Victory Goes Begging for Lines at Sharon Speedway

26-8-2008

Australian Steve Lines was on his way to a probable feature race victory in only his fourth American 410 competition start on Saturday night (August 23) at Sharon Speedway (Hartford, OH) only to have the driver he was battling with, Jody Keegan, take him out.

Lines, driving the # 23 Jeff McCall owned JSM Enterprises J&J that is coupled with a Maxwill Race Engines 410ci powerplant, had taken the lead on the final lap of the 25-lap feature race at Sharon Speedway on Saturday night only to have the driver he was battling with, Jody Keegan, come down on him in a big way and this resulted in contact and followed by a large rollover for the South Australian native.

“I had the pass made on Jody Keegan [the leader at the time], as I had the bottom run on him as we approached a lapped car, and then all of a sudden he realised that too and just came down on me in a reckless fashion, I don’t know what the guy was on, but it was a stupid and low act and it has resulted in my car being destroyed, and he went on to take victory, so that rubs salt into the wound,” expressed a rather annoyed and disappointed Lines.

“Of course it is disappointing to miss out on a feature race win, but the most disappointing factor is that we have destroyed a car all because of someone’s stupid driving tactics, and now we have to race around all week building up a new car in readiness for next weekend’s All Star Series events.”

Heading into the feature race, Lines had won his heat race in comfortable fashion and had started from position six in the feature race. Lines quickly made his way into second, and then chased down and passed the leader, Jody Keegan, only to be crashed out on the final lap by that driver.

The night before (Friday, August 22) at Lernerville Speedway (Sarver, PA) Lines ended up 13th in the feature race on a very slick track where passing was minimal and he had started from position 18 in the field. During his heat race Lines had a bad pill draw and started from position 10 and made his way up sixth place at the fall of the chequered flag.

With a complete new car, Lines is looking forward to contesting three consecutive nights of racing in the All Star Series this coming weekend that begins on Friday night (August 29) at Lernerville Speedway (Sarver, PA), followed by Attica Raceway Park (Attica, OH) on Saturday night (August 30) and Hilltop Speedway (Millersburg, OH) on Sunday night (August 31).

Lines would like to say special thanks to his supporters: JSM Enterprises, Maxwill Race Engines, BR Motorsports, Wild Wood Collision (Pittsburg, PA), Camden Neon Signs, and J&J Auto Racing.