Gravel and Swindell set for Texas two-step before west coast swing
Story By: KYLE LEUTTERS / CJB MOTORSPORTS Photos By: TOMMY HEIN / RACERSGUIDE.COM
CARLISLE, PA- February 19, 2016- One of the main objectives of the off season for CJB Motorsports was strengthening an already strong engine program. Thanks to the tireless efforts of Paul Kistler and his team, CJB Motorsports, with drivers David Gravel and Sammy Swindell, came out of the gate at Volusia Speedway Park with both guns a blazing.
“We had incredible speed all week long,” said Gravel, the pilot of the Big Game Treestands, J.R.C. Transportation Inc., C&S Lawn & Landscape #5. “It’s great to know that you’ve got one of the fastest cars out on the track.”
“2016 started off pretty nice for us,” said Swindell, driver of the Big Game Treestands, GoMuddy.com #1. “We had a shot at some wins and were able to try out some new things and get our cars better. You can’t ask for much more than that.”
The Pennsylvania based team saw their first action of the 2016 season on Wednesday, February 10th at the speedy half-mile. That night and the following night were contested under the banner of the Arctic Cat All Star Circuit of Champions.
“We had a nose wing issue on night one,” said Gravel, who finished 15th and 11th during the two nights of All Star racing. “On the second night with the All Stars, we were just looking to find a balance. I think we achieved that and were able to continue to dial in our car.”
“The track was really good for our car on the opening night,” said Swindell, who scored a 5th place finish on the first night. “On the second night, we had a problem with our setup and didn’t end up getting our tire situation quite right. We ended up pulling in so we didn’t run the risk of tearing something up. We can do that since we’re not really running for points.”
Friday, February 12th brought the opening night of the 2016 World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series season. The tour, one of the most grueling in all of motorsports, kicked off with three nights of competition.
“We had a fuel nozzle get knocked off on the first night which was a bummer,” said Gravel, who finished 24th on the opening night but rebounded to finish 10th and 4th to wrap up the weekend. “What’s great is that we made the dash every night we were with the Outlaws. That’s what you have to do to give yourself a chance in these races. We made the wrong adjustments on the second night and fell back but we made the right ones and charged up through the field on Sunday. We ran the fastest lap of the weekend during our heat race that night. As I said before, it’s just really great to have raw speed.”
“Our car was great on long runs during that third night when we finished on the podium,” said Swindell. The veteran from Tennessee scored his second top-5 of the weekend on the first night of Outlaw competition. “There was an open red late and that allowed the Kasey Kahne Racing guys a chance to get out there and work on the 9 and 49. That took a little awhile from us. On the fourth night, the track was drier than it had been the previous night and we suffered because of that. We were trying some other things as well. I thought we had a nice rebound on Sunday night when we finished 6th. The car was probably the best it had been all weekend and it kept getting stronger as the race went on.”
Overall, the CJB tandem experienced the type of success that is crucial for a season long charge towards victories and a championship.
The team now says farewell to Florida and heads back home to central Pennsylvania. Up next is a trip to Paige, Texas and Cotton Bowl Speedway for the fourth event of the 2016 schedule on Friday, February 26th. Baytown’s Royal Purple Raceway will host the series the following night. Both Gravel and Swindell will be rookies at Cotton Bowl yet veterans at Royal Purple.
“Looking forward to checking out Cotton Bowl for sure,” said Gravel. “I remember that Royal Purple Raceway is a nice place with the drag strip right next door. It was very early on in my career that I was there last.”
Swindell remembers Royal Purple Raceway well. As Gravel finished 16th, Swindell went to victory lane during the series last visit in 2011.
“Royal Purple is a very nice place,” said the three-time Outlaw champion.
“Between that and Cotton Bowl, it’ll be a nice weekend in Texas before we head out west.”
CAR #5 2016 STATS:
Events: 5
Quick Times: 0
Wins: 0
Top-5’s: 1
Top-10’s: 2
Heat Race Wins: 2
Dash Wins: 0
Average Time Trial: 9.6
Average A-main finish: 12.8
Total Laps Led: 0
CAR #1 2016 STATS:
Events: 5
Quick Times: 0
Wins: 0
Top-5’s: 3
Top-10’s: 3
Heat Race Wins: 1
Dash Wins: 0
Average Time Trial: 10.8
Average A-main finish: 8.8
Total Laps Led: 0
UP NEXT:
Cotton Bowl Speedway in Paige, Texas is up next as the CJB duo will take on the ATX Rentals Outlaw Shootout on Friday, February 26th. The following night, Royal Purple Raceway in Baytown, Texas stages the series as O’Reilly Auto Parts presents the World of Outlaws hosted by Kasey Kahne.
STAY CONNECTED WITH CJB MOTORSPORTS:
For up to the minute race updates and behind the scenes content from CJB Motorsports, please follow the team on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Fans can also listen to all of the racing action live at www.DirtVision.com.
ABOUT CJB MOTORSPORTS:
CJB Motorsports is a winged, 410 sprint car team that competes across the country with drivers David Gravel & Sammy Swindell. Founded in 2005, the Chad and Jenn Clemens owned organization has worked to establish a standard of excellence in short track racing through fielding competitive entries and providing exceptional exposure for marketing partners. The team is based out of Carlisle, Pennsylvania.
CJB Motorsports would like to thank all of our loyal sponsors and product manufacturers for their support and great products.
Partners: Mainstream Holdings, Big Game Treestands, Muddy, JRC Transportation Inc., Bairs Tree Service, Nyce, Crete & Landis Block and Concrete, All Star Performance, Henry Dunn Insurance, C&S Lawn and Landscape, Ecynbro Trucking
Manufacturers: Astro Titanium, Artic Cat, ATL Fuel Cells, Blackbeard, Brown&Miller Racing Solutions, Butlerbuilt, Cometic Gaskets, Energy Release, Fastener Specialties, FK Rod Ends, Factory Kahne Shocks,High Performance Lubricants, HRP Wings, Kinsler Fuel Injection, Kistler Engines, KSE Racing Products, Lincoln Welders, Moose Blocks,Inc., MSD Ignition, Outerwears, Safety-Klean, Saldana Racing Products, Schoenfeld Headers, Simpson, Sweet Engineering, TI22, Walker Performance Filters, Weld Racing, Wilwood Brakes, Winters Performance
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