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Statler puts on a pair of charges at 21st Mini Gold Cup
By Gary Thomas
Chico, CA - March 11, 2007... If there's one thing San Jose's Jason Statler knows, it's how to pass cars. Last season Jason won the Hard Charger of the Year award with the Golden State Challenge Series and he kicked off 2007 with more of the same as he was forced to come from deep in the field both nights and got up on the wheel to score a pair of strong finishes. The '07 GSC season began on Friday night with Silver Dollar Speedway's 21st annual Mini Gold Cup and it saw Jason's debut aboard the Tom Rolfe Trucking, DF Rios Construction, Pheasant Run Shopping Center No. 10.
Opening night saw 44 cars sign into the pits and Jason drew a late number for qualifying and came out 38th in the order. "The Big Guy" turned a fastest lap of 12.642, which put him 28th quick and forced him to start behind the inversion in his heat race. He lined up seventh in heat four and was on the move early. Mark Bristow and the crew had the No. 10 machine running strong and Jason put on an impressive charge to finish the heat a close second behind Jon Maiwald.
The 30 lap opening night main event saw Jason start way back in the 19th position. Track conditions were difficult but Jason was lightning fast from the get go. The 2004 GSC champ showed his form as he moved into the top 10 early on and at one point passed Outlaw driver Tim Kaeding to get into the top five. At the checkered flag Jason sat 5th to share hard-charger honors with another former GSC champ, Sean Becker.
Jason and the team came back on Saturday looking to score the $6,000 top prize, but qualifying made it an uphill battle from the start. Jason's best lap of 12.647 was 33rd quickest and this meant he'd have to get his elbows up again in his heat race as he was to start behind the inversion. He was stuck back in the ninth position for the start of heat race but like last night, was able to move forward. Jason gassed it up around the high side of the Silver Dollar bullring and charged up to earn the fourth and final transfer spot.
For the second night in a row Jason started the main event in 19th. Like the heat race, he was on the hammer and running strong early in the going. The race was an attrition filled event and Jason did a nice job to drive an aggressive yet conservative 40 laps and at the end he brought home a solid seventh place finish.
Track conditions made it difficult both night's but Jason battled through it and had a great first weekend driving the Tom Rolfe Trucking Special. Qualifying was struggle but when it came time to race, "The Big Guy" was on his game as he always is.
After the two night's of racing Jason sits fifth in the Golden State Challenge Series point standings, 13 out of the lead. Realistically he sits second behind Jonathan Allard though, because Tim Kaeding, Jason Meyers and Sean Becker, all of whom sit in front of Jason, are not running with GSC full time this season.
Jason and the No. 10 team will now turn their attention to the 3/8 mile Kings Speedway in Hanford as it will be the host of Golden State Challenge Series race's three and four. The action kicks off on Friday night with a 30 lap feature and concludes the following evening with another 30 lap contest.
The Golden State Challenge Series hasn't raced at Kings Speedway since 2005, a year that saw Jason score three podiums in the five GSC events at Kings including two runner-up finishes.
For more info and news on Jason Statler visit www.statlerracing.com
www.sprintcarchallengetour.com
www.placervillespeedway.com
www.stocktondirttrack.com
www.thunderbowlraceway.com
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