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Photos by http://www.johnsracingphotos.com
Jason Statler runs 6th in Watsonville before dnf in Tulare
By Gary Thomas
Watsonville, CA – May 12, 2008…"The Big Guy” Jason Statler competed at a pair of different tracks during this past weekend and it was highlighted by a sixth place finish on Friday night during a curfew shortened main event in Watsonville. The Los Gatos veteran went into the night sitting fifth in the Ocean Speedway standings and looked to keep up the recent momentum he had gained following a win at the track during the last time out.
The night of racing at the Ocean Speedway marked the third 360 point event of the season and saw a field of 28 cars on hand. Statler qualified 12th fastest to begin the night and picked up a win in his heat race to transfer the DF Rios Construction, D & D Roofing No. 00 into the main event. With time constraints looming ahead Statler tried his best to make it through the field as quickly as possible.
He was able to get up to sixth by the time the checkered flag was unveiled on the 16th lap of the feature. “It was too bad that the race got shortened because we were all lining up nose to tail on the track and I think it would have been a pretty good race to the end,” Statler said. “I was happy to roll the car into the trailer though and I have to thank my guys for continuing to work hard every night.”
On Saturday the Statler Racing team made the haul down to Tulare to compete in the Chris & Brian Faria Memorial. The former King of California qualified 10th fastest in the field and after transferring through his heat race he was set to line-up on the outside of the fifth row in the main event. Early on Statler had a fast race car as he was able to maneuver the Mark Bristow tuned machine very well on the slick racing surface. He was up to seventh after a couple of laps, but slowed to a stop after seven laps were completed due to a problem on the car.
The Pheasant Run Shopping Center, Kaeding Performance Maxim was towed back to the pits to put a tough end to the night. Before the races Statler commented that he hoped the track would slick off and allow the drivers to get up on the fence, which it ended up doing. With the track to his liking Statler looked good early in the running, but unfortunately didn’t get the chance to make it very long before the issue occurred and put him out of contention.
This coming weekend will find the Statler Racing team in competition during another double header weekend. On Friday night the Double Zero sprinter will be back at the Ocean Speedway in Watsonville for another round of weekly 360 action. Then on Saturday the “Big Guy” will head to Chico’s Silver Dollar Speedway for the 18th annual Dave Bradway Jr. Memorial.
The Bradway Memorial is the most prestigious event of the Golden State Challenge Series season and this year’s running looks to be one of the most competitive in recent memory. Statler Racing sponsors Dave & Diane Durica of D & D Roofing have once again collected lap money and each lap of the main events during the night will pay out money to the top three drivers in the running order. In addition to the lap money $1200 will be up for grabs to the fast qualifier and $500 will be awarded to the hard charger in the main event. The heat race winners will also receive a free right rear tire and five sleeves of tear offs courtesy HoservilleCA, as well a free carbon fiber nose wing cap from Watson Carbon Fiber.
In 2004 Statler held off the furious charge from 13-time King of California Brent Kaeding to pick up the Dave Bradway Jr. Memorial victory. The win still ranks as one of his biggest career triumphs and also came during the same season he won the GSC championship. Statler will go into the 18th annual running of the event fresh off a fourth place finish at Silver Dollar Speedway on May 2.
For more on Los Gatos veteran Jason Statler visit http://www.statlerracing.com
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Jason Statler and the 00 team in victory lane at the Dave Bradway Jr. Memorial in 2004.
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