WHAT A RUN FOR THE FORTY-ONE: GRAVEL WAS A ROCKET AT VOLUSIA SPEEDWAY PARK ON NIGHT TWO ABOARD THE MESILLA VALLEY TRANSPORTATION (MVT)/WEIKERT’S LIVESTOCK #41 WITH AN IMPRESSIVE RUN

BARBERVILLE, FLORIDA (February 7, 2019) – David Gravel and the JJR #41 team were back in the pit area at Volusia Speedway Park on Thursday evening looking to continue to build momentum upon entry to the 2019 season aboard their Mesilla Valley Transportation (MVT)/Weikert’s Livestock #41 Maxim. As the sunshine gave way to night, the 36 410 sprint cars registered to race completed hot laps and prepared for their two laps in time trial on the second night of the DIRTcar Nationals in an All Star Circuit of Champions (ASCoC) sanctioned event.

Patrick Dudzinski checked the tire pressure as Philip Dietz and Tyler Elliott prepared the JJR Maxim Racing #41 for their driver David Gravel. Gravel would be the third car out to take on his two individual assault laps around Volusia Speedway Park as the track was still a bit heavy with the cushion about a third of the way up the racing surface. The Watertown, Connecticut native, who now calls Florida home, climbed into the cockpit of The Boyd Family/Cody Monoco Racing #41, as he was ready to roll. When his Kistler Racing Engine came to life, he dropped his right foot and set sail. The green flag was waving as he built speed on the front straightaway. His first lap came in at 13.477 seconds and his second lap came in a bit slower at 13.737 seconds. When the last driver in his group completed their laps, his time was sixth quick in Group A.

Not deterred, Gravel and the JJR team focused the Dissolvalloy Downhole Revolution/FK Rod Ends #41 Maxim for heat race action where he would start on the outside of row three in the sixth starting position beside Donny Schatz. In addition to Gravel and Schatz, it certainly was a talent-loaded heat race with Christopher Bell starting on the pole with Paul McMahan staring the front row followed by Shane Stewart and Parker-Price-Miller in row two. When the flagman unfurled the green flag, Gravel drove into the fifth position as McMahan took command of the top spot over Bell. They were flying around Volusia’s well-prepared oval and the eight laps clicked away quickly. McMahan took the win over Bell, Stewart, and Price-Miller as Gravel brought his entry home in the fifth and final transfer position ahead of Schatz.

Locked into the A-Main, Gravel and the JJR #41 team had some work to do, as they would start back in the eighteenth starting position for the 30-lap sprint to the checkers. A great challenge for the talented group of individuals at JJR. Christopher Bell and Daryn Pittman would pace from the front of the field to start the feature event. For the second night in a row, Pittman would take the lead in early race action with Bell giving chase. A little further back though Gravel was on the loud pedal methodically working his way forward. The streaming ticker on the top of the screen of the DIRTVision broadcast was changing constantly, as it had to keep adjusting, as Gravel was moving forward aboard the Weikert’s Livestock/Tiger Towing #41. He made his way into the top ten just after the hallway point of the race, but continue his relentless pursuit forward picking up positions. He had a fast car and was applying his talents, skills and abilities to move forward . . . fast. Pittman relinquished the lead to a hard-charging Brad Sweet who found speed on the bottom of the track and was pulling away from the field. However, in the JJR #41 camp, everyone was watching Gravel light it up aboard the forty-one. He was putting on an incredible show for the fans and was having a lot of fun doing it! Sweet would take the checkers first followed by Logan Schuchart, Pittman and Bell with Tim Shaffer rounding out the top five. Gravel brought the Weikert’s Livestock/Durst, Inc. #41 Maxim home with an impressive sixth place finish after starting near the back of the pack. A great run for the forty-one!

We are proud to represent all of our dedicated and loyal supporters:

Mesilla Valley Transportation (MVT); Saich Family; Jonestown KOA; 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 Aluminum Cylinder Heads, Inc.; All Pro Auto Reconditioning; AutoMeter; Bell Racing USA; Blackbeard; Brown & Miller Racing Solutions (BMRS); Buckwalter Trucking, LLC; C&R Racing; Chalk Stix Torsion Bars; Cody Monoco Racing; 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; K&N Filters; Kaiden Kares; Kistler Racing Engines; KSE Racing Products; LogoDaddy Graphics; Max Papis Innovations (MPI); MSD Performance; Schoenfeld Headers; Shell Shock Paint; Simpson Race Products; T-FAB Custom Metal Fabrication; Vortex Racing Products; Weld Wheels; Wilwood Racing; Winters Performance Products; and, www.racediecast.com.

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