River Cities Speedway. It was a hot day with temperatures over 90 degrees and winds in excess of 40 mph. That did not deter any of the fans, but certainly would take a toll on the racing surface. As the fans filtered into the grandstands to pack the house for a night of full-on entertainment – 410 sprint car style – the track crew finished watering and track prep.
When the pill order was revealed for time trial qualifying, David Gravel would be the second car out for his two-lap individual performance on the accelerator in the High Performance Lubricants, LLC/Fuel Safe Racing Cells #41 Maxim. This Watertown, Connecticut native that wheels the forty-one really likes to grade out pizza as he travels around the country doing his pizza challenges. He sure would make a good, or at the very least really quick, pizza delivery driver as he laid down a fast lap of 10.399 seconds the first time around. He stayed on the gas for his second delivery, but that lap was slightly slower at 10.570 seconds. He waited patiently with each lap turned by the other drivers, but when the last driver out, Austin Pierce, took the checkers it was Gravel and the JJR #41 at the top of the final time trial order.
With the individual performance portion of the high speed show completed, the three 10-lap heat races were on deck at River Cities. David Gravel climbed into his ButlerBuilt Professional Seat System/Sharp Advantage custom fitted seat and pulled his Simpson Race Products safety belts tight. He would start on the pole in the first and fastest heat race in the Dissolvalloy Downhole Revolution/Vortex Racing Products #41 with James McFadden in the KKR #9 to his outside. Kerry Madsen would start third with Jack Croaker, Nick Omdahl, Mark Dobmeier, Jordan Adams, Brent Marks and Shane Roemeling rounding out the starting grid. When the drivers came out of turn four in their two-by-two starting order, McFadden used the outside lane to his advantage to take the lead over Gravel. Gravel was racing hard in the runner-up position and was using the low side, and then searching the track in the later laps, for the fast line. McFadden would take the win over Gravel, as those two locked into the DIRTVision Fast Pass Dash, as Madsen, Marks, Dobmeier and Croaker secured the final transfer positions to the feature event.
Gravel put the Weikert’s Livestock/Team Jack Foundation #41 Maxim into the DIRTVision Fast Pass Dash and when all the numbers were drawn by the drivers the starting lineup was set for the eight lap event. Logan Schuchart in the Shark Racing #1s would start on the pole with Brad Sweet sharing the front row. David would start fourth and share row two with the other Shark Racing driver Jacob Allen in his #1a, as James McFadden and Terry McCarl paired together in row three. When the green flag waved, Gravel moved forward and was in a three way battle for the lead with Schuchart and Sweet. Schuchart would come out first as Sweet used the high side to gain the runner-up position as Gravel settled into third. Gravel was working the bottom and James McFadden made his way into the show positon as the laps diminished. Schuchart took the win over Sweet, McFadden and Gravel with Allen and McCarl rounding out the finishing order.
The first three rows of the 40-lap feature were set by the finish of the DIRTVision Fast Pass Dash, so Gravel would be on the outside of row two aboard the Mesilla Valley Transportation (MVT)/Chalk Stix Torsion Bars #41. The appreciative fans in the stands were on their feet as the field went into their four-wide salute before the high speed action began. It was time to go racing at The Best Race Track – River Cities Speedway! Polesitter Logan Schuchart drove the Shark Racing #1s into the lead when the green flag waved as Gravel drove in the fourth position. The first quarter of the race was fast and on lap 12 the caution flew as Carson Macedo spun over the edge of turn four. When they regrouped in their two-by-two starting order, Gravel made his presence known as he was in the mix for position and was showing his nose to the leader as he made his way up to the runner-up position before another caution flew on lap 15 for Jake Croaker who came to a stop in turn three. On the restart, Gravel would again challenge for the lead gaining it momentarily before Schuchart drove back into the top spot. As if the four car lead was not exciting enough, North Dakota native Donny Schatz was moving forward and was now in the top five from his eleventh starting spot. A red flag for Brendan Mullen and Austin Pierce quieted the engines. When the racing resumed the battle was on. A few more cautions regrouped the field, but Schuchart would collect the win over McFadden and Sweet as Schatz and Gravel rounded out the top five. Another great run for the forty-one!
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Mesilla Valley Transportation (MVT); Saich Family; Jonestown KOA; Dissolvalloy Downhole Revolution; Weikert’s Livestock; J.R.C. Transportation, Inc.; Durst Inc.; Maxim Racing; The Boyd Family; Pro Powder Coating (PPC); Waco Metal; High Performance Lubricants, LLC; Team Jack Foundation; Mark Burch Motorsports; Tiger Towing; All Pro Aluminum Cylinder Heads, Inc.; All Pro Auto Reconditioning; AutoMeter; Bell Racing USA; Blackbeard; Brown & Miller Racing Solutions (BMRS); Buckwalter Trucking, LLC; C&R Racing; Chalk Stix Torsion Bars; Cody Monoco Racing; Crow Enterprizes, Engler Machine & Tool, Inc.; Factory Kahne FK Shocks; Fibreworks Composites; FK Rod Ends; Fuel Safe Racing Cells; Greber Racing Components; Hoosier Racing Tire; ISC Racers Tape; Jansen Transportation; K&N Filters; Kaiden Kares; Kistler Racing Engines; KSE Racing Products; LogoDaddy Graphics; Max Papis Innovations (MPI); MSD Performance; RaceDiecast.com; Schoenfeld Headers; Shell Shock Paint; Simpson Race Products; T-FAB Custom Metal Fabrication; Vortex Racing Products; Weld Wheels; Wilwood Racing; and Winters Performance Products.
To stay connected with Jason Johnson Racing (JJR), go to www.jasonjohnsonracing.com.
To learn more about David Gravel, and stay up to date with his success and journey, go to www.DavidGravel89.com.