(Photo by Paige Clark)
Inside Line Promotions – HIGHLANDS, Texas (April 8, 2014) – A special moment capped a spectacular weekend for Josh Baughman.
After wrapping up the ASCS Gulf South Region doubleheader with another top-10 finish in his Jason Johnson Racing entry, Baughman joined his boss in Victory Lane at Battleground Speedway. The two teams then adorned backwards LA Dodgers hats with the name “Patrick Silva” stitched into them to honor Baughman’s crew member who passed away two weeks ago.
“That just shows that we’re a team and a family and he’s not been forgotten about,” Baughman said. “He loved the Dodgers. He always had a Dodgers hat on. We’re going to continue racing in his honor.”
While Johnson scored the victory during the Patrick Silva Memorial on Saturday, Baughman put together his best career weekend in the 360ci class.
He opened the event on Friday by charging from sixth to a second-place finish in his heat race, which earned him the most points of any driver and a trip to the feature redraw.
“We had a really good car Friday night,” he said. “The track didn’t have much moisture to it. We were patient and didn’t get caught up in anything.”
After pulling the No. 6 to start on the outside of the third row for the main event, Baughman battled within the top five for the entire race and waged an epic war with Johnson for fourth place – the final position that locked into Saturday’s main event.
“We raced with Jason across the line and he beat us by about a foot to lock into the feature on Saturday night,” Baughman said. “Being able to run with Jason and racing to beat the boss is definitely a thrill. That shows all the effort our teams put together. Last year we wouldn’t even be able to get up there.”
Baughman’s fifth-place result was his first top 10 of the season and it gave the team momentum as it headed into the finale on Saturday. However, Baughman was caught up in a crash early in his heat race, which he started on the outside of the third row.
“We had about five restarts in our heat,” he said. “On the first three starts we were up to second before we came out of the first turn. On the fourth restart a guy stopped in front of me going into turn one. I plowed into him and it tore my front wing off. I just survived the rest of the race. That thing wouldn’t handle.”
Baughman’s sixth-place finish gave him enough points to lock into the main event starting 15th.
“We rebounded pretty good,” he said. “I was just being patient and staying out of trouble. We hugged the tires and picked them off when we had the chance.”
Baughman maneuvered to a seventh-place result, which marked his third top 10 of the season.
“This is by far the best weekend I’ve had in racing in the 360 class,” he said. “It’s something we are building on. We meet every week after every race and we set goals. The way everything is clicking there is no reason we shouldn’t win real soon.”
Baughman is taking the next two weeks off before returning to action with the ASCS Lone Star Region on April 25 at Lubbock Speedway in Lubbock, Texas, and on April 26 at Abilene Speedway in Abilene, Texas.
QUICK RESULTS –
April 4 – Battleground Speedway in Highlands, Texas – Heat race: 2 (6); Feature: 5 (6).
April 5 – Battleground Speedway in Highlands, Texas – Heat race: 6 (6); Feature: 7 (15).
SEASON STATS –
8 races, 0 wins, 1 top five, 3 top 10s, 3 top 15s, 5 top 20s
UP NEXT –
April 25 at Lubbock Speedway in Lubbock, Texas, and April 26 at Abilene Speedway in Abilene, Texas, with the ASCS Lone Star Region
SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS –
Website: http://www.JoshBaughman.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Josh_Baughman17
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JoshBaughmanRacing
APPAREL –
Baughman will have t-shirts and hoodies available for sale at his race trailer throughout the season. For a list of his scheduled events, visit http://www.JoshBaughman.com.
SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT – Beard Equipment
Beard Equipment was founded in 2006 in Midland, Texas, on the belief that a need existed for a supplier of quality equipment with knowledgeable sales people and customer service. Beard Equipment originally serviced Texas exclusively, but expanded its reach in 2007 to surrounding states and nationwide in early 2011. For more information, visit http://www.BeardEquipCo.com.
“They’ve been a part of my racing for quite a while,” Baughman said. “I’m glad to have Beard Equipment be a part of the team and we couldn’t do it without them.”
Baughman would also like to thank Hollywood Blasting and Coating, Energy Equipment Co., Fischer Body Shop, Gleco Platings, Compression Generation Services, B&H Industrial Supplies, FK Rod Ends, Factory Kahne, K&N Filters, ButlerBuilt Professional Seat Systems, MSD Ignition, Weld Wheels, Vortex Wings, Maxim Chassis, Moss Racing Engines and Oakley for their support.
INSIDE LINE PROMOTIONS –
Inside Line Promotions specializes in affordable public relations and media management for motor sports drivers, teams, sponsors, tracks, series, events, organizations and manufacturers. ILP Founder Shawn Miller leverages professional journalism with new media technologies and social networking to improve your exposure and the return on investment for your sponsors.
To meet the media relations needs of your program and to join Team ILP, contact Shawn at 541-510-3663 or InsideLinePromotions@gmail.com. For more information on Inside Line Promotions, visit http://www.InsideLinePromotions.com.
- Shawn Miller on Apr 08, 2014
- Article Date: 4/8/2014 by Inside Line Promotions