KICKING OFF HIGH SPEED ACTION IN THE BUCKEYE STATE: CAJUN KICKS OFF #LETSRACETWO EVENT AT ELDORA SPEEDWAY’S ALWAYS FAST HIGH BANKED OVAL WITH AN EIGHTH PLACE FINISH ON NIGHT ONE

ROSSBURG, OHIO (May 11, 2018) – Crew Chief Philip Dietz and the JJR #41 crew waited patiently for the pit gates to open at Tony Stewart’s Eldora Speedway for the first of two nights of high speed racing action billed as #LETSRACETWO. This race has become a fan favorite as it brings together the best of both worlds in sprint car racing – the United States Auto Club (USAC) wingless stars and World of Outlaws (WoO) winged stars. There were 37 strong sprint car teams ready to compete in World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series as Jason Johnson’s Mesilla Valley Transportation (MVT)/KSE Racing Products machine sat perched at the tail of the trailer eager for action.

The forty-one team pulled a higher number which meant they would hit the track for their two time trial laps late as their Dissolvalloy Downhole Revolution/K&N Filters Maxim would be the 31st car to push out on to the half mile oval. When the beautifully presented Maxim Racing machine climbed up onto the banking his Kistler Racing Engine came to life as he powered down the backstretch and built up his speed to take the green flag. He turned in a respectable first lap at 13.519 seconds, but stayed on the power button and improved the second time around with a lap of 13.255 seconds. When the final qualifier took the checkers, the quicker of his two laps was 22nd quick overall.

The WoO officials pulled together the four heat race lineups, which aligned the JJR #41 entry in the sixth position in the second heat race. Current WoO point leader, Donny Schatz, was on the pole as Gary Taylor sat on the outside front row with Chad Kemenah, Kraig Kinser and Carson Macedo also starting in front of the Eunice, Louisiana native driving the MVT/Dissolvalloy Downhole Revolution #41. Eight laps. Top five transfer to the A-Main. It was time to go racing at Eldora Speedway! When the green lights replaced the Whelan yellow lights around the speedway, the nine entries got up to speed with Schatz leading Taylor. Jason wheeled into the fifth position and then gained another spot running behind Schatz, Taylor and Kemenah. The top four were running at speed with Schatz taking the heat race victory over Taylor, Kemenah and Johnson with Macedo locking down the fifth and final qualifying spot.

It was now time for the 30-lap #LETSRACETWO WoO sprint car spectacular. Jason was rolling from the outside of row seven from the 14th starting position aboard the Waco Metal/Valvoline Maxim. Ohioans, Cole Duncan and the always popular Jac Haudenschild, brought the field to the green amidst pyrotechnics going off around the speedway. It was Haudenschild to the lead as Jason maneuvered into the 12th position in the official scoring after one lap. Haudenschild would lead the first 11 laps with Schatz chasing before Aaron Reutzel powered by both of them to take the lead on lap 12. It would be short lived as Reutzel caught the wall in turn two and flipped. When the red was displayed, Jason would restart in the 11th position when racing resumed. When the engines re-fired, it was Schatz in the point position as they went back to racing. Action was quickly paused again for a multi-car pileup at the apex of turns one and two that collected David Gravel, Carson Macedo, Joey Saldana and Rico Abreu. When they went back to green, Jason used the low line coming off turn four to gain some positions. Now running in the ninth position, he used his MPI Innovations steering wheel to navigate at speed around Eldora. With the laps winding down, Schatz secured the win over Logan Schuchart, Brad Sweet and Jac Haudenschild with Cole Duncan coming home fifth. Jason drove a patient and persistent race to bring his Mesilla Valley Transportation (MVT) #41 with a solid eighth place finish to complete night one of the #LETSRACETWO event.

Ragin’ Cajun Uses His Kistler Racing Engine To Power To A Strong Eighth Place Finish at Eldora Speedway!

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