BLONDE HOPES TO REBOUND TO WIN THIS YEAR’S US NATIONALS
May 26, 2022 – Last year’s American Speed U.S. Nationals is a sore subject for Jason Blonde. It is a win that he feels got away. Blonde is hoping to rebound from his misfortune last year and bring home the victory laurels this Saturday May 28, when the Must See Racing National Touring Series presented by Engine Pro invades Kalamazoo Speedway.
The event was originally a two-day format. But with the forecast for heavy rains Friday, officials on Thursday consolidated everything into a one-day format on Saturday.
The 8-time Super Sprints champion was leading late in last year race. It appeared that a victory was all but assured. He had built a comfortable lead and was cruising. Then a late race caution and a double file restart changed everything. On the restart his car drifted towards the wall, and he slipped to fourth in the closing laps of the race. His was a crushing defeat in blonde’s eyes.
Blonde, who will be making his first pavement sprint car race since last August, recently explained his misfortune last year. “After that caution came out, I didn’t keep my tires warm and clean” remembers Blonde. “On the restart when I went into the corner it wouldn’t turn. I fell back to fourth on that restart. It’s my fault. I feel like it slipped away. It’s my fault for not keeping my tires scuffed off. I kinda forgot about it”.
Blonde has thought about that race several times since last year. But he will have a chance to redeem himself this weekend. “I kick myself every day for that. MSR does double-file restarts. I picked the outside lane just because my car was working so good on the outside. That didn’t work well on the restart because I went right to the wall when I throttled up. I almost had to get out of the gas going by the flag stand and that allowed Jimmy McCune to drive right past me. I f I had it to do all over again I would have chosen the bottom lane” laughs Blonde.
Blonde will have another chance to claim an American Speed U.S. Nationals trophy this weekend. In addition, Kalamazoo Speedway is a track he likes. “I really like Kalamazoo Speedway. The way the car has been the last couple of years at Kalamazoo, we’ve been pretty stout. A win is definitely what we’re looking for as long as the driver does his part and keeps the tires under him” concluded Blonde.
The American Speed U.S. Nationals will now be a one-night event on Saturday. The Maxima Racing Oils Midwest Lights will also be in action giving fans a double-header of winged asphalt sprint car racing. Also included will be the Ohio Wheelman Series, Midwest Compact Touring Series, and MCR Dwarf Cars.
The event is expected to draw a huge national media presence. Saturday nights complete racing program will be streamed live on Speed Sport TV. A monthly subscription will allow you see view the events if you are unable to attend in person. Go to SPEEDSPORT.tv/subscribe for details. In addition, the event will be taped delayed for broadcast at a later date on SPEEDSPORT/MAVTV.
For more info on the American Speed U.S. Nationals please visit www.mustseeracing.com.
