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MOTORSPORTS TEAM PRESS RELEASE – JMS MOTORSPORTS/CAMRON MENDES
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, April 20 2009
TEAM CONTACT: Jim Cartwight: [email protected]
WEBSITE INFORMATION: www.camronmendes.com
Mendes drives to impressive fourth place finish in PlacervilleSpeedway feature
ROHNERT PARK, CA –Rohnert Park sprint car driver Camron Mendes had one of the best nights of his young racing career Saturday night at Placerville Speedway. Mendes raced among the top three finishers for all but one lap of the 25-lap feature event in the second Red Hawk Casino Championship point race of the season. At the end of the night he finished fourth, scoring his first top five of the season.
“I couldn’t get the smile off my face tonight, I had so much fun running up front,” said Mendes. “The whole night, from qualifying to the main event was a great night for us. We had a top finish; we moved up in the standings and started to rebound from our tough opening night a couple of weeks ago.”
After a tough start to the season on April 3, Mendes returned to Placerville Speedway this Saturday night with the addition of Sean Pratt, better known as “Stymie” to the JMS Motorsports team. Throughout the season, Stymie will be a vital part of the crew as Mendes campaigns for the 2009 Placerville Speedway championship. The addition of the veteran wrench to the JMS crew was proven successful on his very first night in the pit area. Additionally, the relationship between he and Mendes is one that will surely lead the team to victory lane one day.
“Working with Stymie was a lot of fun. The new set ups made all the difference in the world to me,” said Mendes. “It allowed me to go out there and drive wherever I wanted to. I think he is a great addition to our team He is that missing link we have been searching for to get us in the right direction. I’m really looking forward to seeing what else we can do together during this season.”
From the time he hit the track, Mendes’ performance exceeded that of previous events at the track he considers home. In practice he was one of the top 10 fastest drivers. In qualifying he turned a 10:584 on the quarter mile to claim the 5th fastest lap of the night.
“Qualifying is really important at this track, “added Mendes. ‘If you struggle early it will cost you for the rest of the night unless you are saved by the inversion. This is not the easiest place to get through traffic.”
After finishing fourth in his heat race, Mendes started the 25-lap Red Hawk Casino feature event in the fourth position, sitting right in the middle of Placerville Speedway’s toughest competitors like Andy Forsberg, Andy Gregg, Scott Russell, Jimmy Trulli, Bobby McMahan, Colby Wiesz and Mason Moore to name a few. At the drop of the green flag the 18-year old Cardinal Newman Catholic High School Junior knew there was no time to waste. He advanced into the third position where he settled in behind Forsberg and Gregg who assumed the first two positions early in the running.
As Forsberg, a former Placerville, Civil War and Silver Dollar Speedway Champion, led the event and began working his way in lapped traffic. Gregg and Mendes dueled in his wake. Slicing and dicing their way through lapped traffic, both drivers were clearly at the top of their game on this given night. Every lapped car that Gregg worked his way past, Mendes followed suit, negotiating every move with near perfection.
“Running up front with those guys was incredible,” said Mendes. “The car was super fast and it seemed like it worked anywhere I put it. I can’t remember the last time I had so much fun racing.”
Entering the final lap of the race, Mendes was feeling the pressure of Princeton driver Mason Moore who had been closing in on the third position for several laps. It wasn’t until the final circuit that Moore took over the third position respectively and the two former outlaw kart racers crossed the line nose to tail to cap off a season best performance together.
“Mason was right there most of the race, putting the pressure on me,” added Mendes. “He raced me nice and clean like he always does and got me late in the race. I’m happy with our fourth place tonight. This is a huge step forward for us as a team.”
Following Saturday’s event, Mendes has moved up to ninth in the Placerville Speedway point standings. He currently sits 25-points from Forsberg for the point lead. The team’s schedule will bring them back to Placerville Speedway this Saturday for point race number three. On Saturday, May 2 Mendes will be one of nearly 20 drivers that will have their car on display at the second annual Tribute to Al Hinds BBQ and car show at family Chevrolet in Shingle Springs from 11 until 2. The event will lead up to the Tribute to Al Hinds Civil War event at Placerville Speedway later that night.
JMS Motorsports appreciates all of their current sponsors for their strong support in the upcoming racing season. Including, the Rose Law Firm of Folsom, Cartwright Builders of Rohnert Park, RPM Racing Photos of Placerville, Sparky’s Collision Center of Santa Rosa and VSR Steering Repair of Santa Rosa. The team perpetually thanks new crew member, Jerry Stewart for his assistance in promoting the team. Public Relations for JMS Motorsports are furnished by Sullivan Images in conjunction with Steve’s Racing Photos.
Those interested in learning more about Camron Mendes, or to inquire about sponsorship opportunities can do so by visiting the official team website at www.camronmendes.com. Information about the team’s title sponsor can be found at www.joeroselaw.com. Sponsorship inquiries can also be sent directly to: [email protected]. Further information on Placerville Speedway can be found at www.placervillespeedway.com.
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