PORT ROYAL, PENNSYLVANIA (October 10, 2020) – David Gravel and the Jason Johnson Racing (JJR) #41 team were back at Port Royal Speedway on Saturday night after finishing eighth in the Nittany Showdown opener less than 24 hours prior at The Speed Palace. The weather was again picturesque around the Juniata County racetrack with people fishing in the nearby Juniata River as the teams unloaded their equipment in preparation for some high speed action around the always improving half mile facility. The Weikert’s Livestock/Staunton Union Stockyard (SU) Maxim was glimmering in the sun ready for action. There were 51 teams positioned throughout the pit area that sits off of turn four each focused on turning in their best performance as they chased the winner’s portion of the purse.

Read more »

PORT ROYAL, PENNSYLVANIA (October 9, 2020) – The temperatures in Juniata County were reflective of this time of the year with a crispness in the air surrounded by the changing color of the foliage that fills your eyes in this part of the country. David Gravel and the JJR #41 team trekked up Route 322 from their mid-state home when they are in town, the Jonestown KOA Campground, and made the right hand turn onto West Fourth Street in Port Royal to drive towards the pit entrance. There were 48 cars lining the pit area off turn four at Port Royal Speedway’s half-mile oval ready to complete in the first of two nights of action in the Nittany Showdown with an $8,000 check waiting for the winner at the end of the night.

Read more »

MECHANICSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA (October 3, 2020) – After winning the opener on Friday night to kick off the 58th Annual Champion Racing Oil National Open weekend, David Gravel and the JJR #41 team focused their attention on making sure they positioned themselves to be in the mix for the big prize available at the end of Saturday night – the $75,000 winner’s share of the purse in their Weikert’s Livestock/J.R.C. Transportation/FK Rod Ends #41 Maxim entry. The history of this race in unbelievable with the names of some of the winners just being downright magical in sprint car racing and for motorsports fans alike – Gordon Johncock (1963), Lou Blaney (1966), Bobbie Adamson (1967 and 1968), Kenny Weld (1971, 1972, 1973 and 1975), Steve Smith (1974, 1976, and 1981), Van May (1977), Kramer Williamson (1978), Smokey Snellbaker (1979), Lynn Paxton (1982 and 1983), Doug Wolfgang (1984, 1985, and 1986), Steve Kinser (1990, 1992, 1994, and 2003), Don Kreitz Jr. (1993), Lance Dewease (1996 and 2001, 2002, 2018), Mark Kinser (1995 and 199), Donny Schatz (2000, 2004, 2005, 2007, and 2012), Greg Hodnett (2009), Jason Meyers (2011), Fred Rahmer (2013) and David Gravel who is a two-time winner (2014 and 2017) before joining forces with Jason Johnson Racing (JJR). David Gravel was primed for a great night of racing as he tried to add his name to this exclusive list for the third time. Philip Dietz, along with the crew of Clyde Knipp and Nate Repetz, were turning the wrenches and eager to see their hard work payoff. On Saturday evening there was again an impressive field of 54 teams entered to complete in this prestigious sprint car event at Williams Grove Speedway.

Read more »

MECHANICSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA (October 2, 2020) – With cool Fall temperatures lingering in the Keystone State air along with the beauty and vibrant colors associated with the foliage changing leaves on the trees, David Gravel and the stars of the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Series were back in Central Pennsylvania for one of the crown jewel events on the schedule each year at Williams Grove Speedway – the 58th Annual Champion Racing Oil National Open. It would be David’s 600th World of Outlaws start in his still young and budding career. As you walked through the pit area you could feel the excitement as the teams prepared their entries for the first of two nights of high speed action at the historic race track on the hallowed grounds in the cornfields that surround Mechanicsburg. For the Friday night portion of the show there were 57 teams registered and parked throughout the frontstretch and backstretch pit areas for the competitors.

Read more »

SARVER, PENNSYLVANIA (September 26, 2020) – With some warmth returning to the air, David Gravel and the JJR #41 team arrived in western Pennsylvania to compete in the prestigious Commonwealth Clash held at Lernerville Speedway on Saturday evening racing to race on the fifth consecutive nights. This event is always a popular race for the competitors as the 4/10-mile high banked surface always produces some excellent racing for both the drivers and the fans alike. The grandstands were filled as everyone followed the pre-race COVID temperature check testing protocols and were ready to see some great racing. In the past, David has had proven success at Lernerville and was looking to build upon that success as he was searching for another victory when they pulled into the pit area that is located off turns three and four at the track. There were 47 teams registered at the pit gate to race against each other for the Commonwealth Clash trophy and prize money.

