LOUISIANA-BORN RACER COLLECTS HIS 13TH WORLD OF OUTLAW CRAFTSMAN SPRINT CAR SERIES TOP TEN IN 2016 WITH A 6TH PLACE FINISH IN THE NAPA WILDCAT SHOOTOUT AT USA RACEWAY

TUCSON, ARIZONA (April 18, 2016) – The JJR team started their trek east after spending six weeks on the West Coast. But on the way back through the desert they made a quick stop at USA Raceway in Tucson for the NAPA Wildcat Shootout. There were 18 drivers registered for the Monday night speed show and everyone was eager to make their way around the 3/8th mile dirt oval.

After the competitors got heat in their motors and completed warmups, Philip and the JJR crew made some final adjustments to their Maxim Racing chassis and pushed their driver into the time trial line. He would be the last driver to hit the track for his two qualifying laps aboard the Priority Aviation Services, LLC/K&N Filters #41. Daryn Pittman sat atop the speed charts when the Kistler Engine fired up as the Cajun Sensation took to the surface of USA Raceway. He got up to speed quickly and his first lap came in at 13.217 seconds, which was sixth quick. Not satisfied, he kept rolling and turned an even quicker time the second time around with a lap of 13.198 seconds, which made him fourth quick overall on the night.

Earning a front row starting spot in the second heat, he brought the field to the green flag with polesitter David Gravel. The race was on as the top two finishers secured spots in the Dash. Jason led the field into turn one and turned up the wick in the forty one as he steamed around the racy oval. He was laying down tracks and not looking back in the Waco Metal/Dissolvalloy Downhole Revolution Maxim. When the checkered flag waved over the field after the eight laps of high speed competition, the Eunice, Louisiana native turned in the winning performance and crossed the finish line ahead of Gravel, Brad Sweet, and Paul McMahan with Terry McCarl completing the top five to earn a spot in the Dash.

For the six lap Dash event, the Ragin’ Cajun would start from the outside front row with Daryn Pittman on the pole. Joey Saldana and David Gravel were in row two followed by a formidable group of competitors with last names like Stewart, Schatz, McMahan and Sweet. Pittman jumped into the lead early as Jason raced with Saldana for the second position. Saldana came out on top, but Jason kept his Weld Racing wheels and Hoosier Tires rolling in the third spot. Shane Stewart was racing in fourth with Schatz and McMahan giving chase. They would finish in that order to finalize the starting order for the first three rows in the main event.

The fans attending the NAPA Wildcat Shootout were ready for the 30-lap finale at USA Raceway. So were all of the drivers and teams. You certainly know you are doing something right when you get the sign from the flagman to go four abreast and you are one of the four cars on the front row with a clear view ahead of you. That was the perspective Jason had as he rolled around to salute the fans in his Fischer Body Shop/Country Custom Creations (CCC) #41 ride. They re-aligned in their two-by-two order and were readying themselves to put on a high speed show for everyone in attendance. Pittman was the first driver to wheel himself into the top spot with everyone else giving chase. Jason was racing hard from the fourth position as the leaders entered lapped traffic seven laps in to the event. The racing for these top ten positions was fierce, with Jason surrendering his position to Shane Stewart mid-race as he rounded out the top five in the running order. The track’s surface was changing quickly as each lap was completed, and Donny Schatz had moved into the picture. Pittman would lead every lap to take the win as he beat an oncoming Schatz for the win followed by Saldana, Sweet and Stewart with Jason securing a sixth place finish. It was Ragin’ Cajun’s 13th top ten finish in World of Outlaw (WoO) competition this season as the WoO Craftsman Series and race teams head to Texas for this weekend’s action at Devil’s Bowl Speedway . . . if it does not get rained out.