Inside Line Promotions – ELDON, Mo. (Aug. 29) – It was an optimistic conversation to say the least.
“Last week my dad and I talked about sweeping the weekend,” Jack Dover said. “We wanted to go to Missouri and win it all.”
Except for a runner-up finish in a dash, mission accomplished.
Dover convincingly won his heat race and then outlasted the competition in the feature on Friday at U.S. 36 Raceway in Osborn, Mo., and Saturday at Lake Ozark Speedway in Eldon, Mo.
“It’s really nice, especially the way the last two months have been,” he said. “It builds the confidence up.”
The Springfield, Neb., native opened the weekend in the back of arguably the most difficult heat race Friday at the ASCS Midwest vs. Warrior Region event. Of the seven cars, six ended up making the feature.
“I knew it was one of the toughest heats of the night,” Dover said. “I told myself I had to finish in the top two. We just ended up getting lucky and passing cars on the first lap.”
It didn’t take long for Dover, who started sixth, to assume the lead and he won by a straightaway. That earned him the most points and a spot in the redraw, which determined the first four rows of the main event.
Dover picked the No. 1 in the random pill draw to snag the pole for the feature. He then led all 25 laps and survived a late barrage from veteran Danny Lasoski, including a caution with only a handful of laps remaining.
“I just told myself to just hit my lines like I was before the yellow came out,” Dover said. “He showed his nose one time and I knew he didn’t have a big enough run to get me. So I just held my line.”
It paid off and Dover picked up his seventh win of the season and first at U.S. 36 Raceway, where he had finished twice in both of his previous features this season.
The momentum continued on Saturday at Lake Ozark Speedway.
Dover started fourth in his heat race, but knew he needed a top-two finish to advance to the six-lap dash. He did one better and claimed the heat race.
The drivers then had a revenge draw to determine the starting lineup for the dash. Each driver picked a random number, then gave it to a fellow racer.
“Dustin Morgan picked the No. 4 and gave it to me, then I picked five and gave it to him,” Dover said.
He again started fourth and placed second in the dash, which lined him up on the outside of the front row for the 35-lap feature.
“That was a good position to be in because the racing was up against the wall,” Dover said. “We were the first one across the line at the start and the first one across the line at the finish. We led every lap in between.”
There was a scheduled fuel stop on lap 20, when Dover’s crew only checked the air pressure in the tires and added fuel. He then held off polesitter Seth Bergman when the track took rubber in the final half dozen laps to record win No. 8 of the season.
Dover will return to Lake Ozark Speedway for the 9th annual LOS 360 Nationals on Saturday and Sunday with the ASCS Warrior Region.
For live updates of Dover and the rest of the competition, visit www.insidelinepromotions.com throughout the weekend.
QUICK RESULTS –
Aug. 26 – U.S. 36 Raceway in Osborn, Mo. – Heat race: 1 (6); Feature: 1 (1).
Aug. 27 – Lake Ozark Speedway in Eldon, Mo. – Heat race: 1 (4); Dash: 2 (4); Feature: 1 (2).
SEASON STATS –
37 races, 33 features, 8 wins, 23 top fives, 28 top 10s, 29 top 15s, 30 top 20s
UP NEXT –
Saturday and Sunday at Lake Ozark Speedway in Eldon, Mo., with the ASCS Warrior Region for the 9th annual LOS 360 Nationals
FAVORITE NUMBER –
5: Dover has finished in the top 10 in all but five of his features this season.
SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS –
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/JackDoverRacing
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/#!/jackdoverracing
ON THE AIR –
Dover was a featured guest on the ASCS Show with Racinboys on June 14 after his win at the Eagle Nationals. His interview starts around 18:40.
http://www.meridix.com/mbp/general/index.php?liveid=Racinboys&recordid=19427
He was also on the ASCS Show with Racinboys on June 7. Check out the link below for his interview, which begins around the 6:50 mark.
http://www.meridix.com/mbp/general/index.php?liveid=Racinboys&recordid=19351
Here’s a link to some on-board video of Dover winning his heat race at Knoxville Raceway on June 4:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xWFqplMGokk&feature=channel_video_title
Check out this video of Dover’s feature win and heat race victory at U.S. 36 Raceway in Osborn, Mo., on Aug. 26:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gaDEszvNAtM
SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT – Shaver Engines
Located in Torrance, Calif., Shaver Engines has been a part of more than 30 open wheel racing championships since its inception in 1976. Owner Ron Shaver has produced top-notch engines for various race teams, including World of Outlaws, ASCS, All Star and USAC to name a few. For more information, visit www.shaverengines.org.
“In 2009 we went through seven engines with a different company,” Dover said. “Since we made the switch to Shaver Engines, I’ve had plenty of power and reliable engines each night. And Shaver Engines has great, great customer service.”
Dover would also like to thank Thorpe’s Body Shop, Trail Performance Coatings, Inc., Home Pride Companies, Inc., Certified Transmission, Eagle Motorsports, Inc., The Oil Medics and ButlerBuilt for their continued support.
INSIDE LINE PROMOTIONS –
Inside Line Promotions specializes in affordable public relations, media management and merchandising services for sprint car teams. ILP Founder Shawn Miller leverages professional journalism with new media technologies and social networking to improve your exposure and your sponsors’ return on investment.
To meet the media relations needs of your team, contact Shawn at 541-510-3663 or sprintcarreporter@yahoo.com. For more information on Inside Line Promotions, visit www.insidelinepromotions.com.
- Admin Account on Oct 10, 2011
- Article Date: 8/29/2011 by Shawn Miller - Inside Line Promotions