Oak Hill, NC(May 8, 2012) — Coming into a new track and one that Sammy Jasper didn’t particularly like, the young driver overcame engine problems on Thursday in practice to qualify solidly inside the top ten and then posted a second place finish with carnage all around him.
Jasper wasn’t exactly a fan of the Kingsport Speedway in Kingsport, TN and not many racers are as the track is tight and small and is known to be a tough place to get around for even veteran drivers. However, that didn’t keep Sammy Jasper from putting in a strong effort and one that wasn’t really expected in just the young drivers second career UARA-STARS Series start and his first at Kingsport Speedway.
As the weekend got started, Jasper found a little bad luck as within a couple of laps in practice he began to feel his engine tightening up and before it could blow, he pulled down pit road to have his team take a look. The decision was made to pull the engine out and make a change, which cost him much of the practice session on Thursday evening, but the team got the engine swapped and allowed him to get some laps.
When Friday rolled around Jasper and his team led by veteran crew chief, Ed Berrier worked to find some more speed in the car, while also working to make sure that the car would be good at the end of a 150-lap race. Berrier is no stranger to Late Model Stock Car racing and no stranger to victory lane in the UARA-STARS Series, winning races with driver, Alex Yontz for several seasons.
He had Jasper’s hot rod ready to go by qualifying and the young driver posted the eighth fastest time, putting him in a solid position when the green flag dropped. From the start of the race, Jasper kept his car up near the front of the field and as the laps began to click off, he found himself in the mix for the win in just his second UARA-STARS Series start. He would battle to cross the finish line in third, but after the winner was eventually disqualified, he was awarded a second place finish officially.
For his effort, the young wheelman was happy the results.
“Man, that was a tough race,” said Jasper right after the checkered flag. “This track right here is a tough place to get around and you have to be up on the wheel every lap. I didn’t like this place when we got here, but after finishing third, I’m kinda starting to like it.”
Jasper’s second place finish was his best of the season after starting out in a NASCAR Whelen All-American Series weekly race at Hickory with a third place effort. He also looked to be headed to a top five finish in his first UARA-STARS Series start at Rockingham Speedway, when while running fourth late in the race, he broke a hub. Jasper knows that these strong runs early on are what he needs to build momentum heading into the summer months.
“We really thought we could have a chance to win at Hickory, then we were ahead of the eventual winner at Rockingham before breaking and at Kingsport we were right there in the mix,” continued Jasper. “I really think we’re getting this program where it needs to be with Jamie Yelton, Ed Berrier, Alex Yontz and these guys, we’ve got the best team we’ve ever had. I’m pumped about getting back to the track.”
Jasper might be excited about running his next race, but with the UARA-STARS Series off for the next three weeks, he’ll have a short wait before hitting the tough confines of Anderson Motor Speedway in Williamston, SC. That’ll be another new track for Jasper, but he’s excited about heading south.
“I’ve never been to Anderson, but we had never been to Kingsport in a Late Model either, so that has us pretty excited about what this team is capable of. I have all the confidence in the world in Ed Berrier and I think we can realistically go to Anderson and expect to contend for the win.”
Jasper is supported by Sanshell Products, Friends of Coal, Parrott Race Consultants, Fat Head Racing, Performancenter Racing Warehouse and RACE22.com. For more information on Sammy Jasper be sure to check out his new website at www.SammyJasperRacing.com or you can follow him on twitter at @sammyjasper