Read more »

ORRVILLE, OHIO (September 25, 2020) – In another race that was washed out by Mother Nature back on the first day of August, this day found the World of Outlaw NOS Energy Drink Series teams returning to Wayne County Speedway under the lights to attempt to race for the first time in 35 years. This visit to the Orrville, Ohio speed plant would mark the first time the World of Outlaws (WoO) series competitors have raced at the facility since 1985.  The fans in this area came out in full force to support this event. Steve Kinser has dominated WoO competition here in the past winning three of the four races (1979, 1981 and 1985), while Bobby Davis Jr. is the only other driver to win in Outlaw competition back in 1984. The Jason Johnson Racing (JJR) hauler pulled into the pit area with their driver David Gravel poised and ready to attack the 3/8-mile semi-banked oval and chase after the increased $15,000 winner’s share of the purse that was supported by Slick Willy’s Cornhole Company. There were 49 race teams all there for the same reason – to add their names to the list of winners and earn the big check.

Read more »

PLYMOUTH, INDIANA (September 24, 2020) – After rained washed out their first attempt to race at Plymouth Speedway back on August 2, David Gravel and the stars of the World of Outlaw NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series returned on Thursday night to race at the semi-banked 3/8-mile track nestled in the countryside near South Bend. David Gravel knows how to win here as he was the last driver to stand in victory lane back on April 28, 2017, when the World of Outlaws last visited the track. The event kicked off a triple header weekend of Outlaw competition that would take the traveling teams and their stars from Plymouth Speedway in Indiana to Wayne County Speedway in Ohio and then onto Lernerville Speedway in Pennsylvania in three consecutive nights. As the fall breeze flowed through the Midwest skies, 33 teams were parked in the pit area at Plymouth Speedway’s “Playground of Power” ready to put on a high quality show for the fans in the stands.

Read more »

ROSSBURG, OHIO (September 23, 2020) – The competitors rolled into the track that Earl Baltes carved into the cornfields of northwest Ohio back in 1954, and Tony Stewart purchased in 2004. The drivers and their teams were back for the final night of the invitation only Governors Reign event that had a $52,000 check awaiting the winner in the livestream only event on FloRacing. After setting a New Track Record (NTR) on Tuesday night with a lap of 12.599 seconds and a disappointing 17th place finish, after having an on track mishap on a lap 20 restart while running third on the opening night, David Gravel and the JJR #41 team were back at Eldora Speedway focused and determined to continue their speed and drive a better overall outcome on the night when all of the big money was up for grabs. There were 46 of the 48 invited participants and their affiliated teams back in the pit area as they were spaced throughout the pit area again ready to get up to speed in some high sped action at Eldora Speedway!

Read more »

ROSSBURG, OHIO (September 22, 2020) – Following the race at Devil’s Bowl on Saturday night, the team trucked from Texas to Ohio, Mesilla Valley Transportation (MVT) and J.R.C. Transportation style, for the kickoff off of the Governors Reign at the famous Eldora Speedway under Ollie’s Bargain Outlet All Star Circuit of Champions (ASCoC) presented by Mobil 1 sanction. Announced on August 18th, the invitation only event would happen behind closed doors due to the State of Ohio’s ongoing restrictions in response to COVID-19 health crisis. Fans could watch both nights of action live only on FloRacing as the 48 invitees prepared for action with no fans in the stands. The pit area was hustling as each of the teams were hard at work getting their speed chariots ready for their driver to perform at speed in this unprecedented two-day event.

Read more »

MESQUITE, TEXAS (September 19, 2020) – After the checkered flag flew at Lawton Speedway and the dust settled, there was work still to do for the JJR crew as they had to wash and maintain the car and head to The Lone Star State of Texas to race on Saturday night at the historic Devil’s Bowl Speedway. The famous half mile oval is where is all began for Ted Johnson’s travel tour of speedsters back in 1978 when Jimmy Boyd captured the first ever World of Outlaws feature win on March 18th. This place is like home for crew chief Philip Dietz. Not only is he a native Texan, but for many years he and his cousin Jason Johnson lived right up the road in Greenville when they were together and racing with the late Lanny Row’s operation, the beloved The Shop Motorsports star car, and have had a lot of success at the half mile track. That success continued with the World of Outlaws when they collected the win in the JJR #41 back on April 14, 2017 together. On this night there were 22 signed into the pit area readying to race in the Texas Outlaw Nationals. Philip, David, Clyde and Nate were ready to continue the success of JJR at Devil’s Bowl.

Read more »