@PtboSpeedway • QUEENSVILLE, ON – Following a spate of frustrating outings at his home track of Sunset Speedway, Ltd. Late Model heavyweight Jason Witty will enter Peterborough Speedway’s Autumn Colours Classic eager for a reversal of fortune.
“I think I’d be lying if I said the last month wasn’t a little disappointing,” admits the oft-positive Witty. “We had such an awesome year, and it just felt like we were snake bit for the last month of it. No matter what we did, we couldn’t get out of our own way.”
In the final 3 events of the Sunset season, Witty encountered fuel pick-up problems, over aggressive competitors and, most recently, a sway bar issue plagued the team throughout the September 27th & 28th ‘Velocity 250’ weekend.
“It’s a heartbreaker not being able to give my guys the results they deserve,” says Witty. “The stuff that’s been taking us out have been complete flukes. There’s not really any way to prepare for it. All we can do is keep looking forward, and hope that our bad luck is behind us.”
“Peterborough is a huge weekend, and if we could get things back on track there, I think it would help make up for the last few weeks at Sunset.”
A veteran of the Autumn Colours Classic, Witty is quick to admit that he still feels the pressure when he rolls through the gates on Thanksgiving weekend.
“I don’t think I’m any different than all of the other racers in the pit area,” shrugs ‘Bam Bam’. “You want to perform on the big stage. In a lot of ways, this is the biggest race weekend of the year. Teams work all season for this.”
“I’m not sure if it’s pressure as much as it’s a desire to reward your team for their hard work all summer,” continues Witty. “These guys dedicate a lot of their personal time to making this program work, and I can’t picture a better way to thank them than from victory lane at ‘the Classic.'”
With a healthy field of top Ltd. Late Model talent expected for the 75-lap A Main on Sunday afternoon, Witty is prepared to implement a conservative strategy in hopes of earning his first career ‘Classic’ victory.
“I think a lot of drivers tend to forget how long of a race it is,” says Witty. “75-laps at Peterborough is a lot more than a sprint. You’ve got to take care of your equipment if you want to be around at the end.”
“We’re hoping to dodge the wrecks and go easy on our tires through the first half. With a little bit of luck, we’ll be close enough to the front to jump into the conversation when the laps start to count.”
Details, including gate times and ticket prices, for the 22nd annual Autumn Colours Classic can be found at www.PeterboroughSpeedway.com.
Jason Witty’s Speedy Auto Machine powered McColl Racing Enterprises is fueled by Larue’s Haulage, Carrot Express, Queensville Sod and Matco Tools.
By Spencer Lewis (@itsspencerlewis)
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