For Immediate Release
Contact: Ben Shelton (msrmafia@gmail.com)
June 18, 2019

Jesse Lowe Claims $2,000 Triumph in Tri County Race Track Debut
411 Motor Speedway Up Next

Crossville, Tennessee (06/18/19) – A first-time visit to North Carolina’s Tri County Race Track on Friday night found Jesse Lowe claiming a thrilling $2,000 victory with the American Crate All-Star Series.

The win was the ninth of the season in his Xtreme Pressure Washing No. 5j Gondolas Pizza and Steakhouse/ CVR Race Car Crate Late Model.

“It was a long trip for us, but man it was worth it. That is one awesome racetrack, and I had a great race with some awesome drivers,” Lowe commented. “I kept digging as the laps clicked away. On the last lap I was able to edge of Jordan Anderson to get the win. The racing was so close that neither one of us even saw the checkered flag and ended up making another lap. It was another dream kind of a night for our team.

“I can’t say enough about this team and all of our sponsors. I’m really honored to have so many great folks around me.”

Friday night found Jesse Lowe in action at Tri-County Racetrack (Brasstown, North Carolina) for the first time in his career. The American Crate All-Star Series-sanctioned, Summer Heat 30 drew a stacked field of 31 entries. Lowe laid down the 14th-fastest time in qualifying before streaking to a heat race victory.

Earning the eighth-starting position for the A-Main, Jesse paced his way to the front and ultimately overtook Jordan Anderson for the lead on the last lap en route to his ninth win of the season and $2,000 payday. He crossed the line a mere 0.06 seconds in front of Anderson.

Anderson, Blake Craft, Jason Deal, and Ross White trailed Lowe to the checkers in the 30-lap affair.

Full results from the event are available at www.AmericanCrateAllStarSeries.com.

Jesse will look to push his 2019-win tally to double digits this Saturday night with a trip to Mitch McCarter’s 411 Motor Speedway, where he’ll compete in the Crate Late Model division.

For more information on the program, please visit www.411MotorSpeedway.net .

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Ben Shelton (msrmafia@gmail.com)
June 18, 2019

Dustin Strand Gains Momentum with River Cities Romp
Kings of Dirt and NLRA Action Awaits

Grand Forks, North Dakota (06/18/19) – Dustin Strand built on his recent momentum over the weekend. The driver of the Q&Z Plumbing & Heating No. 71 Keewatin Truck Service/ Walhalla Builders/ Millenium Chassis Late Model raced to the feature win on Friday night at River Cities Speedway.

The victory was his third of the year.

“We battled some issues on Thursday night at Red River, but on Friday night everything went perfectly,” Strand commented. “We had a great car from the drop of the green, and I was able to drive it to the lead. I have no doubt that we’ve got a really good piece this year, we just need a little more luck to fall our way.”

Thursday night found Dustin Strand in action at Red River Co-op Speedway (Winnipeg, Manitoba), where he was competing in a Weekly Racing Series Event. After mechanical issues sidelined him in his 8-lap heat race, Strand passed five cars in the feature to register a sixth-place finish.

The following night at River Cities Speedway (Grand Forks, North Dakota), Dustin secured his spot into the A-Main with a heat race victory. Starting the feature in the fourth position, Strand blasted past Mike Balcaen on the high-side and went on to capture his third win of the season. Balcaen, Brad Seng, Joey Pederson, and Shane Edginton completed the Top-5 finishers.

Saturday’s Northern Late Model Racing Association (NLRA) sanctioned event at Devil’s Lake Speedway (Doyon, North Dakota) fell victim to Mother Nature.

For full results from the weekend’s events, please visit www.RedRiverCoopSpeedway.ca and www.RiverCitiesSpeedway.com .

The upcoming weekend – June 21-23 – finds Strand preparing for three races. On Friday night the action is slated to kick off at I-94 Speedway (Fergus Falls, Minnesota) with a Kings of Dirt Late Model event.

Saturday and Sunday will find Strand resuming action with the Northern Late Model Racing Association (NLRA). Saturday’s action takes the team to Greenbush Motorsports, while Sunday night’s race is slated for River Cities Speedway.
For more information on the events, please visit www.DirtKingsTour.com and www.NLRA.org .

