TWO 24TH PLACE FINISHES TARNISH THE DON MARTIN MEMORIAL SILVER CUP TWIN 30s FOR JOHNSON AND THE JJR TEAM AT LERNERVILLE SPEEDWAY

SARVER, PENNSYLVANIA (July 21, 2015) – After their impressive runner-up finish at the Kings Royal on Saturday night, Jason and the entire JJR team were anxious to keep the momentum rolling as they headed East to Pennsylvania to kick off their second swing through PA Posse country at the Don Martin Memorial Silver Cup XXIV Twin 30s event at Lernerville Speedway.

There were 44 cars loaded into the pit area at Lernerville. After rain hit the speedway earlier in the day, the track crew did a good job prepping it for the night of racing. When time trials commenced, it became evident that the top side of the oval was the preferred route for everyone. But, the razor thin to non-existent cushion in turns one and two made for treacherous going for these high speed daredevils. Jason was the 18th car to push out for his two time trial laps and he circled the 4/10 mile, semi-banked clay oval in 15.301 seconds aboard the Priority Aviation/KSE Racing Products #41 Maxim. His second lap was a little slower at 15.314 seconds, but the quicker of his two times was 13th quickest overall in Qualifying Group #1 and 14th overall on the night.

He was slotted in the first of four 8 lap heat races and boy was this one loaded with talent. In addition to the Cajun Sensation there were names like Daryn Pittman, Shane Stewart, Tim Shaffer, Greg Hodnett, Dave Blaney, Kraig Kinser, Chad Kemenah and Greg Wilson to contend with to earn one of the coveted five transfer positions. When the green flag waved the talented group shuffled into position and Jason fell back to eighth in the Valvoline/www.racediecast.com entry. He stayed up on the wheel and tried going high and then low to regain his starting spot back at the end of the race that was won by Pittman.

Forced to run the first Last Chance Showdown, Jason buckled his Crow Enterprizes safety equipment and rolled onto the track to start the 12 lap event from the third starting spot. Lucas Wolfe and Kraig Kinser brought the field to the green and with only two transfer spots available the racing got intense early. Jason moved the Waco Metal/Dissolvalloy Frac Ball Revolution Maxim into contention as he was battling with Kemenah and David Gravel for the runner-up position. The three drivers exchanged the position a number of times before the Cajun locked it down late in the race to advance into the two 30 lap A-Main feature events.

Starting from the 21st starting spot in the first 30 lap feature, Jason tightened the chin strap on his Shell Shock custom painted Arai Helmet and flipped the shield down as he got ready to get to work in his Maxim Racing machine. When the green waved Tim Shaffer took the early lead before surrending the lead to Donny Schatz. Everyone dropped to the bottom and those drivers that took the chance to go high definitely risked going over the berm or spinning their rear tires through the turns. Jason was one of those drivers who got up over the berm in turn three and went for a wild off road adventure before returning to the racing surface. Dale Blaney would track down and pass Schatz to take the win as Jason brought his car home in one piece with a 24th place finish.

Being one of the cars in the first Twin 30 that went down a lap put him at the rear of the inverted field for the lead lap cars for the second Twin 30 feature in the Fischer Body Shop/Schoenfeld Headers #41. Passing was at a premium as almost every car on the track was trying to stay as low as they could go. Drivers had a choice, either follow the car in front of you the whole race or take the risk and go where they weren’t to see if you could make a pass for position stick. Joey Saldana led the first 12 laps before eighth starting Cody Darrah took the top spot from him. Jason was making progress and gaining positions one-by-one, but for every step forward he went back two and sometimes three positions. When Darrah took the checkers, Jason fought his way to another 24th place finish on the night. Not every night can be a good one, but this team has shown it clearly has the ability to perform at a very high level and overcome any obstacle that is placed in front of them. Their next stop is Williams Grove on Friday night. Come out and catch up with Jason, Bobbi, Jaxx, Philip, Cole and the entire JJR team.