LIGHTS, CAMERAS, ACTION: GRAVEL AND THE JJR #41 TEAM HAVE AN IMPRESSIVE SHOWING IN FRONT OF THE CBS SPORTS NETWORK CAMERAS AS THEY LEAD THE FIRST 31 LAPS BEFORE FINISHING IN THE RUNNER-UP SPOT

NEW RICHMOND, WISCONSIN (July 4, 2020) As people across the country paused to celebrate our America’s independence, the World of Outlaws and a field of competitors were back at Cedar Lake Speedway for the finale of the Independence Day Spectacular. After two strong nights of racing and outcomes, David Gravel and the JJR #41 team were looking to top off the weekend with another performance worthy of note in the Dissolvalloy Downhole Revolution/Schoenfeld Headers #41 Maxim. Since 1957 when Cedar Lake Speedway was built, fans have been coming to this racing facility for entertainment. Located less than one hour to the northeast of Minneapolis they attract crowds from all over. This night was a little different as the stands were full of eager race fans who had passed through COVID-19 testing/screening, but there also were fans with their televisions on tuned in for the live broadcast on the CBS Sports Network.

By the luck of the draw on Thursday evening, David was the first car out on the track in time trials for the Saturday portion of the weekend show. He had a fast race car and was not going to leave anything out on the track with his qualifying effort. He took the green flag in the Team Jack Foundation/Mark Burch Motorsports #41 Maxim and was up to speed. The first of his two laps was the quickest at 11.690 seconds, which was good enough for quick time on the night as the remaining 29 talented qualifiers could not turn a better lap.

By virtue of being the quickest driver in time trials, David would sit on the pole for the first and fastest Drydene Heat race by time trial results. Kraig Kinser was perched to his outside in the MVT #11k with Donny Schatz, Jacob Allen, Paul Nienhiser, Parker Price-Miller, Dominic Scelzi, Mason Daniel and Kevin Ingle lined up behind. When the green lights illuminated it was Kinser using the outside line to drive to the front over Gravel as Parker Price-Miller drove from sixth to third in the Dietz Motorsports #14. Gravel had good speed and was able to keep Kinser in his sights, but when the checkered flag flew it was Kinser across the finish line first with Gravel, Price-Miller, Schatz, and Allen following as Scelzi locked in the sixth and final transfer position.

In an unlikely turn of events, at least this season, when David Gravel pulled his hand out of the over-sized NOS Energy Drink can he had a low numbered pill for the DIRTVision Fast Pass Dash. Even better the number on that pill was the number one. He would line up alongside Sheldon Haudenschild for the 8-lap dash as Kraig Kinser, Kerry Madsen, Logan Schuchart and Carson Macedo rounded out the starting grid. They did some track prep work on the track and when the green flag waved Gravel drove the Mesilla Valley Transportation (MVT)/Tiger Towing #41 Maxim to the front. He was motoring along with Haudenschild running in the second position. Gravel led wire-to-wire to take the victory over Haudenschild with Kinser, Madsen, Macedo and Schuchart completing the finishing order run down.

The only thing that remained was the 35-lap feature event. The sun was going down and the track crew put some moisture on the track and groomed the surface. The lights went on and the cameras started rolling as CBS Sports Network was now live at Cedar Lake Speedway to show off the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series stars to viewers everywhere. Gravel led the field to the green in the J.R.C. Transportation/Durst Inc. #41 and was flying in clean air. With four laps in the books, the high speed adventure was slowed as the caution flag flew for Scotty Thiel who rolled to a stop in turn two. Behind your early race leader Kerry Madsen had raced his way into the runner-up spot with Haudenschild and Kraig Kinser in the mix. Gravel got a tremendous restart and had his WELD Racing wheels on display. He was in a league of his own and sailing around the track. The leaders caught the back of the pack and Gravel was meticulously navigating his way around cars putting them a lap down. Madsen was still right there and with 10 laps to go another caution flew, this time for Shane Stewart who had his right rear tire expire sending him to the work area. Under the caution Logan Schuchart also had a tire going down and headed pit side for some new rubber. Gravel again had a great start when racing resume, but this time action was halted when the red flag was put out when Wayne Johnson flipped in turn one. Under the red flag conditions Donny Schatz headed to the work area as he too had a right rear tire going down that needed replaced. When racing resumed again it was Gravel to the point. As the laps were winding down Brad Sweet made the pass and moved into the runner-up position. He was working the low line and carrying speed while Gravel was carrying his speed around the top. With 3 laps to go Sweet caught Gravel as the two raced side-by-side in front of the flag stand. Sweet would take the lead and the win as Gravel brought the Mesilla Valley Transportation (MVT) #41 Maxim home second with Kraig Kinser rounding out the podium. A great run for the forty-one . . . just one spot shy of their goal as the cameras were rolling.

Mesilla Valley Transportation (MVT); Saich Family; 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 Auto Reconditioning; AutoMeter; Bell Racing USA; Brown & Miller Racing Solutions (BMRS); Buckwalter Trucking, LLC; C&R Racing; Chalk Stix Torsion Bars; 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; 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; Walker Performance Filtration; Weld Wheels; Wilwood Racing; and Winters Performance Products.

To stay connected with Jason Johnson Racing (JJR), go to www.jasonjohnsonracing.com.

To stay up-to-date with David Gravel and his success and journey on and off the track, as well as to purchase his gear and merchandise, go to www.DavidGravel89.com.