KICKING OFF IN THE LONESTAR STATE: GRAVEL BOOT SCOOTS TO A TOP TEN FINISH ON THE FIRST NIGHT OF THE TEXAS OUTLAW NATIONALS AT DEVIL’S BOWL IN THE SMILEY’S RACE PRODUCTS #41 MAXIM
MESQUITE, TEXAS (April 12, 2019) – The traveling gang of talented sprint car racers known as the World of Outlaws (WoO) made their way back to Devil’s Bowl Speedway in Mesquite, Texas, where Ted Johnson’s dream all started back in 1978. While the names of the drivers has changed, the talent and competitiveness of the stars in the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink series has endured the test of time and continues strong. In front of another packed house at the track located 20 miles outside of Dallas, there were 27 sprint car teams lined up in the backstretch pit area for a shot at the winner’s trophy on the first of two nights in the Texas Outlaw Nationals.
The Watertown, Connecticut born speed chauffeur that sits in the cockpit of the Smiley’s Race Products/All Pro Auto Reconditioning #41 Maxim was ready to go for his two laps at speed in time trials. He would be the 22nd car out on the track and when he pushed onto the speedway off turn three he pounded the loud pedal and got his Kistler Engines/Engler Machine & Tool power moving WoO sprint car style. His first lap catapulted him into the top ten on the speed charts when he stopped the clock at 13.976 seconds. His second lap was slightly slower at 14.076 seconds, but the quicker of his two laps being was ninth quick overall in qualifying.
When the heat race lineups were prepared and posted, Gravel and the Greber Racing Components (GRC)/Jansen Transportation #41 would line up on the inside of row two in the third heat race. Logan Schuchart and Carson Macedo would lead the field to the green flag, as outside row two starter Brad Sweet would slide in front of Gravel to take the show position. Macedo led the distance in the heat race and took the win over Schuchart as Sweet came home third and Gravel in fourth. The final two transfer positions were secured by Kerry Madsen and Chad Kemenah from heat three.
With all 24 starting positions in the 25-lap featured earned and assigned, it was time to go racing at Devil’s Bowl Speedway. David climbed into the BUTLERBUILT Professional Seat System/Sharp Advantage safety seat nestled in the cockpit of the JJR Maxim Racing entry. Gravel would share row six with Shane Stewart as Kraig Kinser and Jacob Allen moved into the front row starting positions after the traditional four-wide salute to the fans. Kinser was your early leader as Gravel was mixing it up with a gaggle of cars all racing for position just inside and outside of the top ten. The racers were three wide heading into turn one. At the front of the pack, Jacob Allen stole the lead away from Kinser on lap four as Gravel manned the 14th spot in the running order. The determined driver of the JJR #41 stayed focused and over the next few laps started to move forward as the track began to take rubber. On lap eight he moved into the top ten aboard the Mesilla Valley Transportation (MVT)/J.R.C. Transportation #41 and stayed right in the mix in the second group of five cars the remainder of the race as the battle for the top spot changed hands. Logan Schuchart used the bottom lane to overtake Allen before Daryn Pittman used the same strategy to take the point position away from Schuchart. Schuchart wasn’t done yet though as he roared back and took the lead and would not relinquish it again as he took the opening night win at the Texas Outlaw Nationals over Pittman, Allen and Kinser with Donny Schatz rounding out the top five. David Gravel ran a patient race and earned a ninth place finish on the night in the Team Jack Foundation/Brown & Miller Racing Solutions (BMRS) #41 Maxim. A good run for the forty-one team as they will be back at it Saturday night in the Texas Outlaw Nationals at Devil’s Bowl!
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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