SUMMERTOWN, Tenn. (Sept. 17) — Maryville, Tenn., driver Jason Welshan extended his grip on the points lead and registered his series-leading fourth victory of the season in the Newsome Raceway Parts Crate Racin’ USA Dirt Late Model Series-sanctioned King of the Hill event Saturday night at high-banked Thunderhill Raceway Park.
Welshan, who snatched the point with a well-executed slide job underneath then-leader Jake Knowles between the third and fourth turns on the 14th circuit, paced the final 27 trips around the steeply-banked facility to earn a $5,011 prize. He crossed the stripe 2.189 seconds ahead of runner-up finisher Knowles after a late caution slowed the field with three laps remaining.
Completing the top five in a 20-car field were Seth McCormack, Rusty Ballenger and Jake Rainey.
Tough Battle Between Teammates
Welshan and Knowles work closely together as the former continues to build his Savage Race Cars into a notable chassis company in the racing industry, often swapping information with each other about the cars that have been making strong strides as Welshan’s own victory total on the Adam Stewart-managed traveling circuit has climbed this season.
They swapped something else on this night, and it was the lead. Knowles started on the outside of the front row, and has been struggling in recent events. Welshan started fourth and raced toward the leading Knowles steadily, and ultimately a battle raged between them that Welshan might have seen coming a bit earlier in the program.
“Before the race started, I told Jake [Knowles] I don’t care about the outcome tonight, as long as we run first and second since we’re both in Savage Race Cars,” Welshan said. “We had a good race, and I could see where he was running a little better tonight and getting his program together. He’s been working hard on it, and this is a sport that will keep you humbled, and he’s been struggling lately. I was glad to see him running like he can. I went with a tire he normally goes with, and tonight he had to move up a little higher where he could run better on the racetrack.”
A Duel Develops on the High Banks
That set up a sterling duel between the pair, with Welshan looking low in every corner. He closely trailed the leader and waited to make the right move at the right time, and aggressively snatched the lead between turns three and four. The duo made contact exiting the fourth turn moments later after Knowles got into the back end of the new leader in a strong effort to retake the point off turn four. Both drivers recovered, and Welshan continued to victory.
“I knew when my right-rear tire fired up, I’d be able to slide him and on that lap I went in there wide open,” Welshan said. “I told him later I didn’t wanna wreck me or him. I felt him touch me coming off the fourth corner, but that’s okay. We raced hard, and had a good race. We have so much fun, and we raced with the utmost respect out there tonight. We ain’t gonna wreck each other.”
A late caution tightened the field, but Welshan held firm and rolled his Hux Motorsports-fielded machine into the winner’s circle with sponsorship from J.J. Trucking & Excavating, DGR, Competition Racing Equipment, Team Huskey Logistics, Matlock Decal Co. and C&J Trucking.
“Once we got into the lead and had clear air, I could pick up the throttle and I was just riding’ at that point,” Welshan said. “I didn’t wanna see the last caution, but I knew if I got a good restart, I could concentrate on making good laps and probably be okay. Jake [Knowles] has been struggling a little bit lately, and I just told him to find a balance with his car. Tonight he looked better than he has lately, and I’m just happy for him turning his program around.”
Knowles was pleased with his second-place showing, and recalled the post-slide job contact between the pair with a sheepish grin.
“That’s probably the most fun I’ve had this year…shoot, as bad as we’ve been running,” Knowles said. “I figured he [Welshan] was gonna be coming. You gotta expect that coming from him. He’s won four races and he’s having a great season. We had a good race together out there tonight.”
Regarding the bumper tap exiting turn four that broke Welshan’s momentum just moments after the slide job that eventually won the race, Knowles winced slightly and shrugged his shoulders.
“That was probably pretty close to a wreck, but we ain’t gonna do that on purpose to each other,” Knowles said. “You’ve gotta let him do his deal, and he lets me do mine. His motto is to race each other as hard as we can, and these cars…he says we can build ‘em every day. He’d be mad at me if I didn’t race him as hard as he races me. When we hit, we’ll drink a beer, fix it and go to the next one.”
About Crate Racin’ USA
The economical Chevrolet Performance 602 and 604 Circle Track Engine is utilized by competitors in the various divisions presented by Crate Racin’ USA. It’s in stock and available from Newsome Raceway Parts in Hartsville, S.C.
Each engine is built and sealed at the factory to prevent any expensive modifications. To place an order, call 1-877-497-3624.
For more information and rules, visit the organization’s website at www.crateracinusa.com, or follow our extensive social media programs on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Newsome Raceway Parts, a division of Raceway Chevrolet in Hartsville, S.C., is the title sponsor of Crate Racin’ USA. E-Z-GO Golf Carts is the title sponsor of the second-year E-Z-GO $100,000+ Challenge.
Chevrolet Performance is an official sponsor of the organization, along with Advanced Laser & Machine, Cruise with the Champions, Hoosier Racing Tire, KRC Power Steering, Knowles Race Parts and Bodies, My Race Pass, VP Racing Fuels and Lubricants and Willy’s Carburetors.
Official chassis sponsors include Warrior Race Cars, Rocket Chassis and CVR Race Cars.
King of the Hill: 1. Jason Welshan, 2. Jake Knowles, 3. Seth McCormack, 4. Rusty Ballenger, 5. Jake Rainey, 6. Cody Ballard, 7. Steven Holcomb, 8. Ronnie Cooper, 9. Clint Nichols, 10. Tyler Millwood, 11. Matthew Brocato, 12. Jeremy Pate, 13. Dalton Dowdy, 14. Jason Markewitz, 15. Mitch Thornton, 16. Grayson Brewer, 17. Justin Jacobs, 18. Jadon Frame, 19. Corey Posey, 20. William Blankenship.
Crate Racin’ USA Dirt Late Model Series (current points): 1. Jason Welshan, 1,068; 2. Jake Knowles, 966; 3. Jake Rainey, 946; 4. Matthew Brocato, 828; 5. (tie) Jason Markewitz and Jimmy Thomas, 824; 7. Tanner Collins, 768; 8. Jeremy Pate, 720; 9. Randall Beckwith, 590; 10. Dalton Dowdy, 446.
Entries: 21
Boyd-Bilt Fast Qualifier: Cody Ballard, 12.737 seconds.
Lead changes: One among two drivers.
Lap leaders: Jake Knowles 1-13, Jason Welshan 14-40.
Cautions: 5
Margin of victory: 2.189 seconds