What do Australia, New Zealand and the United States have in common? When it comes to winged Sprint Car racing, a lot comes to mind. J&J Auto Racing drivers earned victories in five different events in three countries over the dates of April 9 – 10. Not only did they add to the win list for the 2016 season, but J&J Auto Racing also saw a team member earn the brand’s second championship of the year.
In his first trip to the Perth Motorplex in Kwinana Beach, Western Australia, Tim Van Ginneken earned the WA Sprintcar Championship on April 9. The victory comes less than a month after the Victorian won his first career 410ci Winged Sprint Car feature on the East Coast of the country. Van Ginneken flew to WA to drive the No. W56 entry owned by Steve & Janette Crabbe of SJ Crushing Racing.
Racing not only his fellow competitors but Mother Nature as well, Van Ginneken qualified the No. W56 entry second quick and finished second in Heat Two to earn the third starting position for the 30-lap Feature event. Taking an early lead, Van Ginneken held off a hard-charging Jamie Maiolo, who had worked his way to second place from the ninth starting position. Van Ginneken proved to have enough off the final corner, taking the win over Maiolo by 0.955 seconds. For more information regarding Van Ginneken, follow him on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/TVG-Motorsport-V3686-245436232172847/. For more information regarding the SJ Crushing team, please visit http://www.sjcrushing.com.au/sj-crushing-racing/ or follow on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/SJCrushing/.
Trey Starks went back-to-back with a second victory in as many weeks by taking the checkered flag on April 9 with a United Sprint Car Series (USCS) win at Lancaster (SC) Super Speedway. In his second appearance this season for team owner Jeff McCall, Starks won Heat Two and started the Feature event from fourth by virtue of the redraw. Taking the lead on lap 10, the No. 23 sailed to victory, the second of his career in South Carolina and his third for McCall. For more information regarding Starks, visit www.treystarksracing.com or follow him on Twitter @treystarks55.
Doug Hammaker scored his first win of the 2016 season on Sunday, April 10, at Susquehanna Speedway in York Haven, Pa. Finishing third in Heat Three, Hammaker started the 20-lap Feature event from the pole. Taking an early and commanding lead in the No. 66 entry, Hammaker drove to his first Capitol Renegades 358ci winged Sprint Car Feature event win of the year. For more information regarding Hammaker, follow him on Twitter @dhammaker66 or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/dhr66/.
Auckland’s, Jamie McDonald, won the Quake City Sprintcar Stampede at Stadium Finance Ruapuna Speedway in Christchurch, New Zealand, on April 9, to earn his third victory of 2016. After finishing third in Heat One and second in Heat Three, McDonald bested Jamie Duff two of three times to win his match race as well. Entering the Feature event as high-point man, McDonald started second in the 25-lap contest. Cruising easily to the win, McDonald lapping several cars en route to the win. Follow McDonald on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/Jamie-McDonald-117360100251/timeline?ref=page_internal or visit his website at http://www.jamiemcdonald.co.nz/.
Daniel Pestka drove the No. S27 Pestka Motorsports entry into victory lane for the second time this year after taking the top spot in the City of Playford Lord Mayors Sprintcar Cup event at Speedway City in Virginia, South Australia, on April 9. Starting from the pole for the 35-lap Feature event, Pestka pulled a huge wheel-stand on the start causing him to drop back into second place. By lap six, the No. S27 had worked its way into the lead. Pestka survived a caution plagued event to earn the win over Aidan Hall and Mark Caruso. For more information regarding Pestka, visit www.danielpestkamotorsports.com or follow him on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/PestkaMotorsport.
For more than 40 years, J&J Auto Racing has been a leader in racecar chassis manufacturing. With intricate attention to detail and a willingness to provide chassis to the consumer’s specifications, J&J has taken its place as a leader in Sprint car racing innovation and safety. Founded and headed by Jack and Bonnie Elam, J&J Auto Racing is based in McKenzie, Tenn. For more information regarding J&J Auto Racing, please visit www.jandjautoracing.com or follow the brand on Twitter @JJ_Auto_Racing and on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/JJ-Auto-Racing-199865997589/.