Dustin Strand would like to thank all of his sponsors including RHRSwag.com, RHR Brew, Q&Z Plumbing & Heating, Keewatin Truck Service, Naastad Acres, Double Deuce, Walhalla Builders, Newgard Insurance, McCaughen Builders, Generations Salon & Spa, Sam’s Auto Body, Bemidji Welders Supply, RH Rebel Storage, Ben Adams Racing Engines, Forest Flying Service, Altru’s Sports Advantage powered by EXOS, Parallel Technologies Inc., Troy Pecka Trucking, and MSRMafia.com Marketing Services.

For more information on Dustin Strand, please visit his official internet home at www.StrandRacing.com .

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Ben Shelton (msrmafia@gmail.com)
June 18, 2019

Tony Jackson Jr. Races to $5,000 Victory in Rockabilly 45
Hell Tour Illinois Invasion on Deck

Lebanon, Missouri (06/18/19) – Not even a mechanical failure in hot laps that sidelined his own ride could slow Tony Jackson Jr. down in Saturday night’s Rockabilly 45 at I-30 Speedway. Tony’s teammate Raymond Merrill graciously allowed him to take over the driver’s seat of his Merrill Self Storage No. 12m Willard Quarries/ Hassett Truck Body Repair/ Black Diamond Race Car/ Cornett Racing Engine Super Late Model.

The Missouri racer capitalized on the opportunity by sweeping the program to score the $5,000 triumph.

“We put a new engine in this week, and something wasn’t right in hot laps. We didn’t want to risk doing any further damage, so we parked it, and thankfully my teammate and sponsor Raymond Merrill let me drive his car,” Tony Jackson Jr. said in Victory Lane after leading all 45 laps of the feature. “We had a couple of cautions early in the feature, but after that we went green the rest of the way. It was tough being the leader because I didn’t know how big my lead was, so I didn’t know how hard I needed to push it in lapped traffic.

“I just kept my nose clean, and everything worked out. I want to say thanks to Raymond Merrill and all of my sponsors for making this possible.”

On Saturday night Tony Jackson Jr. followed the Comp Cams Super Dirt Series (CCSDS) to I-30 Speedway (Little Rock, Arkansas) for the ninth annual Rockabilly 45. After experiencing engine issues in his primary car in hot laps, Jackson Jr. hopped behind the Raymond Merrill-owned No. 12m entry and wheeled his way to a heat race victory.

Earning the pole position for the A-Main, Tony led wire-to-wire en route his fourth win of the season and a $5,000 payday. Holding off Jesse Stovall after a few early cautions, Jackson Jr. topped Stovall, Robert Baker, Brian Rickman, and Timothy Culp at the line in the 45-lap affair.

With the victory, Tony padded his advantage atop the CCSDS point standings.

Full results from the weekend are available at www.COMPDirt.com .

The upcoming weekend – June 21-22 – takes the team to Illinois for a pair of $10,000-to-win, DIRTcar Summernationals events. Action opens on Friday at Tri City Speedway (Pontoon Beach, Illinois) and Fairbury Speedway (Fairbury, Illinois).

For more information on the events, please visit www.TheHellTour.com .

Tony Jackson Jr. would to like to thank all of his marketing partners, which include Merrill Self Storage, Willard Quarries, Champion Oil, Merrill Bonding, Hassett Truck Body Repair, Levi Storage, Burger Fusion, Carget Motors, Becky Burk Realtor, Cornett Racing Engines, JRi Shocks, Allgaier, Swift Springs, Go Lithium Batteries, Winning Edge Carburetors, Base Fuel, Hoosier Midwest by Zoo, Modern Images, and MSR Mafia Marketing Services.

For more information on Tony Jackson Jr. Motorsports, please visit his official internet home at www.TonyJacksonJr.com as well as the team's Facebook Fan Page at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Tony-J...r/497367940564 .

For Immediate Release
Contact: Ben Shelton (msrmafia@gmail.com)
June 18, 2019

Logan Roberson Streaks to Third-Straight Elkins Raceway Win
Volunteer Speedway Next on the Schedule

Waynesboro, Virginia (06/18/19) – The Crate Late Model division at Elkins Raceway has fallen under the grasp of Logan Roberson throughout the past month. Friday night was no exception as Roberson darted to his third-consecutive win at the West Virginia oval in his Wynbridge Inc. No. 17 BTS Towing Service/ XR1 Rocket Chassis Crate Late Model.

The triumph was his eighth of the 2019 campaign.

“This weekend definitely provided a range of emotions,” Roberson noted. “On Friday night at Elkins we were able to win in thrilling fashion. On Saturday at Virginia Motor Speedway, I think we had a good chance to get the win, but luck just wasn’t in our corner. It was really disappointing to have the flat and then get collected in a wreck. With all that said, it was really cool to be able to get a win for my dad on Father’s Day weekend. I’m truly blessed to get to go up and down the road with him every weekend.”

