Brownstown, IN (March 16, 2013)
By James Essex
Joe Janowski of Carmel, IN tuned up for next weekend’s Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Indiana Icebreaker at Brownstown Speedway by winning the opening night main event on Saturday Night. Janowski avoided a near-disaster on lap-20 of the 25 lap feature as he had to spin into the infield to avoid the inside tire barrier after a car he was trying to lap slowed suddenly in turn three.
Kent Robinson, who led the first three laps of the race before yielding to Janowski finished second followed by Tim Rivers, Jason Jameson and Shelby Miles.
Janowski, who started sixth in the field, ran behind a three-way tussle for the lead early on before Robinson pulled out in front. Canadian Andrew Reaume in his first start at Brownstown was running second to Robinson when he struck the tire barrier inside turn two eliminating him from the race as he took his badly mangled car to the pits.
Janowski then forged ahead of Robinson on lap four and steadily built his lead until what could have been an ill-fated lap 20. “I got behind someone and they slowed, so I either was going to hit the yuke tire or have to cut through the infield, fortunately we were able to get back on the track right in front of Kent,” said Janowski, who won for the third time in his career at Brownstown.
“The car in the feature was amazing, the changes we made on this car helped tremendously and I have to thank Kent (Robinson) for giving me room out there, we did rub a time I know, but it was good racing out there, in the heat race the car was so-so, we could enter the corners good, but couldn’t get out them like I wanted, but the changes we made really paid off,” said the 40-year-old Janowski.
“I have to thank MasterSbilt Race Cars, Bill Tranter Racing Engines, National Karting Association, Slicker Graphics and Premier Racing Suspension for all of their help, we are really looking forward to the Lucas Oil race here next week and we will give it our best shot.”
Completing the top ten were Chad Stapleton, Joe Godsey, Tim Prince, Devin Gilpin and Marty O’Neal.
Heat race winners were Robinson, Miles, Reaume and Stapleton. Chris Streeval won the B-Main.
Next week Brownstown hosts the 16th Annual Indiana Icebreaker for the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series paying $10,000 to win.
Feature Finish: Joe Janowski, Kent Robinson, Tim Rivers, Jason Jameson, Shelby Miles, Chad Stapleton, Joe Godsey, Tim Prince, Devin Gilpin, Marty O’Neal, Steve Thorsten, Chris Streeval, Keaton Streeval, Alan Magner, Tyler Allen, Steve Barnett, Britan Godsey, Greg Kendall, Jim Beeman, Andrew Reaume
News and Notes: Tim Rivers was the Hard Charger of the Race finishing third after starting 11th…the first three finishers were driving MasterSbilt Race Cars…Jason Jameson was driving Chad Oberson’s Rocket Chassis #1C…Defending UMP DirtCar Modified Champion, Devin Gilpin debuted in the Jesse Puckett #88 Rocket Chassis he came home ninth in the Late Model Feature and won the main event for the companion UMP Modifieds. It was only the second start for Gilpin in a Late Model, his first was 2 years ago driving for Chad Stapleton. Last year Gilpin won 36 Modified features on his way to the title. 4-time track champion, Steve Barnett debuted a new C.J. Rayburn Race Cars designed mount. He finished 16th. Youngster Tyler Allen, who sold all of his dirt equipment last fall then went asphalt racing is back on dirt after running just two events on asphalt. The team raced a new MasterSbilt Race Car Saturday Night.