2/17/10
Jason Spaulding Eyes Up Succesful 2010 Season
By Dan Johnson
Jason Spaulding Eyes Up Succesful 2010 Season
By Dan Johnson
“We may go broke in the process, but we’re going to give it everything we’ve got”. That’
s how Fulton supermodified driver Jason Spaulding summed up his preview to the 2010
racing season at Oswego Speedway. “We want that feature win really bad, and now that
we’ve made a decision to go for it, it’s full steam ahead.”
While Jason will be back for his fourth year in the 850horsepower, 2000 pound
rockets called supermodifieds, it wasn’t always all systems go during the winter
months. Jason explains the decision making process, “We were really up in the air
about 2010. We had the car up for sale, even had someone come and look at it. We
talked about it, and pretty much within the last couple of weeks, decided “Let’s go!”
s how Fulton supermodified driver Jason Spaulding summed up his preview to the 2010
racing season at Oswego Speedway. “We want that feature win really bad, and now that
we’ve made a decision to go for it, it’s full steam ahead.”
While Jason will be back for his fourth year in the 850horsepower, 2000 pound
rockets called supermodifieds, it wasn’t always all systems go during the winter
months. Jason explains the decision making process, “We were really up in the air
about 2010. We had the car up for sale, even had someone come and look at it. We
talked about it, and pretty much within the last couple of weeks, decided “Let’s go!”
When Jason Spaulding and Jake Radcliff decide to do something, they are all in. Look
for two #23 supermodifieds at Oswego Speedway this year, one winged and one non-
winged. “Joey is still working on the car, and having it ready for opening day will be
really close,” Jason said. “He did a lot of work on it, then when we were up in the air on
what we were doing, he went on to other projects. It’s not a typical “Hawk” car, as we’re
putting some of our own ideas and designs on it. We don’t want people to say that we’re
running well only because we have a “Hawk”, and we had some ideas we think will
really work. We put our heads together, and came up with a car that we’re calling a “Jay-
Hawk”.
Plans call for the older familiar #23 that Jason has driven the past three seasons to be
the winged car, and the “Jay-Hawk” to be the non-winged car. “We’re looking to have
two complete cars, minus motor,” Jason relayed.
Jason brings with him a pretty impressive resume into the 2010 summer. Jason won
the prestigious Oswego Speedway supermodified Rookie of the Year award in 2007. In
his first three years in supers, he finished in the top ten in the season long point
standings. Only Otto Sitterly, Pat Lavery and Stephen Gioia III are the only other drivers
in the top ten each of the last three seasons. He first came through the hallowed gates at
the Big O in 2003, towing the #34 Super Stock with him.
for two #23 supermodifieds at Oswego Speedway this year, one winged and one non-
winged. “Joey is still working on the car, and having it ready for opening day will be
really close,” Jason said. “He did a lot of work on it, then when we were up in the air on
what we were doing, he went on to other projects. It’s not a typical “Hawk” car, as we’re
putting some of our own ideas and designs on it. We don’t want people to say that we’re
running well only because we have a “Hawk”, and we had some ideas we think will
really work. We put our heads together, and came up with a car that we’re calling a “Jay-
Hawk”.
Plans call for the older familiar #23 that Jason has driven the past three seasons to be
the winged car, and the “Jay-Hawk” to be the non-winged car. “We’re looking to have
two complete cars, minus motor,” Jason relayed.
Jason brings with him a pretty impressive resume into the 2010 summer. Jason won
the prestigious Oswego Speedway supermodified Rookie of the Year award in 2007. In
his first three years in supers, he finished in the top ten in the season long point
standings. Only Otto Sitterly, Pat Lavery and Stephen Gioia III are the only other drivers
in the top ten each of the last three seasons. He first came through the hallowed gates at
the Big O in 2003, towing the #34 Super Stock with him.
Jason is a three time winner in the Super Stock class. He picked up his first ever
Oswego Speedway feature win on Mr. Super Stock night in 2005, and followed it up by
winning both features on double feature night three weeks later.