Friday saw Logan Roberson return to Elkins Raceway (Kerens, West Virginia) for a Weekly Racing Series Event. He started his night by qualifying second. On the heels of his qualifying effort, Roberson enjoyed a great run in the feature. He streaked to his eighth win of the season in the feature, courtesy of a last-lap pass over Michael Bland. Trey Watson, Garrett Paugh, and Billy Beachler trailed the lead duo to the checkers.

On Saturday Roberson traveled to Virginia Motor Speedway (Jamaica, Virginia) for the FASTRAK Racing Series sanctioned USA 100.  In a field of 28 cars, Logan started the night with a heat race victory, which positioned him fourth on the starting grid for the $3,000-to-win A-Main.

Wheeling his way up to the second position early in the going, Roberson began challenging for the lead until he suffered a flat tire. After replacing his tire and joining the field from the tail, Logan was collected in a wreck, which brought an early end to his night.

For full results from this event, please visit www.FastrakRacing.com .

The upcoming weekend has Logan tentatively scheduled to enter a Weekly Racing Series Event at Volunteer Speedway (Gulls Gap, Tennessee).

For more information on the program, please visit www.VolunteerSpeedway.com .

Race fans also make sure to check out the “Apparel” page at www.LoganRoberson.com as the brand-new shirts and diecasts are now available for online purchase. Get them before they are gone!

Logan Roberson would like to thank his marketing partners, which include Wynbridge Inc., Cecil B. Arthur Beef Farm & Bucking Stock, Pancho’s Racing Products, Wells Custom Jeep, BTS Towing Service, Virginia Motor Speedway’s Fastrak World Championship, Blue Ridge Treescape Service, Dirt Defender, Walker Arthur Racing, Beyea Custom Headers, Boyd Bilt, QA1, Keyser Manufacturing, All About Wraps, Rocket Chassis, Race 1, Kaylor’s Dirt Track Cams, Russ King Racing, Hoosier Tire by Terry Wilcher, Smiley’s Racing Enterprises, and MSRMafia.com Marketing Services.

For the latest information on Logan Roberson, please visit www.LoganRoberson.com as well the team’s social media channels at www.facebook.com/Loganrobersonracing/ and www.twitter.com/ThuggNasty17 .

AT A GLANCE: Eyeing success at Beaver Dam, Dubuque

Daryn Pittman looks to put bad races behind him, build upon Knoxville podiums at weekend doubleheader

In racing, drivers need a short memory, according to Daryn Pittman. He probably would have quit a long time ago without one.

He’s found himself needing to use that quality lately, due to a recent stretch of races he called “embarrassing.”

After sweeping the 2019 World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series season opening races at Volusia Speedway Park, his results went from consistent top-five finishes to top-10s and a recent string of four finishes in-a-row outside the top-10 at the beginning of June.

“Our last month has been an embarrassment for Dennis and Teresa (Roth, owners of the team) and myself, you know really everybody involved,” Pittman said. “For us to start off as good as we did and to find ourselves in the position and running for the positions we have been over the last several races aren’t acceptable and just got to do a better job.”

However, after a string of three top-five finishes in-a-row – which include two podiums at Knoxville Raceway; a track Pittman claimed he wasn’t good at – he and his Roth Motorsports team may have hit upon something.

“I feel like we’ve pin pointed a few areas that we’ve gotten off base,” Pittman said. “Only time will tell if we’ve got that straightened out or not. But hopefully so.”

Withholding the specifics of what the team has been working on, Pittman said certain things they’ve been doing with the car weren’t working.

“When you start looking back on paper and seeing results and seeing certain things you’re doing that are resulting in those bad results, we need to stop doing them,” he said. “I mean, it’s not easy. There’s no guarantee what we’re doing now is going to fix it. But we’re working hard, and nobody is giving up hope that we can get back to where we started the season at.”

Coming from Kasey Kahne Racing, where he won the Series championship in 2013, Pittman said he’ll look at some of the information from his old No. 9 car, but he doesn’t use a lot of it with Roth Motorsports. In part, because it’s different equipment, but also, he said, what he’d been doing with the No. 9 car wasn’t working that well, either. He’s focused on building something new with Roth.

The new driver and team combination are just a third of the way into the season working together, but Pittman said there has been no communication issues amongst them.

