(Photo by Paul Arch)
Inside Line Promotions – BARBERVILLE, Fla. (Feb. 12, 2019) – Jason Sides highlighted his DIRTcar Nationals by scoring a top-10 result last Saturday.
The five-day extravaganza hosted by Volusia Speedway Park started on Wednesday with an Ollie’s Bargain Outlet All Star Circuit of Champions show. Sides qualified 16th quickest overall and third in his group before placing third in a heat race. He capped the night by finishing 20th in the main event.
“We like to use that first night as a test to make sure everything is in order prior to the World of Outlaws races,” he said. “We were able to run some laps and dial everything in a bit in preparation for the weekend shows.”
Sides took the ensuing night off to prepare for the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series season opener on Friday. He opened that show by timing in 22nd quickest and ending sixth in a heat race, which was only one spot shy of locking into the A Main. That relegated Sides to the Last Chance Showdown, in which he powered from fifth to second to garner a transfer.
“The track started to widen out during the second half of the night and we made most of our progress on the bottom,” he said. “It was tough to make up a ton of ground in the A Main starting at the back. The bottom lane went away midway through the race and we gave up most of the positions we had gained. In the end qualifying put us behind the eight ball because I think if we had qualified in the top 10 we could have run up there in the feature.”
Sides finished 20th in the main event for the second straight race.
He returned to the half-mile oval on Saturday, qualifying ninth quickest to kick off the action. Sides finished where he started – third – in a heat race before doing the same thing in the main event, posting a ninth-place finish.
“The biggest difference was that we qualified much better,” he said. “It’s a lot easier to maintain your position than it is to pass a bunch of cars because everyone is so even. Fortunately qualifying went well and that helped the rest of the night go well.”
It gives Sides at least one top 10 during the DIRTcar Nationals in 12 of the last 13 years.
Sunday’s finale was rained out.
The team is scheduled to compete in its lone 360ci winged sprint car event of the season this Thursday through Saturday at East Bay Raceway Park in Tampa, Fla., during the Ronald Laney Memorial King of the 360s.
“This is an event where we’re able to support Wetherington Tractor Service, Inc., which has roots in the area,” he said. “Kimball and his team have been long-time supporters of our team as well as East Bay so it’s always a good time to go support this event that’s in their backyard.”
QUICK RESULTS –
Feb. 6 – Volusia Speedway Park in Barberville, Fla. – Qualifying: 16; Heat race: 3 (2); Feature: 20 (13).
Feb. 8 – Volusia Speedway Park in Barberville, Fla. – Qualifying: 22; Heat race: 6 (6); B Main: 2 (5); Feature: 20 (22).
Feb. 9 – Volusia Speedway Park in Barberville, Fla. – Qualifying: 9; Heat race: 3 (3); Feature: 9 (9).
SEASON STATS –
3 races, 0 wins, 0 top fives, 1 top 10, 1 top 15, 3 top 20s
UP NEXT –
Thursday through Saturday at East Bay Raceway Park in Tampa, Fla., for the Ronald Laney Memorial King of the 360s
MEDIA LINKS –
Website: http://www.SidesMotorsports.com
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/SidesMotorsport
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sides-Motorsports/283833970847?ref=br_tf
SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT – Wetherington Tractor Service, Inc.
Wetherington Tractor Service is a state certified contractor specializing in site development, utilities, demolition and trucking. For more information, visit http://www.WTSinc.us.
“Wetherington Tractor Service, Inc., has been with me for about 15 years,” Sides said. “If I need something I can count on Kimball and his team. Regardless of what happens they’ve stuck by me and that gives me a lot of confidence.”
Sides would also like to thank East Coast Logistics, VRP Shocks, BR Motorsports, Dancer Logistics, Inc., King Racing Products, R.E. Enterprises, FSR Radiators, Jim Schuhknecht, Mid-States Equipment, Brad Roller, Driven Racing Oil, Ingles Racing Engines, Wings Unlimited and All Pro Aluminum Cylinder Heads for their continued 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 by joining Team ILP, contact Shawn at 541-510-3663 or Shawn@InsideLinePromotions.com. For more information on Inside Line Promotions, visit http://www.InsideLinePromotions.com.
- Shawn Miller on Feb 12, 2019
- Article Date: 2/12/2019 by Inside Line Promotions