PORT ELGIN, ON – Following a top-5 finish in the APC United Late Model Series season opener, multi-time Sauble Speedway champion Jason Parker will head to Flamboro Speedway’s ‘Meineke 100’ on June 6th for the second round of the upstart Pro Late Model tour.
“Starting off the tour with a top-5 was exactly what we were hoping to do at Sunset,” smiles the veteran from his team’s Port Elgin race shop. “I think the level of competition that turned up for that show blew everyone away. That was the absolute toughest field this province has seen in a long time, and we were right up front with the best of the best. That’s a big confidence boost”
And though Parker is proud of his team’s accomplishments in the opening round of competition, he’s well aware of what’s in store for him at Flamboro.
“The funny thing about momentum is that once you have it – you need to maintain it,” says Parker. “We have to put together another strong run at Flamboro. Because, once that green flag drops – no one is going to remember what we did at Sunset”
“I expect the field at Flamboro to be just as tough as it was in the season opener. Except, now instead of dealing with [Dwayne] Baker and Cayden [Lapcevich] as the home track favourites, we have to keep our eyes on [Shawn] Chenoweth and [Dale] Shaw”
When asked his strategy for the 100-lap event, ‘The New Age Punisher’ explains that, although he hopes to employ a conservative strategy, it will be tough to restrain himself once the green flag flies.
“I know a lot of guys are going to say their strategy is to hold back and save their stuff for the first half of the race, but I just can’t buy into that,” offers the 2014 Velocity 250 winner with a laugh. “I don’t know a racer that enters a race with the intentions of letting guys pass them. We’re just going to try and qualify well and get to the front as quick as we can. Because, if you’re in the back saving your stuff, you’re putting yourself in position to get caught in someone else’s mess”
“Time trials are going to be huge,” adds Parker. “Flamboro is such a tough place to pass. If you’re rolling out in the 9th row – you know that you’re in for a long night”
Though recent years have seen Parker’s appearances at Flamboro dwindle, the Sauble Speedway regular has a number of impressive Ltd. Late Model finishes to his credit at the facility.
“We’ve had some solid runs at Flamboro in the past,” says Parker. “Tom Walters and I chased each other around there at Oktoberfest one year in what was one of my favourite races of all time. So, even though Flamboro’s never been my home track, I do have some fond memories there”
“Eight races isn’t a long schedule, and I think after Round 2 you’re going to have a much clearer picture of who’s ready to contend for a championship and who has some work to do”
“We’re just going to do all that we can to keep the nose on our car, and work our way into another top-5 finish.”
Details for Saturday’s APC United Late Model Series event can be found at www.FlamboroSpeedway.ca.
Fans can keep up with Parker all weekend long by following him on Twitter @NewAgePunisher8 and by visiting the official Jason Parker Racing page on Facebook.
Jason Parker’s 2015 tour is powered by Prestige General Contractors, Saugeen Shores Transmission, MacDonnell Fuels, BAXI / Marathon Industries, Colourworks, Keeprite, Candue Homes, Ron Gibbons Construction and Crabby Joe’s of Port Elgin/Hanover.
By Spencer Lewis (@itsspencerlewis)
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