“Even as bad as things have been, I feel like their attitudes have been, for the most part, have been pretty good,” Pittman said about his team. “Which is hard to do when you’re running consistently 14th. It’s easy to get frustrated and let that get the best of you. They’ve done a good job, we just have to execute better.”

Their recent string of success has come at the perfect time to redeem their season with several big races coming up, Pittman said. Next on the Series schedule, on Saturday, June 22, is one of Pittman’s favorite tracks, Beaver Dam Raceway.

He won at the 1/3-mile raceway last year – his fourth win at the Wisconsin track – and currently holds the track record of 11.071 sec. there.

“It’s always been a place I feel like I’ve had success at and always ran well,” Pittman said. “It’s nice to roll into a race and feel like you’re one of the drivers to beat that night.”

Following the $20,000-to-win race at Beaver Dam Raceway, the World of Outlaws, on Sunday, June 23, will visit the 3/8-mile Dubuque Speedway in Iowa. It’ll be the third new track the Series goes to this year.

To Pittman, new tracks tend to suit him well, he said.

This year, he finished fifth at the new 3/8-mile Bridgeport Speedway and 14th both nights at the new quarter-mile Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway.

To prepare for a new track, Pittman said he’ll usually watch race videos from the speedways to get an idea of the size and what it’ll be like.

“When you get there, you try to pin point what track it is most similar to,” he said. “Start with a gear and a set up and go from there.”

Whether it’s a new track, or one he’s had success at before, Pittman is hoping he and his Roth Motorsports team can find the consistency, again, that had them leading the points at the start of the year. He currently has a 134-point deficit to make up, sitting third in points.

“It’s a humbling sport,” Pittman said. “So, when you’re struggling you’ve got to do your best and just check that and leave it at the last race and come in and know your team’s capable and, as a driver, you’re capable of winning no matter how you’ve been running. That can be easier said than done, but I try really hard to come in with a fresh outlook each night and let the past be the past and focus on that night.”

McIntosh and Kerr Can’t Catch Up at Smoky Mountain

MARYVILLE, Tenn. (June 18) Donald McIntosh, Tommy Kerr and the Blount Motorsports Team got behind Saturday at the Smoky Mountain Speedway Lucas Oil Series event and were never able to catch up.

McIntosh qualified seventh in the first group, started and finished fourth in the first heat. He started 13th  finished 14th in the feature. Kerr qualified 14th in the second group, started seventh in the fourth heat and finished fifth. He started on the outside front row on the second B-main and finished fourth. He did not make the starting field for the feature.

“We weren’t good, but we weren’t terrible either. We had a miss that we think was the MSD box during qualifying and we got behind chasing it. It is always hard to catch up but with a group of cars like this one it is almost impossible to catch up,” said David Bryant. “Right now we are a hit or miss race team and just because some of the misses are not of our doing it is still frustrating.”

“We had a good piece and if it hadn’t been for the engine missing in qualifying things could have been a lot different. We found the miss, but the time it took to do that is the time we needed to get the car ready for the feature,” said McIntosh. “Like David said when you get behind at any race it’s not good, but at a bigger race like this it really hurts.”

“Not making the race was nobodies fault, but my own,” said Kerr who races a limited schedule. “If the driver had been paying attention we would have made the race. Bad night, but at least we didn’t tear anything up.”

McIntosh will be racing his car this weekend in the SAS race at Senoia Raceway. The following weekend McIntosh and BMS will be at either Crossville or Tazewell on Friday night and at Smoky Mountain on Saturday night. 

Blount Motorsports enjoys sponsorship from Stowers (CAT) Machinery Corp., Blount Excavating, Massey Electric, Turner Hydraulics, Ole Ben Franklin Motors, Walker’s Truck Contractors, Food City, and The Wine and Spirits Cellar.

BMS races Rocket XR1 Chassis. Power is provided by Vic Hill Racing Engines with Dyer’s Top Rods, Driven Racing Oil, Waterman Fuel Pumps, VP Race Fuels and starting power from Go Lithium batteries. Gauges and wiring harnesses from QuickCar. Drive train components are from Quarter Master with Carbon Fiber drive shafts from Fastshafts. The shocks are Penske Racing Shocks with chassis and suspension components from TWM and springs from Hyperco. Noses and body parts are from Five Star Stock Car Bodies and tires are Hoosier Performance Tires from Hoosier Tires South.

For more information on Blount Motorsports or how you can become part of “The Team” go to blountmotorsports.com/