SAULT STE. MARIE, ON- Following an impressive 2014 campaign with the Southern Ontario-based OSCAAR Modified Tour, 14-year old Dustin Jackson has confirmed he will spend the majority of the 2015 season touring the states of Michigan, Ohio and Indiana with the Top Speed ICAR Modified Tour.
The second-generation star departs the OSCAAR tour after earning 6 top-5s and 12 top-10s in 14 events through 2014, finishing 6th in the championship standings.
“I’m definitely not saying we’re retired from OSCAAR racing,” says the well-spoken teenager, “we’re just headed in a new direction for 2015”
After travelling an average of 7-hours to speedways across Ontario, Jackson admits that logistics was a major factor in planning their 2015 season.
“We loved every minute we spent with the OSCAAR tour, but the distance just got to be too much,” explains ‘The Natural’. “The closest speedway on the OSCAAR tour was 6 and a half hours away from our race shop”
“Racing in Michigan will allow us to stay a little closer to home, without limiting the caliber of competition we’ll be up against. It’s a win-win”
The Top Speed ICAR Modified Tour will pit Jackson against some of the best open-wheel competitors from across the Midwest, including 2014 Northern Tour champion Chad Poole, fellow multi-generational standout Travis Eddy and perennial contender Brian Nester.
“There’s a lot of talent on the Top Speed tour,” says Jackson. “These are guys that have won absolutely everywhere. They’re all tough, and they all have fantastic equipment”
“It’s not going to be a walk in the park, but I’m confident that we have a team capable of establishing a presence on this tour. We want to race against the very best competition, and I know that we’ve found that with the Top Speed Tour”
Although 2015 will find Jackson and his family-run effort travelling to a number of unfamiliar facilities, the high-school student remains optimistic of his chances to learn on the fly.
“The entire time I’ve been racing Modifieds, it’s been all about learning as we go,” says the personable youngster. “The speedways on the OSCAAR tour were completely foreign to me when I first started following the tour. They were in my home province, but I had never raced on them in any other division”
“I’m hoping we can apply that same strategy to our program this season. I’m extremely fortunate to be surrounded by a lot of very smart people, and once we all start moving in the same direction, I think the sky is the limit as far as what we can accomplish.”
Marketing support for Dustin’s 2015 season is provided by Wardlaw Heating & Cooling, Frankie’s Towing, Union Limousine, Milne Transport, Project Track Champion, Winchester Arms and SL Promotions.
Fans can keep up with the action by checking in with the team on Facebook at Dustin Jackson Racing.
By Spencer Lewis (@itsspencerlewis)
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