DJ Shaw Hoping for a Rebound With a Big Payday at “THE RACE”
Historic North Wilkesboro to Host the Precision JLM Team With $75,000 On the Line
CONCORD, NC (April 5, 2011) – Nestled in the hills of North Carolina sits on of the most historic ovals in racing history, North Wilkesboro Speedway. The legendary facility will host one of the most anticipated Super Late Model events in recent history, as the Pro All Stars Series (PASS) South Super Late Models will bid for a $75,000 winner’s purse in “THE RACE.”
With big money and an entry list pushing 80 cars, New Hampshire’s DJ Shaw knows that being the first-ever winner of “THE RACE” on April 9th will not be an easy task, but it’s one that he and his entire #60 Precision JLM team are ready to take on. Preparations for this weekend’s 300-lap battle have been ongoing for weeks, if not months, and finally the time has come for Shaw to prove what he’s made of.
“We tested once and we were happy with our test,” said Shaw. “There’s room to gain there, but we made improvements on the stuff we had last year.”
Shaw’s #60 Super Late Model did not have the best race of its tenure on the track at North Wilkesboro last September during the PASS South Labor Day Classic 200. Shaw started 20th and his crew massaged on the car throughout the race to earn an 12th-place finish in the first PASS South race ever at the track.
With 100 more laps and a far bigger purse on the line this time around at North Wilkesboro, Shaw is prepared with a strategy to make sure things go better than they did in the first NWS race.
“Making the show is the number one goal. You’ve got to go to the race prepared to qualify, but you go to win.
“We’re not one of those locked in Pro All Stars Series teams, so we have to be realistic. We know it’s going to be tough to win the pole, but just getting a top-15 and getting locked in right off the bat would be real nice for us.”
There’s more on the line than just pride for Shaw and his competition this weekend. The top spot pays $75,000 for non-PASS regulars, something that Shaw would love to claim given his frustrating run in his first NASCAR K&N Pro Series East race of the 2011 season last weekend at Greenville-Pickens Speedway (SC).
The #60 team struggled early on in last Saturday’s practice sessions with a brand-new racecar, but speed picked up in time trials, where he qualified 11th. Shaw ran solidly in the top-10 in the East Series’ season-opener, but a melee in turn one ended his night prematurely.
“It was a new car and we just couldn’t seem to find what it needed,” said Shaw. “Eventually we just hit on something towards the time trials that made it halfway better. I guess there was a hauler in the infield that caused a blind spot for the spotters in turns one and two. I don’t know if they radioed into all the drivers, but they stacked up and I got turned. That ruined our night and it tore up our brand new racecar.”
With the next K&N Pro Series East race coming on April 16th at South Boston Speedway in Virginia, Shaw will look to get his 2011 season kick-started in “THE RACE” PASS South event this Saturday.
For more information on DJ Shaw, contact Matt Kentfield at (704) 785-4013 and be sure to visit the all-new DJShawRacing.com coming soon.