Oswego Speedway feature win on Mr. Super Stock night in 2005, and followed it up by
winning both features on double feature night three weeks later.
Jason started out 2009 with a podium finish, as he wheeled the #23 to a third place finish
in the MSA-Oswego wings opener, behind the high flying Stout Racing team drivers of
Trent Stephens and Randy Burch in the 40 lapper. That was one of the highlights of
2009 for Jason, as he picks up the story from there. “Opening day was great for us, but
we struggled after that. Last year was a tough one with the tires. They changed from
week to week, and we never really got a grip on them. Week after week, the tires
changed, and never really seemed to get better until Classic.”
“Our time trial lap of Classic, I think was our fastest lap all year.” He clocked in a lap of
17.189 to start the 200 lap grind 14th. “Then in the race, we didn’t tighten it up enough.
We dropped back a bit at the start, then during the race it started to come back to me.
Then, we got gathered up in the accident when Lichty got into Danny Connors. We ran
all day, but weren’t in the hunt at the end.” Jason finished the Classic in 12th spot, 21
laps off the pace.
Everyone knows finances are a huge part in the racing equation, and Oswego
Speedway fans know Jason’s team isn’t a big dollar operation. “The last couple of
years, it’s been basically just me, my business 2 Xtreme Auto Transport, and Jake’s
Automotive. It looks like Chris Nelson will com eon board this year and help us a bit, and
we really appreciate that. We’re looking for help, but really, I’m not that good at asking
people for money.”
The snow is still flying, but Jason, Jake and the #23 supermodified team, as well as all
the teams, are hard at work in the garage, doing all the work that gets them prepared for
the up coming season. Cars are updated, spare parts are being made, and motors are
getting a good once over with the May 8th opener circled on all their calendars.
Jason Spaulding truly is a throwback racer. He puts everything into the car and his
racing operation he can, in hopes of that elusive checkered flag. He is due for that
feature win, which very possibly could come in the 2010 racing season. Before going
back to the garage, Jason finished with, “We’re looking forward to this year, and are
doing everything we can, looking for that win.”
in the MSA-Oswego wings opener, behind the high flying Stout Racing team drivers of
Trent Stephens and Randy Burch in the 40 lapper. That was one of the highlights of
2009 for Jason, as he picks up the story from there. “Opening day was great for us, but
we struggled after that. Last year was a tough one with the tires. They changed from
week to week, and we never really got a grip on them. Week after week, the tires
changed, and never really seemed to get better until Classic.”
“Our time trial lap of Classic, I think was our fastest lap all year.” He clocked in a lap of
17.189 to start the 200 lap grind 14th. “Then in the race, we didn’t tighten it up enough.
We dropped back a bit at the start, then during the race it started to come back to me.
Then, we got gathered up in the accident when Lichty got into Danny Connors. We ran
all day, but weren’t in the hunt at the end.” Jason finished the Classic in 12th spot, 21
laps off the pace.
Everyone knows finances are a huge part in the racing equation, and Oswego
Speedway fans know Jason’s team isn’t a big dollar operation. “The last couple of
years, it’s been basically just me, my business 2 Xtreme Auto Transport, and Jake’s
Automotive. It looks like Chris Nelson will com eon board this year and help us a bit, and
we really appreciate that. We’re looking for help, but really, I’m not that good at asking
people for money.”
The snow is still flying, but Jason, Jake and the #23 supermodified team, as well as all
the teams, are hard at work in the garage, doing all the work that gets them prepared for
the up coming season. Cars are updated, spare parts are being made, and motors are
getting a good once over with the May 8th opener circled on all their calendars.
Jason Spaulding truly is a throwback racer. He puts everything into the car and his
racing operation he can, in hopes of that elusive checkered flag. He is due for that
feature win, which very possibly could come in the 2010 racing season. Before going
back to the garage, Jason finished with, “We’re looking forward to this year, and are
doing everything we can, looking for that win.”