(Bill W) May 12, 2008 – It wasn’t a win, but Skip Jackson’s visit to the 34 Raceway near West Burlington, Iowa last Friday night could be chalked up as a success nonetheless.  Skip is always aiming for victory lane in the J&S Auto Sports #2, but held his own against some of the best in the sprint car business.

With the Interstate Racing Association in town, 35 sprint cars were in the pits.  Six were World of Outlaws regulars who were washed out in Illinois, and wanted some laps at the 3/8 mile banked oval.  Skip registered a disappointing 18th fastest time trial lap to start things off.  “We didn’t qualify very well, but we were good in the heat race,” says the Sydney, New South Wales native.  After starting second in the heat race, Skip paced the field the entire 10-lap distance in the Slideways Karting Center/Turfwerks #2 and earned a ninth place starting spot for the 30-lap main event in the process.

When Jim Barr’s green flag fell on the feature, Skip was sorted back a bit.  “(Sam) Hafertepe had a good start,” says Skip.  “He started right behind me, and passed me right away in turn one, and got Lucas Wolfe (who started in front of Skip) in turn three.  We moved back a couple of spots right at the start there.”

It was a battle in the middle of the pack, with the racing lending to a lot of side by side action.  In the end, the ebb and flow of the race saw Skip finish a respectable ninth.  “We were o.k. in the feature,” says Skip.  “We were able to hang with everyone; we just weren’t able to move forward like we wanted.  That was a bit disappointing; we just need to get a little better this weekend!  We were o.k., nothing to whine about, for sure.”

Skip explains the frustration he had in the two-wide racing happening in front of him.  “Sometimes the biggest problem in the feature, was a guy on the top and a guy on the bottom in front of me,” he says.  “There wasn’t a way to keep my momentum when I caught up to them.  I really didn’t have anywhere to go, and everyone was pretty fast.  It’s pretty much that way anywhere with two grooves though.  That’s just kind of the way it was.”

Skip was impressed with WoO regular Daryn Pittman, who registered a clean sweep of the event on Friday.  “I really have to give credit to Daryn Pittman for getting quick time, winning his heat and winning the feature from eighth.  That’s not easy to do!”

This week, Knoxville Raceway will try again.  After another rainout last Saturday night, the track is scheduled to run their first regular show of the season this week.  It is Slideway Kartings Center/Pella Printing Night!

For more information on Skip and his racing season, visit www.SkipJackson.net!

J&S Auto Sports would like to thank the following sponsors: Slideways Karting Center, Housby Trucks, Davis, Equipment, Turfwerks, NPRS National RP Support, Acheson Auto Body, Graffiti Graphics, KLK Construction, Knoxville Lazer Car Wash, Sundance Realty, HDA Inc. Bell Helmets,BDG Pumps,  Central Iowa Fasteners, Crane Cams, DMI Racing Components, Donovan Engineering, Goodridge, Hoosier Tires, ISC Racers Tape, J&J Auto Racing, Joe Gibbs Driven, K&N Filters, Mark Burch Motorsports, Pro Shocks, PWR Radiators, Real Racing Wheels, RPM Racegear, Reviwear,Vortex Wings, WRT Web Designs, Wypall Towels