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| Press Release |
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JONES RETURNS TO WINNER’S CIRCLE
AT THE PAS |
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Perris, Calif…(August 23, 2008) It had been over a year since defending series
champion Tony Jones, Norco, Calif., had scored a Lucas Oil USAC/CRA sprint car
win. Happily for Jones, that all changed Saturday at the Perris Auto Speedway
when he drove his Alexander Trucking / La Villa Restaurant No. 4 DRC to his 14th
career USAC/CRA win.
“It’s been tough for us,” Jones later admitted. “We found a few different things here and there lately, and I think we’re back to our old selves now and should be good the rest of the year.” In addition to the pressure of returning to victory lane, Jones has also had to deal with a number of recent medical issues within his family that have putting racing in perspective and reminded him what is really important in his life. “Besides the Alexander family, who puts this great race car underneath me, I want to dedicate this win to my dad Bubby, my father-in-law Rick and my son Kyle. All three have been in the hospital recently and my son is still in the hospital. It’s hard being here tonight, but it makes winning that much sweeter,” Jones said while trying to hold back a tear in his eye. Indiana’s Bill Rose started on the pole for the 30-lap feature race with Eric Severson to his outside. Rose and Severson raced even through the first-turn before Severson grabbed the lead with a big wheelie off the turn-two cushion. Using a motor that he borrowed from Rose’s (David Miller) team, Severson quickly built a huge advantage. Unfortunately, Severson’s quest for his first UCAC/CRA win came to an abrupt end on lap-eleven after he flipped in turn-one. Severson was not hurt. Severson’s misfortune put Rose into the lead and moved Yorba Linda, California’s Rip Williams and his John Jory / AMA Plastics No. 3 Stinger into second-place for the restart. The red flag also benefited third-place Garrett Hansen, Manhattan Beach, Calif., who’s Mark Preistley / Roy Miller Freightlines No. 7 Maxim had an oil line come loose moments before Severson’s flip. Wasting little time once green flag racing resumed, Williams darted under Rose in turn-three and took the top-spot. Once circuit later, Hansen used a similar move to take over the second-position. Working his way forward from the sixth starting spot, Jones made his first attempt to pass Hansen on lap-17. Six laps later, Hansen slid over the turn-two cushion allowing Jones to muscle his way ahead. Hansen quickly regrouped and tried to pass Jones along the back-straight. Seconds later, contact between the two drivers secured the runner-up spot for Jones. After a brief caution period for debris, Jones powered his way along the turn-two cushion and moved ahead of the bottom-running Williams on lap-24. Never one to give up, Williams stayed close to Jones hoping for some type of miscue. That miscue came in turn-three on lap-29 when Jones bicycled over the cushion. Like a shark smelling blood in the water, Williams immediately pounced on Jones and at one point was nearly side-by-side with Jones as they raced to the white flag. Driving like the champion he is, Jones was flawless on the final lap and was able to use the cushion to keep Williams in the runner-up spot. “We made it a little too exciting. I think my guys would have hung me if I would have put her in the fence,” Jones laughed. “I was just trying to catch a good groove and a drove it in there just a little too straight.” After some tough luck during recent events, fast qualifier Danny Sheridan, Santa Maria, Calif., made a spectacular outside pass on Hansen exiting turn-four on the final lap to give the Kittle Plumbing / Pace Lighting No. 18 Stinger a third-place finish. Current USAC/CRA point leader Mike Spencer, Temecula, Calif., finished fifth behind the wheel of the Ron Chaffin / Temecula Valley Pipe & Supply No. 50 Maxim. Sidelined for most of the night with mechanical problems, Blake Miller won Hard-Charger honors with his 19th to seventh-place drive. |
