(Photo by Ben Thrasher)
Inside Line Promotions – LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (June 30, 2020) – Following a week off from competition, Jordon Mallett picked up two top-five finishes with the Lucas Oil ASCS National Tour in the series’ first action since early March due to the effects of COVID-19.
The results marked eight straight top-five finishes for the Greenbrier, Ark., native, continuing a positive trend of success since switching to a Triple X chassis for the 2020 season.
“We’re really starting to get things where we want and we have a really nice balance,” he said. “We’ll keep plugging away at things and I’m happy with the direction we’re headed.”
Mallett kicked off the weekend last Thursday at Caney Valley Speedway in Caney, Kan., where he advanced forward six positions to finish second in a heat race. That locked him into the feature redraw and he pulled the No. 2 to line up on the outside of the front row for the A Main.
Mallett battled back from a tough start that dropped him to fourth to challenge for the top spot. He led Lap 9 by a nose at the line before slipping to second the following circuit. After a restart on Lap 15, Mallett had to get on the brakes to avoid wrecking and fell to the fourth position. With the rest of the race going non-stop, Mallett maintained the spot to finish fourth.
“I almost got turned around on that last restart and it made me enter the turn pretty hot and it really just messed us up,” he said. “I really think we had a winning car so as much as I was pleased, I was disappointed as well. We definitely can’t hang our heads though.”
He then headed to a home state race at I-30 Speedway on Saturday. Mallett advanced two positions in a heat race to finish fifth. He then maneuvered from seventh to fourth in a qualifier to garner the 11th starting position in the main event.
Mallett steadily marched forward throughout the feature and he was able to sneak into the top five with a last-lap pass. The six positions gained were the second most among any driver in the field and guided him to his eighth top five of the season.
“I told the guys that it was going to be hard to pass cars on Saturday night and luckily we were able to make a few moves to get ourselves through the qualifier and into the feature,” he said. “Track position is the name of the game in this sport and we just needed a better starting spot. I’m so proud of my team and the effort we put forth.”
Mallett will take this week off to celebrate the Fourth of July with his family and friends before returning the following weekend with another home state race on July 11 at Riverside International Speedway in West Memphis. He will enter the race ranked third in the ASCS National Tour championship standings, trailing first by only 72 points.
“I honestly don’t know the last time I got to enjoy the July 4th holiday without some sort of racing, so we’re going to soak this one up and try and relax,” he said. “We’ve got a lot to be thankful about right now and this is the perfect time to embrace that. We’ll look to come back next week with another good run and just try to keep the momentum rolling.”
QUICK RESULTS –
June 25 – Caney Valley Speedway in Caney, Kan. – Heat race: 2 (8); Feature: 4 (2).
June 27 – I-30 Speedway in Little Rock, Ark. – Heat race: 5 (7); Qualifier: 4 (7); Feature: 5 (11).
SEASON STATS –
14 races, 0 wins, 8 top fives, 9 top 10s, 12 top 15s, 13 top 20s
UP NEXT –
July 11 at Riverside International Speedway in West Memphis, Ark., with the Lucas Oil ASCS National Tour.
MEDIA LINKS –
Website: http://jordonmallett.myracepass.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jmmotorsports14
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jordonmallettmotorsports
SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT – Dynotech Race Engines
Dynotech Race Engines is an engine building and performance shop, based in Memphis, Tenn., operated by Ricky Stenhouse Sr.
“Ever since I have started working with Ricky (Stenhouse Sr.) he has really helped us step our program up,” Mallett said. “He builds extremely good and reliable engines, which speak for themselves. Ricky has helped me get a good grasp on how to keep up with my engine program and the maintenance program. He’s become a really good friend and mentor. He always has our back.”
Mallett would like to thank Water for Christ, Triple X Chassis, Awakening Events, DHR Suspension, Racing Optics, Porter Commerial Refrigeration, KSE Racing Products, FK Rod Ends, Brown & Miller Racing Solutions, Sinco, Inc., D&K Farms, Autometer, Callies Racing Products, Red River Rack Company, Dickerson Marine Services, Hero Graphics, Hilborn Fuel Injection, ISC Racers Tape, K&N Engineering, Lone Star Super Gas (Sunoco), Schoenfeld Headers, Simpson Race Products, Smiley’s Racing Products, MetTec Titanium, Triple X Race Co., MotorState Distributing, and Superior Bearing and Supply 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.
