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MOTORSPORTS TEAM PRESS RELEASE – JOHN TAYLOR MOTORSPORTS-COLBY WIESZ
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, AUGUST 18, 2008
MEDIA CONTACT: Bill Sullivan: [email protected]
TEAM CONTACT: [email protected]
Wiesz gives Lasoski a run for the money and ends up winning his fifth Placerville feature event
By Bill Sullivan
PLACERVILLE, CA (8-17- 08) – Colfax driver Colby Wiesz took his winning ways to the next level Saturday night at Placerville Speedway. Wiesz not only won his fifth feature event of the season aboard the John Taylor Motorsports owned M&M Structures, Thompson’s Auto and Truck Centers #35m JEI sprint car, prior to the victory the three time Marysville track champion was giving four time Knoxville Nationals Champion Danny ‘The Dude” Lasoski a run for his money in lapped traffic during “Morrison Concrete Night” at Placerville.
Wiesz has maintained the Placerville Speedway point lead since the start of the racing season. Prior to Saturday night he was second to only Andy Forsberg for total wins this season and now the two driers are tied with five victories each. Wiesz has had many prestigious wins in his racing career as well as his car owner John Taylor. Saturday night, however, will surely be one they will always remember as Wiesz had the opportunity to pressure Lasoski in traffic. Lasoski diverted off of his national tour for a weekend, making a surprise visit to Placerville Speedway for a weekly point race as he tunes for the upcoming Gold Cup in Chico in just three weeks.
It was a really an honor to be racing with Danny Lasoski here tonight,” said Wiesz. “When it comes to sprint car racing, he is one of the best in the nation and it feels pretty good to be running with him as strong as we were before he lost his tire. I would have rather made a pass for the win tonight but I’m happy we got another one. I can’t thank John Taylor and this team for all their hard work.”
Wiesz qualified eighth in Saturday’s event, turning a lap time of 10:650 during time trials. In his preliminary heat race earlier in the evening he drove from a fifth place starting position to finish in second and secure a position in the 25-lap feature event. That position was on the outside of the front row, next to Lasoski who earned the pole position.
At the start of the feature event, Lasoski powered ahead while Wiesz maintained the second position using a great deal of skill on a track that was dusty and slick due to the heat and an error made in track preparation earlier in the week. Lasoski is a driver use to such surfaces, racing over 100 races a year across the country. Wiesz, is very familiar with the characteristics as well as Placerville has been his primary track over the last three years.
Saturday night, Lasoski drove to a lead of several car lengths over Wiesz until he approached lapped traffic. It was then that Wiesz was able to close in on the driver who is a regular with the traveling World of Outlaws and make several bids for the lead. Each time the two leaders began to mix it up in lapped traffic, a yellow flag would fly and clear the track in front of them for the ensuing restart.
On the 19th lap restart, Lasoski’s right rear tire exploded as he exited the fourth turn. As Lasoski pulled to the side of the track, Wiesz charged to the lead as much of the crowd in the Placerville grandstands rose to their feet to show support for their local hero. Wiesz went on to win the event, scoring his 11th top five finish of the year in 12 starts.
“I could see Lasoski’s tire smoking when we were racing and during the yellows I am pretty sure his exhaust was heating it up pretty good,” said Wiesz. “I knew it was going to give him trouble but I didn’t expect it to explode like it did. This track was pretty tricky tonight and he was running it perfect in front of me. Its really special being able to run with someone like that here, they are the best of the best right there.”
This Saturday night, Wiesz will return to Placerville Speedway where he has the opportunity to clinch the season championship one week prior to the conclusion of the season. In two weeks, Wiesz will wrap up his Placerville Speedway championship season in the ‘Performance Carpet Care” event at Placerville Speedway, a race sponsored by his car owner John Taylor on the night that celebrates the life of Taylor’s late sister, Tracy, who lost her life with cancer just a few years ago.
Colby Wiesz and John Taylor Motorsports Marketing partners for 2008 include M&M Structures; Thompson’s Auto & Truck Centers; DSR Graphic’s and Signs; Rowes Auto Body; Ervin Sales Group; PT Shocks; Performance Plus Carpet Care; A.R.T. Enterprises; Joe Hunt Magnetos; JB Enterprises; and Tony Borello Racing Engines.
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