Long before a Sprint Car was ever dreamed of; the land surrounding River Cities Speedway called “les Grandes Fourches” and was a rendezvous point for trappers and traders. On Friday, when Elite Racing entered the gates at River Cities Speedway, they had an appointment with over 30 of the best sprint car drivers out there. After two nights of high speed racing rendezvous, Jason Meyers and his Elite Racing team collected two finishes in the Top-6 and continues to make it a three-way battle for the championship.
Fast Friday
The 2010 Champion began his Friday night at River Cities Raceways by collecting his second quick time of the season by turning a lap of 9.681 (111.559 mph) on the 3/10-mile course. Meyers then went on to pick up the sixth starting spot in the dash. Ready for the feature event, the whole Elite Racing team tried to translate their qualifying speed into their first victory of the season.
When the Green Flag flew, Meyers got on the outside of Donny Schatz and moved his way into the Top-5. The Californian then started tracking down the legendary 11 of Steve Kinser prior to the first break in racing action on Lap 7. On the restart, Schatz got a jump on Meyers, so the Champion settled into the 6th position.
The track was fast and with laps being clicked off at just over 10 seconds, Meyers stayed in Kinser’s tire tracks. With the pace of the race being fast and furious, Meyers lurked in the 6th position in his #14 DDNi KPC. As Kinser and Joey Saldana began a heated battle for position, it allowed the 2010 Champion to close in on the duo.
With just five laps to go, the final caution flag flew. On the restart, Meyers defended his 6th place running position and held on to it until the checkered flag flew. Craig Dollansky went on to take the victory while Meyers went on to take his 18th top-10 finish of the season.
Saturday Night Rendezvous
It is funny how a track can change in 24 hours. On the second night of racing at River Cities Speedway the track had slowed, so it was no surprise when Meyers timed in slower than the night before. He qualified 14th, and then went on to win his heat. Lined up in the last row of the dash the 2010 Champion fought to move up to 7th.
At the start of the feature Meyers was lined up in 7th. Throughout the night, Meyers waged quite a battle with Joey Saldana. Wherever Meyers was on the track, it did not seem like Saldana was that far away especially in the early laps. On the first lap, Saldana took the 7th position away from Meyers, but on the very next lap the two traded positions.
On Lap 6, the Champion pulled away from Saldana and in a single lap got past both Cody Darrah and Sammy Swindell to move into the top-5. A lap later the #9 car was lurking behind him again and took the position away. Meyers kept that move in mind and three laps later he stole the position back from Saldana.
The first break in racing action happened on Lap 10. On the restart, the Meyers and Saldana battle commenced as the #9 edged ahead. On Lap 16, the Californian slid past two cars in his #14 GLR Investments KPC and moved up to the 4th position.
Another caution flag flew on Lap 20. When the race finally got restarted, Meyers moved into the top-3 as he slid around Saldana, but the racing action was disrupted again on the following lap. When the field restarted, Meyers and Saldana traded positions again. Then Craig Dollansky closed in on the duo and got past them both on Lap 24.
With 10 laps to go, Meyers was stalking Saldana who had tracked down Steve Kinser. The 2010 champion chased down the duo, but would run out of time. Meyers would have to settle for his 11th top-5 of the season, while Dollansky went on to sweep both races in North Dakota. Currently Meyers leads the series in top-10 finishes with 19 to his credit and as a result holds on to the third position in the points standings.
Meyers becomes part of Clovis California Hall of Fame
On Saturday night, while the 2010 Champion raced in Grand Forks, ND, he received an award in his hometown. The Clovis Hall of Fame and Awards Banquet has been a staple in the community since 1975. Over the years it has honored the leaders of the town and those who have made notable achievements from Clovis.
Meyers was awarded the National Recognition award. While, Meyers was not there to accept it himself, the #14 GLR Investments KPC was on display and his wife Robyn accepted the award.
“It is really an honor,” Meyers explained. “I grew up in Clovis and went to school there, so I am very proud of being from there. To be recognized and inducted into the Clovis Hall of Fame is something that is really special. I will hold that near and dear for a lot of years. Unfortunately, I was unable to attend because we were racing in Knoxville, but my wife Robyn and one of the Elite Racing partners Guy (Stockbridge) is going to attend on my behalf. It is a great honor and I am not only proud to be from Clovis, but to be a part of their Hall of Fame. “
Up Next
The World of Outlaws will continue their tour of the Northern-Midwest as they travel to Minnesota and South Dakota next weekend. Up first will be Princeton Speedway. At the Minnesota track, Meyers has a top finish of 2nd which he got in 2004 and has an overall average finish of 7th. In his last appearance at the track the Champion finished 5th. Then on Saturday, the Elite Racing team will be traveling to Huset’s Speedway in Brandon, South Dakota. In his last 7 starts, Meyers has 5 top-5 finishes at Huset’s Speedway. His best finish there was 2nd in 2004 and he has an average finish of 6th.
