RGeeProductions
07-17-2012, 08:57 PM
MICHAEL GERVAIS, JR. AND TEAM LOOK TO GET BACK TO EARLY SEASON FORM IN
CARQUEST SK 150 TWIN 75’S AT STAFFORD
For SK Modified® driver Michael Gervais, Jr., the
2012 season has been a coming out party. After winning the 2009 track
championship in Stafford’s SK Light division, Gervais moved into the SK
Modified® division for the 2010 season. Gervais struggled through his
rookie season, finishing 21st in the points standings. After finishing 10th
in the SK Modified points last season, Gervais has picked up his first win
at Stafford this season and he led the points for several weeks. After
several weeks of bad luck, including a blown engine, Gervais has fallen back
to fifth place in the points standings, but he and his #22 NJK Automotive
team are looking to bring back their early season form beginning in this
Friday night’s CARQUEST SK 150 Twin 75 lap feature events.
“We’re excited for it, but we wish we had our other motor to race with,”
said Gervais. “We blew our motor a couple weeks ago in the 100 lapper, it’s
also a spec motor, but the motor we lost definitely felt a little better
than the one we have in the car now. The car has been handling better so
that has helped it along, but we’re definitely not as quick as we were the
first couple of weeks when we were leading the points. But the car shouldn’
t be too bad, as long as we keep out of trouble, we should be able to get a
good finish in those races. We’ve definitely learned a lot as a team and
with Mike Paquette helping us out with setting up the car has helped out a
lot and the good power we have this year. The combination of those two
things has definitely made us a lot stronger this year.”
For the past 8 CARQUEST SK 150 events, the race has been run as a 150-lap
feature event. This year’s event brings a new twist in that the race will
be split into two 75-lap feature events, which is sure to provide the
drivers with the challenge of setting their car up for two separate races
that are each almost twice as long as their normal 40-lap distance.
“I think we’ll pretty much be on the same plan as we would for a 100-lap
race,” said Gervais. “We still want the car to be there at the end, and we
need to maintain the tires if we get some long green flag runs going. I
like the longer races, I like to be able to put a little more strategy into
the race like saving tires, and you can work on the car early in the race,
and it’s not as crucial as it would be for a 40-lap race. It’s cool to do
races like this because that’s what you see in the higher ranks of racing,
they drive longer lap races. In between races we’ll check a few things that
we usually do after a regular race, we’ll nut and bolt everything and give
the car a good look over. The two 75-lappers will be interesting for sure.”
After picking up his first ever win at Stafford back on May 25th, Gervais
feels confident that he can reach victory lane again this season. There
would be no better place for Gervais and his team to get their second win of
the season than in the biggest race of the SK Modified® season and that a
win in one of the twin 75-lap features this Friday night would serve as a
springboard to get him and his team back to their early season form.
“I don’t see why we couldn’t get back to victory lane again,” said Gervais.
“We’re going to be getting our good motor back and as long as we can get
some good finishes, I don’t see why we can’t. A win in one of these races
would definitely be cool for us, I’ve always wanted to get a long distance
win. Hopefully that can be this weekend and things work out for us with the
car. We’d like to at least finish up front, we wouldn’t be upset with a
top-5 finish. Any top-5 finish is good for points and is good for morale.
It definitely felt good to finally get that first win at Stafford and we
hope to win again soon.”
Having already won a track championship at Stafford, Gervais knows what he
needs to do in order to be in championship contention. As the second half
of the 2012 season gets underway, Gervais has a simple plan for getting
himself and his team back to the top of the standings where they were
earlier this season.
“The plan is to keep trying to finish up front, that’s all we can do,” said
Gervais. “We’ll try to win some more races and try to not have any more
problems like we’ve had. All our bad luck happened right around the same
time, we got in a wreck, blew the motor, and got in a wreck. We finished
9th last week and that felt great for us. To be in the top-10 and not have
anything wrong with the car was big. It’s kind of tough seeing that we were
leading the points at one point and now we’re in fifth, but it’s an
improvement from last year and as long as we keep going forward, that’s what
’s important to us. But it does feel a lot better when you’re on top. I
have great help from Nick and Steven, my Dad, my Uncle Gary, and my spotter
Ray, so we don’t see any reason why we can’t get back to where we were,”
said Gervais. “The car is working well so we have a good shot at it.”
Gervais carries sponsorship from NJK Automotive, Arbitell Conv. Stores,
David Smith, Mark Edwards Siding, and Gervais Brothers Roofing. With a
great crew behind him and their good motor set to get back on track in
another week or two, things are looking up for Gervais and the #22 team.
The 9th Annual CARQUEST SK 150 is scheduled for July 20th. Tickets are
priced at $27.50 for adult general admission, $5.00 for children ages 6-14
general admission, and Free for Children ages 5 & under. Reserved seating
is available for $30.00 for all ages. All ticket prices include 10% CT
Admission Tax. As always, Stafford Motor Speedway offers free parking with
overnight parking available.
For more information, or to order tickets to the 9th Annual CARQUEST SK 150,
contact the Stafford Motor Speedway track office at 860-684-2783 or visit us
on the web at www.staffordspeedway.com.
