PORT ELGIN, ON- Reigning Sauble Speedway Late Model champion Jason Parker will enter this Saturday’s event just one point behind current division leader Josh Stade. And, with only three races remaining before the speedway crowns its 2015 champion, the veteran knows he will have to take advantage of every opportunity to pass – and hold off – his younger challenger.
“This time of the year is gut check time,” says Parker matter-of-factly when speaking about the level of intensity he expects in the Sauble pit area on race day. “The first three months of your season exist solely to get you here. This is the deep water. It’s one thing to put yourself in position to compete for a championship – but it’s something entirely different to seal the deal and bring it home”
Fresh off of a 2014 championship run that bookended the most dominant season of his storied career, Parker will no doubt rely on some of the knowledge he’s accrued over several championship runs in one of Ontario’s most veteran-heavy divisions.
“We’ve been fortunate enough to have been down this road before,” explains ‘The New Age Punisher’. “My guys know what it takes to get the job done. I think that gives us an advantage over a couple of the teams we’re matched against”
“At the end of the day, I’d like to think that we’re all very talented racers. And I know that we all have top shelf equipment. So, any advantage you can find is a welcomed one”
In addition to point leader Stade, Parker also has a number of addition contenders to deal with in one of the tightest points battles in recent Sauble history. Multi-time feature winners Marvin Freiburger, Tom Gibbons and Sauble newcomer Junior Farrelly all hope to keep Parker from repeating as division champion.
“With every lap of every race now, your margin for error gets a little bit smaller,” says Parker. “You’re walking a tightrope. Any misstep and you’re giving up points that you won’t have time to get back. There’s a quality team ahead of us in the standings, and a handful of quality teams right behind us. We don’t have the luxury of having an ‘off night'”
“We unload every Saturday with the goal of being better than anyone else in the pits – but if you want to win a championship you need to take it one step further,” adds the veteran.
When asked what it will take to help generate some much-needed late-season momentum, Parker’s answer is a simple one.
“Our strategy is to come out and win on Saturday. That’s it,” shrugs the fan favourite. “We need to score more points than the other guy. No one can score more points than the winner. So, that’s what we need to do.”
Details for Sauble Speedway’s August 15th event can be found at www.SaubleSpeedway.ca.
Jason Parker’s 2015 efforts are made possible thanks to the support of Lake Huron Rod & Gun, Squeaky Clean of Port Elgin, Saugeen Shores Transmission, Carrie Optical, McGee Motors, Ron Gibbons Construction and Secrets of Tuscany.
Fans can stay up to date with the team by following @NewAgePunisher8 on Twitter and visiting the official Jason Parker Racing page on Facebook.
By Spencer Lewis (@itsspencerlewis)
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