Levi Jones Weekly Rewind
No. 20 TSR/CHEVROLET/SPIKE (USAC NATIONAL MIDGET CAR SERIES)
No. 10 TSR/CHEVROLET/MAXIM (USAC SILVER CROWN SERIES)
USAC NATIONAL MIDGET CAR SERIES AT MACON SPEEDWAY – AUGUST 17
USAC SILVER CROWN SERIES AT THE ILLINOIS STATE FAIRGROUNDS – AUGUST 18
Fri., August 17 – Macon (Ill.) Speedway — (1/5-mile dirt oval)
- Jones was taken out on lap two of the first heat race by another competitor. Nerf bar was bent into the tire.
- Jones finished fifth in the second semi-feature event.
- Qualifying was omitted in favor of a pill draw for heat race starting positions.
Sat., August 18 – Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield — (one-mile dirt oval)
- Jones was credited with a 23rd place finish after the right rear tire gave out on lap 73. He had been in second position at the time.
- Due to rain, qualifying was canceled. Jones started on the pole due to having the fastest combined practice times.
- Led the first 28 laps of the 75 lap feature.
- Feature was shortened from 100 laps to 75 after persistent rain caused officials to change the event length due to curfew.
To date:
- Jones has won five sprint feature events this season – (4) USAC and (1) open event.
- Jones leads the USAC National Sprint Car Series championship standings with 1,206 points.
- Jones is ranked eighth in the USAC National Midget Car Series championship with 612 points.
HE SAID IT…
LEVI JONES ON GETTING CAUGHT UP IN A HEAT RACE ACCIDENT AND HAVING TO WORK HIS WAY THROUGH THE SEMI-FEATURE:
“Our night didn’t start out the way we’d hoped it would. Since we didn’t qualify for positions, we got lucky and actually drew a decent number for our heat. On the green flag, I tried to move up and get a good start but we got collected by one of the Kasey Kahne Racing cars. The contact bent the nerf bar into the tire and we had to go to work to try to make the semi. I knew I had my work cut out for me in the semi. Anytime you finish in the back of your heat, you go to the back of the semi. There’s always a chance you can get caught up in an accident but we were moving forward each lap. I moved up five positions but I just ran out of time to get into the top-three for the transfer. It’s not the way you want to end a night but I am very proud of the TSR team. They worked hard to fix my car and get us back out there for a shot to make the feature.”
JONES ON THE RAIN DELAY AT THE SPRINGFIELD MILE AND LOSING A RIGHT REAR WITH TWO LAPS TO GO:
“We knew we were on a tight curfew, they (USAC) kept telling us they had to throw the checkered flag by 4 p.m. They changed that to allow us to go 75 laps, which was a better race for both the fans and the drivers. On the initial start, I was able to get out front for the lead but when the first restart came I knew I could potentially have some trouble hanging on. The engine didn’t want to take off in the lower RPM’s but I held on to keep the lead for the first restart. On the second restart, I knew I might be in trouble. I was messing with the fuel valve trying to get the engine to pick up a bit quicker so I could hold Ricky off but he timed it really well and took the lead. As the laps went by, I tried to stay with him. I didn’t come to the mile to run second. In the last few laps, I pushed it pretty hard and the tire ended up giving out with two to go. It was a disappointing end to the day, we wanted to get that first silver crown series win. It would have been a great win for both TSR and Chevrolet, as Ricky and I just dominated the whole race. We’ve got another shot coming up at DuQuoin in a couple of weeks and we’re going to be ready to go.”
FAST FORWARD…
Fri., August 24 – Plymouth (Wis.) Dirt Track – (1/3-mile dirt oval)
- Jones is scheduled to compete in a one-day event with the USAC National Midget Car Series.
- The event will conclude with a 30-lap feature event.
- This Friday’s race will be Jones’ first appearance at the 1/3-mile facility.
- Jones will fly to Pennsylvania to travel to Saturday’s USAC National Sprint Car Series event following Friday night’s race.
- Pit gates are scheduled to open at 3 p.m. CDT. Grandstands will open at 4 p.m. Hotlaps are scheduled to begin at 6 p.m.
- For tickets or information regarding Plymouth Dirt Track, race fans can call 920-893-5751.
- Visit the official web site of the Plymouth Dirt Track.
Sat., August 25 – Sharon Speedway in Hartford, Ohio. – (3/8-mile dirt oval)
- Jones will compete in a one-day event with the USAC National Sprint Car Series.
- Sharon Speedway is a 3/8-mile, semi-banked dirt oval.
- The event will feature the USAC National Sprint Car Series.
- This weekend’s event is the only appearance the series will make at the facility this year. The last USAC Sprint Series event at Sharon Speedway was won by Kenny Jacobs in 1987.
- This Saturday’s event will mark Jones’ first appearance at Sharon Speedway.
- Jones will fly to Wisconsin following the race to compete at Angell Park Speedway on Sun., August 26.
- For tickets or information, race fans can call 330-772-1186.
- Visit the official web site of Sharon Speedway.
Sun., August 26 – Angell Park Speedway in Sun Prairie, Wis. – (1/3-mile dirt oval)
- Due to a scheduling conflict involving USAC National Sprint & Midget Series events, Jones will only compete in the second part of the two-day USAC Midget Series event at Angell Park Speedway.
- Angell Park Speedway is a 1/3-mile dirt oval.
- The event will feature the USAC Midget Series. The feature event will be 30 laps in length.
- Grandstand gates will open at 4:30 p.m. CDT. Racing is set to begin at 7 p.m.
- Jones finished sixth in the first semi-feature event at the facility on August 26, 2006. Ryan Durst won the feature event.
- For tickets or information regarding Angell Park Speedway, race fans can call 608-837-5252.
- Visit the official web site of Angell Park Speedway.