Scott Running
CARQUEST SK 150 TWIN 75’S AT STAFFORD
For SK Modified® driver Michael Gervais, Jr., the
2012 season has been a coming out party. After winning the 2009 track
championship in Stafford’s SK Light division, Gervais moved into the SK
Modified® division for the 2010 season. Gervais struggled through his
rookie season, finishing 21st in the points standings. After finishing 10th
in the SK Modified points last season, Gervais has picked up his first win
at Stafford this season and he led the points for several weeks. After
several weeks of bad luck, including a blown engine, Gervais has fallen back
to fifth place in the points standings, but he and his #22 NJK Automotive
team are looking to bring back their early season form beginning in this
Friday night’s CARQUEST SK 150 Twin 75 lap feature events.
“We’re excited for it, but we wish we had our other motor to race with,”
said Gervais. “We blew our motor a couple weeks ago in the 100 lapper, it’s
also a spec motor, but the motor we lost definitely felt a little better
than the one we have in the car now. The car has been handling better so
that has helped it along, but we’re definitely not as quick as we were the
first couple of weeks when we were leading the points. But the car shouldn’
t be too bad, as long as we keep out of trouble, we should be able to get a
good finish in those races. We’ve definitely learned a lot as a team and
with Mike Paquette helping us out with setting up the car has helped out a
lot and the good power we have this year. The combination of those two
things has definitely made us a lot stronger this year.”
For the past 8 CARQUEST SK 150 events, the race has been run as a 150-lap
feature event. This year’s event brings a new twist in that the race will
be split into two 75-lap feature events, which is sure to provide the
drivers with the challenge of setting their car up for two separate races
that are each almost twice as long as their normal 40-lap distance.
“I think we’ll pretty much be on the same plan as we would for a 100-lap
race,” said Gervais. “We still want the car to be there at the end, and we
need to maintain the tires if we get some long green flag runs going. I
like the longer races, I like to be able to put a little more strategy into
the race like saving tires, and you can work on the car early in the race,
and it’s not as crucial as it would be for a 40-lap race. It’s cool to do
races like this because that’s what you see in the higher ranks of racing,
they drive longer lap races. In between races we’ll check a few things that
we usually do after a regular race, we’ll nut and bolt everything and give
the car a good look over. The two 75-lappers will be interesting for sure.”
After picking up his first ever win at Stafford back on May 25th, Gervais
feels confident that he can reach victory lane again this season. There
would be no better place for Gervais and his team to get their second win of
the season than in the biggest race of the SK Modified® season and that a
win in one of the twin 75-lap features this Friday night would serve as a
springboard to get him and his team back to their early season form.
“I don’t see why we couldn’t get back to victory lane again,” said Gervais.
“We’re going to be getting our good motor back and as long as we can get
some good finishes, I don’t see why we can’t. A win in one of these races
would definitely be cool for us, I’ve always wanted to get a long distance
win. Hopefully that can be this weekend and things work out for us with the
car. We’d like to at least finish up front, we wouldn’t be upset with a
top-5 finish. Any top-5 finish is good for points and is good for morale.
It definitely felt good to finally get that first win at Stafford and we
hope to win again soon.”
Having already won a track championship at Stafford, Gervais knows what he
needs to do in order to be in championship contention. As the second half
of the 2012 season gets underway, Gervais has a simple plan for getting
himself and his team back to the top of the standings where they were
earlier this season.
“The plan is to keep trying to finish up front, that’s all we can do,” said
Gervais. “We’ll try to win some more races and try to not have any more
problems like we’ve had. All our bad luck happened right around the same
time, we got in a wreck, blew the motor, and got in a wreck. We finished
9th last week and that felt great for us. To be in the top-10 and not have
anything wrong with the car was big. It’s kind of tough seeing that we were
leading the points at one point and now we’re in fifth, but it’s an
improvement from last year and as long as we keep going forward, that’s what
’s important to us. But it does feel a lot better when you’re on top. I
have great help from Nick and Steven, my Dad, my Uncle Gary, and my spotter
Ray, so we don’t see any reason why we can’t get back to where we were,”
said Gervais. “The car is working well so we have a good shot at it.”
Gervais carries sponsorship from NJK Automotive, Arbitell Conv. Stores,
David Smith, Mark Edwards Siding, and Gervais Brothers Roofing. With a
great crew behind him and their good motor set to get back on track in
another week or two, things are looking up for Gervais and the #22 team.
The 9th Annual CARQUEST SK 150 is scheduled for July 20th. Tickets are
priced at $27.50 for adult general admission, $5.00 for children ages 6-14
general admission, and Free for Children ages 5 & under. Reserved seating
is available for $30.00 for all ages. All ticket prices include 10% CT
Admission Tax. As always, Stafford Motor Speedway offers free parking with
overnight parking available.
For more information, or to order tickets to the 9th Annual CARQUEST SK 150,
contact the Stafford Motor Speedway track office at 860-684-2783 or visit us
on the web at www.staffordspeedway.com.
Scott Running