Justin Jennings Lands Top-20 Finish In ARCA Debut At Iowa Speedway

Justin Jennings Lands Top-20 Finish In ARCA Debut At Iowa Speedway

Topics: Justin Jennings, Prairie Meadows 200

Justin Jennings Lands Top-20 Finish In ARCA Debut At Iowa Speedway

Chris Knight
Knight Motorsports Management
Hixson Motorsports
July 18, 2011

NEWTON, Iowa (July 18, 2011) - - Embracing an overwhelming amount of input, guidance and support, Justin Jennings was able to conquer \through a sweltering day of heat to capture a 19th place finish in his ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards debut at Iowa Speedway.

Teaming up with veteran ARCA team Hixson Motorsports and picking up sponsorship from LG SEEDS, the avid late model competitor glued himself into the No. 28 LG SEEDS Chevrolet Impala focused on the opening practice session Friday afternoon.

After bolting out some respectable lap times early in the session, Jennings’s machine broke loose in turn four and slapped the outside wall causing damage to the rear end of his Impala. Able to re-fire his automobile and return to the garage, repairs began quickly on the No. 28 LG SEEDS Chevrolet Impala as the team diagnosed the damage as cosmetic.

The repair effort led by Hixson Motorsports teammate Ron Cox was complete by the time the final practice had begun. Finding his comfort zone, Jennings was able to complete the session incident free allowing him to communicate with his team about potential changes leaning into ARCA Racing Series qualifying set for the following afternoon.

In time trials, Jennings posted a lap of 25.694 seconds or 122.59 miles per hour landing him 28th in the official starting grid while also receiving chants from his team as the 18-year old picked up the pace considerably and led the Hixson Motorsports team in qualifications.

With a heat index topping out at 124 degrees outside the car and a sweltering 150 degrees plus inside the car, the stars and cars of the ARCA Racing Series took the green flag shortly after 4:00 p.m. Jennings’s attempt to gain position on the track would be stalled when the No. 63 spun in turn three.

Climbing into the top 25 when racing resumed on lap six, Jennings continued to hover safely in the top-25 throughout the race’s first 50 circuits. As the race pressed on, Jennings continued to march forward. By halfway, Jennings had worked his way into the top-20.

In the second half, Jennings was able to overcome a spin on lap 156 to once again find himself contending to accomplishing his goal of finishing inside the top-20 in the Prairie Meadows 200.

Slowly but patiently, Jennings was able to climb from 20th to 19th over the races final 36 circuits where he would take the checkered flag.

“It was an incredible learning experience for me,” said Jennings. “The heat was incredible inside the race car but I didn’t have a lot of time to focus on that during the race as I was determined to learn, earn respect and most importantly finish the race. We did all three. I want to thank Hixson Motorsports for the opportunity to drive for them and a huge thanks to LG SEEDS for jumping on-board for my ARCA Racing Series debut.”

Not knowing what lies ahead, Jennings knows that the ARCA Racing Series is where he wants to be and will begin putting a plan together to try and accomplish that feat.

“I would love to race some more in ARCA this year,” Jennings added. “We’ll see what we can do with sponsorship, but it would be so valuable to me to come back and race with everyone again and strengthen my learning curve with another race under my belts. This is where I need to be to adapt my learning curve. Everyone is very friendly and willing to give you advice and that’s comforting for a young driver like myself. We’ll see what happens.”

In addition to LG SEEDS, Jennings thanks his additional sponsorship support for Iowa Speedway which included Grants Tire of Taylor, Missouri and Jennings Bros. Trucking based in LaGrange, Missouri.

Next up for the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards is a welcomed trip back to Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis, formally known as O’Reilly Raceway Park (ORP) for the running of the Ansell Protective Gloves 200 set for Thursday, July 28th. The iconic short track event will be aired live on SPEED beginning at 7:00 p.m. Eastern.

For additional information on LG SEEDS, please visit; lgseeds.com.

ABOUT LG SEEDS:

LG SEEDS is a Brand of AgReliant Genetics, the fourth largest corn seed company in the United States. LG SEEDS offers corn, soybean and alfalfa seed to farmers throughout the Corn Belt. LG SEEDS headquarters is located in Elmwood, Illinois.

PHOTO CAPTION: Justin Jennings, driver of the No. 28 LG SEEDS Chevrolet Impala in the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards for Hixson Motorsports.

MEDIA CONTACT:

NAME: Chris Knight, Knight Motorsports Management
PHONE: 239.834.9797
EMAIL: chris@chrisknightpr.com / knight849@aol.com