ELDON, MISSOURI (May 30, 2020) – Following a sixth place finish on Friday night, David Gravel and the JJR #41 team were back at the track ready to compete in the Tiger Towing #41 entry. The track officials had watered and prepped the surface for the night of action for the 36 teams that registered in the pit area. There was a $10,000 check awaiting the winner at the end of the night and everyone wanted to get their hands on it.
The 2019 Knoxville Nationals Champion would be the 29th car out for his time trial laps. He sat patiently in the Weikert’s Livestock/J.R.C. Transportation machine ready to get rolling against the second hand on the clock. His Kistler Engines power came to life under his tiger striped hood and it was time to turn his best lap. His first one was a good one at 12.089 second circuit, but the next one was better at 11.931 seconds. Kyle Larson set the top mark with a lap of 11.426 seconds. Gravel’s best lap was good for 11th quick overall on the night.
The focused driver, along with his crew chief Phil Dietz, twisted the wrenches and made some adjustment for the 10-lap heat race where his would start from the inside of row two. Sheldon Haudenschild and Kraig Kinser were on the front row with Gravel in the Mesilla Valley Transportation (MVT)/Greber Racing Components Maxim sharing row two with Tyler Courtney. Kinser and Haudenschild would battle for the top spot as David was fast in the show position through the early and middle stages of the heat race. Racing was quickly brought to a halt under red flag conditions for Brian Brown who flipped after making contact with Cale Thomas for the same portion of real estate entering turn three. With two to go, the field regrouped and Kinser led the field to the green. Gravel used the opportunity to pressure Haudenschild for the second spot and a position in the DIRTVision Fast Pass Dash. He was right there and on the last lap coming out of turn four he ran out of time and track to make the pass finishing third just 0.129 seconds behind Haudenschild. Kerry Madsen and Courtney would complete the top five and advance to the feature.
The field was set for the 35-lap NOS Energy Drink feature race for the cash. Kyle Larson was perched on the pole with Kraig Kinser flanked out to his right side on the front row. They were followed in row two by Shane Stewart and Donny Schatz. David Gravel was rolling around from his 11th starting spot. Larson wasted little time securing the top spot as Gravel wheeled the Durst, Inc./All Pro Auto Conditioning #41 into the top ten. He was working hard inside the cockpit and gaining positions early and often making his way into the top five on lap six. He would get shuffled back to position six during the middle stages, but the talented driver just never gives up. His grit is his strength and his focus is his differentiator. He was up on the wheel and running smooth lines. Meanwhile, Larson and Donny Schatz were putting on an incredible show for the top spot. Schatz stole if for three laps before Larson charged back by to take the lead. With the white flag waving it was Larson leading Schatz, but it was Schatz reaching the checkered flag first as he made the last lap pass for the victory over Larson with Brad Sweet rounding out the podium. David Gravel gave it his all and brought home a fifth place finish aboard the Tiger Towing/Brown & Miller Racing Solutions (BMRS) #41 Maxim. Another good run for the forty-one!
Mesilla Valley Transportation (MVT); Saich Family; Dissolvalloy Downhole Revolution; Weikert’s Livestock; J.R.C. Transportation, Inc.; Durst Inc.; Maxim Racing; The Boyd Family; Pro Powder Coating (PPC); Waco Metal; High Performance Lubricants, LLC; Team Jack Foundation; Mark Burch Motorsports; Tiger Towing; All Pro Auto Reconditioning; AutoMeter; Bell Racing USA; Brown & Miller Racing Solutions (BMRS); Buckwalter Trucking, LLC; C&R Racing; Chalk Stix Torsion Bars; Crow Enterprizes, Engler Machine & Tool, Inc.; Factory Kahne FK Shocks; Fibreworks Composites; FK Rod Ends; Fuel Safe Racing Cells; Greber Racing Components; Hoosier Racing Tire; ISC Racers Tape; Jansen Transportation; K&N Filters; Kistler Racing Engines; KSE Racing Products; LogoDaddy Graphics; Max Papis Innovations (MPI); MSD Performance; RaceDiecast.com; Schoenfeld Headers; Shell Shock Paint; Simpson Race Products; T-FAB Custom Metal Fabrication; Vortex Racing Products; Walker Performance Filtration; Weld Wheels; Wilwood Racing; and Winters Performance Products.
To stay up-to-date with David Gravel and his success and journey on and off the track, as well as to purchase his gear and merchandise, go to www.DavidGravel89.com.
To stay connected with Jason Johnson Racing (JJR), go to www.jasonjohnsonracing.com.
