WITH THE CBS SPORTS NETWORK CAMERAS ROLLING: GRAVEL NAVIGATES AND COMPETES HARD ON NIGHT TWO AT TRI-STATE SPEEDWAY TO SCORE A 12TH PLACE FINISH ABOARD THE ENGLER MACHINE & TOOL #41 MAXIM
HAUBSTADT, INDIANA (June 20, 2020) – After a 3rd place podium finish to kick off the weekend at Tri-State Speedway, David Gravel along with Crew Chief Philip Dietz and the JJR crew were back at the track ready to race around the Haubstadt challenging oval. This night would be special because Gravel and the field of competitors would be racing the feature live television on CBS Sports Network which was broadcast nationally. There were 33 drivers in the pit area and everyone wanted to be the star of the show when the checkered flag flew over the high profile feature event.
David Gravel was ready to light up the track aboard his Mesilla Valley Transportation (MVT)/Schoenfeld Headers #41 Maxim during his two time trial laps around the southern Indiana quarter mile oval. He jumped on the loud pedal and was wheeling and dealing inside the cockpit of the forty-one sprint car. With all of the Kistler Engines horses running under the Indy Performance Composites (IPC) carbon fiber hood it certainly does not take long to get around Tri-State Speedway. The stopwatch read 12.561 seconds after the first lap, and improve to 12.523 seconds after the second and final lap. His best lap was 8th quick overall on the night, which was a good start for the talented driver and team on this night.
He ventured out onto the track in the Dissolvalloy Downhole Revolution/KSE Racing Products #41 where he would line up on the outside of the front row in the fourth Drydene heat race. He had the defending World of Outlaws champion, Brad Sweet, on his inside and the two gassers used their right foot to accelerate up to speed. Sweet led Gravel after lap one with Shane Stewart right in the mix in the third position. Sweet began to check out as Gravel and Stewart were competing for the runner-up position, which is critical as only the top two finishers advance to the DIRTVision Fast Pass Dash. Sweet would take the heat race victory as Gravel hustled into the runner-up position as Stewart, Sammy Swindell and Jason Sides locked down the final transfer spots to the televised feature event.
David would be the last guy to find out his starting position for the DIRTVision Fast Pass Dash. Because of that he would be the only driver that definitely knew his number before he even drew the pill out of the NOS Energy Drink bottle. When Carson Macedo pulled the ‘2’ pill, Gravel’s bad draw luck continued as only the ‘8’ pill remained. He would start last in the dash event that establishes the starting lineup for the 40-lap feature. Not deterred, the positive young man took on the challenge and when the green flag waved he went to work doing what he does best – race! With only 8-laps to make his moves, he was on the gas from the start and was able to move up a few spots in the running order. Macedo took the dash victory over Jacob Allen, Ian Madsen, Brad Sweet and Kerry Madsen with Gravel collecting sixth followed by Cory Eliason and Logan Schuchart.
With the cameras rolling it was time to go racing in the 40-lap feature at Tri-State Speedway. The CBS Sports Network cameras were rolling as Gravel climbed into the cockpit of the Weikert’s Livestock/Engler Machine & Tool, Inc. #41 Maxim and strapped into his Simpson Race Products safety equipment. It was “go-time” in southern Indiana NOS Energy Drink World of Outlaws style! Polesitter Carson Macedo jumped into the lead when the green flag waved as Gravel was in the middle of a fight for a top five spot. Macedo was on a mission and was setting an impressive pace with Ian Madsen and Brad Sweet trying to keep pace. On an early race restart, Gravel got shuffled back on the running order. He was racing hard, but struggling to move forward. Brad Sweet would get by Macedo in traffic for the lead but a late race caution gave Macedo another shot at the win. He took advantage of it and took the lead on the restart. David continued to battle and finished in 12th place as Macedo collecting his first World of Outlaw win in 2020 over Sweet, Ian Madsen and Daryn Pittman with Logan Schuchart completing the top five. David Gravel and the JJR #41 team will be back in action for three nights in the 42nd Annual Jackson Nationals at the Jackson Motorplex next weekend.
Mesilla Valley Transportation (MVT); Saich Family; 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 Auto Reconditioning; AutoMeter; Bell Racing USA; Brown & Miller Racing Solutions (BMRS); Buckwalter Trucking, LLC; C&R Racing; Chalk Stix Torsion Bars; 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; Kistler Racing Engines; KSE Racing Products; LogoDaddy Graphics; Max Papis Innovations (MPI); MSD Performance; RaceDiecast.com; Schoenfeld Headers; Shell Shock Paint; Simpson Race Products; T-FAB Custom Metal Fabrication; Vortex Racing Products; Walker Performance Filtration; Weld Wheels; Wilwood Racing; and Winters Performance Products.
To stay connected with Jason Johnson Racing (JJR), go to www.jasonjohnsonracing.com.
To stay up-to-date with David Gravel and his success and journey on and off the track, as well as to purchase his gear and merchandise, go to www.DavidGravel89.com.