Elite Racing: DIRTcar Nationals

Five nights in Florida: Elite Racing Kicks off the 2010 season at DIRT car Nationals

In the world of sports 5 is a number that holds a lot of significance. For example, there are five rings in the Olympic Game symbol. In professional wrestling, you have five seconds to break a hold. There have been numerous greats that have worn the number 5 including like Joe DiMaggio. This weekend the DIRT car nationals had its own 5 — Five nights of 410 sprint car racing with the World of Outlaws and All Star Circuit of Champions. Jason Meyers and his Elite Racing team, fresh off their 2010 championship were ready to take on all 5 nights.

Night 1: Beginning 2011 with the All Stars

After warming up on Tuesday night, it was time for Jason Meyers and his Elite Racing crew to try out their new colors for 2011. As a result of heat race action, the Californian found himself starting  10^th in his #14 Allstar Performance KPC. On the drop of the green flag, Meyers fell back to 12^th but would not stay there for long. By lap 3, he had climbed into 11^th and was attempting to make his way into the top-10

The Champion would break back into the top-10 on the tenth revolution of the track. Meyers would stay there chasing former All Star Champion Greg Wilson, up until the caution flag flew on lap 21. On the restart the California native got a jump on the field and as a result picked up three positions. On the 25^th lap, Meyers challenged the #2 of Dale Blaney and was able to step up to 6^th, but not for long. With three laps to go, Stevie Smith would get an edge over him and take away the position. Meyers would finish out the night with a 7^th place finish, while Sammy Swindell went on to win the event.

Night 2: Climbing through the field

In the second night of All Star action at Volusia Speedway Park, Meyers started the main event in 15^th position in his #14 GLR Investments KPC. The racing action would be slowed on the first lap and there would be a complete restart. When the green flag did stay out, the 2010 World of Outlaws Champion quickly moved up. After lap 1, he was running in the 12^th position. On a track that was hard to pass on because of the rain earlier in the day, Meyers continued to climb as he moved to 11^th on Lap 16 when he got past David Gravel.

On Lap24, the Californian stormed into the top-10 when he dove under Greg Hodnett. With the laps running out, Meyers would track down Danny Lasoski and steal the 9^th position just before the checkered flag flew. While Sammy Swindell celebrated in Victory Lane, Meyers was already getting ready for the first night of World of Outlaws action.

Night 3: The 2011 World of Outlaws campaign begins

Now that the off season was officially over, it is time to start defending the 2010 title. Meyers and his Elite Racing team began their defense with a 13^th place start in the feature event. Early on the California Champion was a man on a mission as by Lap 3, he had broken into the top-10 and was still steadily climbing through the field. After a quick caution, Meyers took over the 9^th position in his #14 DDNi KPC. On Lap 12, the California continued his climb as he got around Chad Kemenah for the 8^th position.

When Craig Dollansky and Danny Lasoski tangled in front of Meyers for position and brought out the caution flag, the California champion ended up picking up two more positions.  On the restart, Meyers was being challenged by Dollansky. The two would swap the position several times, while Tim Shaffer joined the fray. Shaffer would dive under the duo, shortly before Dollansky made contact with the wall and flipped. Going into the final restart of the race, Meyers was in the 6^th position, but Stevie Smith would get to his outside and take the position away. As a result, the champion would begin his title defense with a 7^th place finish at Volusia.

Night Four: Racing from the back

The name of the game on night two was — catch up. After an off qualifying lap, Meyers tried to make it up during the heat races, but kept falling short of transferring into the main event. After the B-Main Elite Racing was on the outside looking in, so the team used their first provisional of the season to start the A-Main in the 25^th position. When the Green Flag fell, Meyers quickly advanced into the top-20 by his 4^th revolution around the course.

In a race that almost went wire-to-wire without a caution, Meyers methodically moved up position by position. The champion would climb to 15^th, but would have to defend it from two veterans. Danny Smith and Sammy Swindell would both get by Meyers relegating him back to 17 ^th, but when the caution flew on lap 26 Meyers picked up those two positions. The champion would hold on during the restart and finish the race in the 15^th position.

Night Five: Five for Five

It is always good to end on a good note and on the final night of racing action at Volusia Speedway Park, Meyers got into the groove and turned in his best performance of the weekend.  After the dash, the Californian found himself starting 7^th in the feature. By the end of the first lap, the champion was riding in the fifth position. Stevie Smith would challenge him for the position, but held on. He tried to track down Cody Darrah, but was unable to make the pass. The first caution of the night came out on Lap 6.

Meyers would struggle on restarts as he lost two positions on the ensuing one. The red flag would come out two laps later and on that restart the Californian lost three more positions. Riding in 10^th Meyers began his climb with ten laps left in the race. On Lap 21, Meyers would dive under Tyler Walker and Sam Hafertepe Jr. to climb to 8th. Two laps later the pilot of the #14 GLR Investments KPC, would pick up seventh when he got around Joey Saldana. By Lap 26, Meyers was closing in on sixth place Danny Lasoski and took away the position. With one lap left, Meyers would retake the 5^th position when he took it away from Craig Dollansky. Meyers would hold on to his first top-5 finish of the season while Jason Sides went on to win the last night of DIRT car Nationals.

“The way our week began, we are happy to finish the weekend with a top-5 finish,” Meyers stated. “It is not the way we wanted to start our season, but the good news is that there are still plenty of races left this season to defend the championship. I have to thank my crew Glen (Beaton), Brian (Bloomfield) and Shane (Bowers) for all the work they put in during the off season. We now have a week off to get everything ready for the West Coast swing, so that we can take California by storm in March.”

Up Next

After taking a week off to regroup, Elite Racing will be back in action the final weekend in February. On Friday February 25, the Champions will be heading to Pike County Speedway Magnolia, Mississippi for the first time since 2007. After the team will be traveling to Royal Purple Raceway  in Baytown, Texas on Saturday night February 26, where #14 team finished 10^th last season.

Jason Meyers’ History at Pike County Speedway and Royal Purple Raceway Park

Pike County Speedway – Magnolia, Mississippi

Royal Purple Raceway -Baytown, TX

The Champion gets his Ring

On Friday Night, Jason Meyers received the final piece of his 2010 Championship. In a special ceremony before the heat races, Meyers was awarded his championship ring by World of Outlaws CEO Brian Carter. After receiving his ring Meyers shared his thoughts on his title defense.

“Last year was last year,” Meyers stated. “There is no real pressure other than the typical pressure to defend this title. We are racing against the best in the world and we are doing everything we can to put the #14 car up front, get on the podium each night, and win another championship. There is no more pressure than there ever has been.”