J&M RACING ACHIEVES PHENOMENAL RESULTS!

(07-10-08) J&M Racing team owner, Loyd McGhee, made the decision to move up to the premier NASCAR AC Delco Super Late Model Division at Toyota Speedway for the 2008 season. He set high goals and assembled a team filled with experience from top to bottom. 

 

Toward the end of 2007, McGhee hired long time championship winning car builders Dave and Tony Jackson of Jackson Race Cars as crew chiefs to manage and maintain the car and team. Together they selected Nascar Elite and Grand National Series veteran Nick Joanides as their pilot.

 

The results since have been mind boggling. In 26 races together they have produced 13 wins and 23 top five finishes, including 21 podium finishes. After winning Friday’s Fourth of July Firecracker 100, they are three for three in the 100 lap major races. They also won both season ending Open Comp events at Irwindale and Las Vegas Speedway last year. “The Jackson’s have dominated for years, but Nick and I have both prospered since coming together”, said McGhee.

 

McGhee had originally planned to only compete in the Super Late Model division. The Jackson’s built a new car and with a new Chevy engine from Ed Hansen, they were poised to make a run at the championship. The Auto Club Late Model was put up for sale. After four months of marketing, the car remained unsold. So, McGhee decided to run it too and compete for championships in both divisions. Bill Loe was hired to take over engine duties for the Late Model.

 

After four wins in six races to finish off the 2007 season, the team got off to a slow start in 2008. A clutch failure in the Super Late Model sidelined them in the first event and an on track penalty in the second race left them 72 points out. The team quickly recovered and reeled off five consecutive victories. In all, the team has posted seven wins to go along with a second and third place finish in the past nine races. The run has vaulted them to the top of the standings.

 

In the Auto Club Late Model Division, their numbers have been equally impressive. They’ve posted eight top five finishes in nine races. Their only blemish was an electrical failure in the fifth race of the season that dropped them 52 points behind leader Andrew Myers. On the strength of two wins, a second and third place finish in the past four races, Joanides has closed the gap and now trails by a mere 10 points.

 

“Like any other winning combination in racing a lot of thanks have to go out to our sponsors”, said an obviously proud Loyd McGhee. “Great companies like Mr. Crane, Santa Rosa Developers, Western Concrete Pumping, Kramer and Lawson, Malins Pools, White Cap Construction Supply, Ahern Equipment Rentals, NMC Group, J & M Construction and Performance Motorsports have enabled us to put together a winning program.”

The team is gearing up for this weekend’s 50 lap main event in the Super Late Model division race on July 12th, 2008 and look to extend their 16 point edge over second place Travis Thirkettle.

 “The best part of racing at Toyota Speedway at Irwindale is that the competition is so tight. It makes winning here all the better.” added McGhee.