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.

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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.

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