COMPETING HARD IN KANSAS OUTLAW STYLE: A PODIUM FINISH ON THE LAST NIGHT OF THE BOOT HILL SHOWDOWN FOR GRAVEL AND THE JJR SPRINT CAR TEAM ABOARD THE PRO POWDER COATING (PPC) #41 MAXIM
DODGE CITY, KANSAS (September 12, 2020) – After finishing fourth to open the Boot Hill Showdown at Dodge City Raceway Park on Friday evening, David Gravel and the JJR #41 team were back at the track aboard their Pro Powder Coating (PPC)/C&R Racing Maxim entry. The beautiful 3/8-mile oval was groomed to perfection and the fans who made the trek out to the track were in for an exciting evening of racing. There were 22 cars again lining the paved pit area at Dodge City Raceway Park eager to get out on the track to perform at speed for the fans.
The time trial order was posted and David Gravel would be the 13th car to push off for his two laps against the clock. He pulled his safety harness straps tight and nestled down into his Sharp Advantage custom fitted seat insert so he could get his elbows up. He mashed the accelerator to unleash all of the ponies from his Kistler Engines power source and was up to speed as he took the green flag. He was smooth and deliberate about hitting his marks and the numbers on the stopwatch read 12.319 seconds. He stayed up on his IPC carbon fiber steering wheel and the next lap was better at 12.273 seconds. After Carson Macedo completed his lap after he was unable to push off for his scheduled qualifying spot, Gravel’s best time was good enough for third quick overall behind quick timer Logan Schuchart at 12.231 seconds and second fast driver Sheldon Haudenschild at 12.245 seconds.
David would be perched on the pole in his Mesilla Valley Transportation (MVT)/All Pro Auto Reconditioning #41 Maxim for the third Drydene heat race with his Dietz Motorsports #14 teammate Parker Price-Miller to his outside as they manned the front row. Jason Sides started from the third position with John Carney, Carson Macedo, Wayne Johnson and Jeff Stasa completing the starting grid. When the Connecticut-born speedster saw the green cloth waving in the wind he mashed the loud pedal and set sail. He was leading with Price-Miller and Carney keeping pace. Gravel would not be denied over the 8 lap distance and took the win with Price-Miller coming home second to lock down the last transfer position to the DIRTVision Fast Pass Dash. The top two finishers were followed across the finish line by Carney, Sides and Macedo with Johnson and Stasa completing the finishing order.
There were six cars in the DIRTVision Fast Pass Dash and after they drew for their starting positions for the 6-lap race to set the starting lineup, Gravel found himself on the inside of row two with current point leader Brad Sweet to his outside. Parker Price-Miller was on the pole with the always fast Sheldon Haudenschild directly to his right. The final row was made up of Shark Racing teammates Jacob Allen and Logan Schuchart. Parker Price-Miller jumped into the early lead aboard the Dietz Motorsports #14 Maxim as Haudenschild and Gravel dropped into the running order behind the Kokomo, Indiana racer. Price-Miller powered his way to the dash victory over Haudenschild and Gravel with Schuchart racing up to fourth as Sweet and Allen came home fifth and sixth.
With all of the qualifying behind them, the field was set for the 30-lap World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series feature to wrap up the Boot Hill Showdown weekend in Kansas. Parker Price-Miller earned the pole and wasted little time driving into the lead over Haudenschild when the racing went to green flag conditions. Gravel was speeding from the show position and keeping pace with the leaders in his Weikert’s Livestock/Dissolvalloy Downhole Revolution #41 Maxim. He had speed and was just positioning himself if an opportunity arose where he could make a pass to improve his position. As the leaders approached lap traffic, Price-Miller got caught behind a slower car and Haudenschild took advantage of the opportunity and slid by to take the top spot. Price-Miller was now is chase mode with Gravel coming after him for the runner-up spot. The top three were showing the way at Dodge City Raceway Park. After a late race caution for Tim Kaeding who shredded a right rear Hoosier Racing Tire, the drivers paced under caution thinking through potential late race passing strategies. When they went back to green, Haudenschild kept the lead with Price-Miller and Gravel settling into their positions. Haudenschild collected another win on the season as teammates Price-Miller and Gravel completed the podium. Brad Sweet was fourth and Schuchart rounded out the top five. Another great run for the forty-one!
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.