WATERLOO, ON – After suffering a blown motor the night before his first event of the 2015 season – 13-year old Jake Watson has launched a successful campaign in just his sophomore year behind the wheel of a Sunset Speedway Mini Stock.
The third-generation star has tallied two top-10s in his first four starts of the season – highlighted by a head-turning 7th place performance in Sunset’s inaugural ‘Spring Velocity’ invitational on May 17th.
“I was so scared that we might lose our season after the motor blew,” admits Watson when asked about his family-run team’s opening-weekend scare. “We couldn’t have done it without [Spira Fire Protection founder] Ken Spira. If he hadn’t have stepped in with his spare motor – I think we would still be on the sidelines watching.”
Since then, the teenager has shown poise beyond his years, fashioning his strongest month of competition since debuting in late 2013.
“This is the best start we could have hoped for. Dad’s worked so hard on this car all Winter, I’m just happy I’ve been able to make him proud,” smiles ‘The Derringer’.
“When we won our heat race at the Spring Velocity – that’s when I knew we were heading in the right direction,” continues the well-spoken middle-school student. “I’ve never been to victory lane before. So, to be able to do it at a huge event like that meant the absolute world to us.”
With his frustrating freshman campaign now behind him, Watson explains he feels gratitude for the hard times that his team persevered through last season.
“As tough as it was to break into this division last season, I’m happy that we were able to learn some things the hard way. All of the tough nights that we had last year just makes us appreciate what we’ve been able to do this season even more.”
For Watson – the month of May was merely a preview of what he hopes to accomplish by summer’s end.
“It’s a long season,” notes the former Karting standout. “We’re just getting started. Our focus, like always, is just to keep improving our program every chance that we get.”
“The competition in this division is so tough. If you aren’t constantly working to get better, you’ll never make any gains.”
‘The Derringer’s 2015 season is made possible thanks to the support of Spira Fire Protection, Race2way.ca, Hype Energy Drink, London Recreational Racing, GUNK, Wix Filters, The Landing Strip of Toronto, Academy Construction, TSS Top Shops, SMG Motorsports, OKTANE Productions, Fast Eddie Racewear, Glencoe Automotive, For Your Eyes Only, Protein2O, AquaHydrate, Stewarts Root Beer, AR Bodies, Falken Tire, Artik Ice, Dominion Sure Seal, Chetty’s Hot Sauce, Cloverleaf Farms, Lucas Oil and Expressway Ford.
Fans can stay up to date with Jake via his official ‘Jake Watson – WWR’ Facebook page and on Twitter @JakertWatson.
By Spencer Lewis (@itsspencerlewis)
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