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Sides Improves Feature Finish Throughout DIRTcar Nationals

(Photo by Paul Arch)

Inside Line Promotions – BARBERVILLE, Fla. (Feb. 9, 2021) – Jason Sides made progress throughout the three nights he contested at the 50th annual DIRTcar Nationals last week.

The season-opening event at Volusia Speedway Park began on a high note as Sides qualified fifth quickest to open the Ollie’s Bargain Outlet All Star Circuit of Champions show last Wednesday. A fourth-place finish in a heat race locked him into a dash and a runner-up result gave him the third starting spot for the main event.

Unfortunately, Sides got hit from behind on the start of the race. He spun and made contact with the inside wall on the frontstretch. Sides attempted to restart the race at the back of the field, but pulled into the infield early with damage.

“The first night out was looking really good,” he said. “We had some speed and put ourselves in a pretty good position. The track got a little slick and we probably didn’t keep up as much. On the start we got spun by another car and tagged the inside wall. We didn’t think anything was wrong and pushed back off, but it didn’t feel right. We ended up having a bent front axle.”

The team took the next night off to prepare for the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series opener on Friday. Sides timed in 16th quickest in qualifying, but was involved in a wild opening lap crash of his heat race that resulted in a DNF. Another driver ran into Sides’ left front wheel on the start. The damaged front end was compounded during a vicious three-car crash in turn one. Sides and his team were able to repair the damage prior to the Last Chance Showdown and a runner-up result earned a spot into the back of the main event.

“We made some progress and got up to 14th, but something happened to our car later in the race and we started pushing up the track,” he said. “We lost all the ground we had made up and fell to 20th. I’m not sure if a tire was going low. I couldn’t run the bottom anymore and let a few cars get back by.”

Saturday’s race rained out just after qualifying and the event concluded on Sunday. Sides qualified 10th quickest and placed sixth in a heat race to lock directly into the main event. He battled just outside the top 10 throughout the feature before ending 14th.

“We felt pretty decent there and when the race got going the main racing line was around the top,” he said. “After how the event has gone for us the last couple of years I felt lucky to get out of there without anymore crashes.”

Two races in the South were planned to fill this weekend for Sides and the World of Outlaws, but weather has forced the cancellation of action on Friday at Dixie Speedway in Woodstock, Ga., and Saturday at Talladega Short Track in Eastaboga, Ala.

QUICK RESULTS –

Feb. 3 – Volusia Speedway Park in Barberville, Fla. – Qualifying: 5; Heat race: 4 (3); Dash: 2 (2); Feature: DNF (3).

Feb. 5 – Volusia Speedway Park in Barberville, Fla. – Qualifying: 16; Heat race: DNF (4); B Main: 2 (2); Feature: 20 (22).

Feb. 7 – Volusia Speedway Park in Barberville, Fla. – Qualifying: 10; Heat race: 6 (4); Feature: 14 (16).

SEASON STATS –

3 races, 0 wins, 0 top fives, 0 top 10s, 1 top 15, 2 top 20s

UP NEXT –

TBD

MEDIA LINKS –

Website: http://www.SidesMotorsports.com

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/SidesMotorsport

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sides-Motorsports/283833970847?ref=br_tf

SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT – East Coast Logistics

East Coast Logistics, which is based in Australia, incorporated in 2003 and specializes in all transport and logistics requirements. For more information, visit http://www.eastcoastlogistics.com.au/.

“Dave Horrell does the jobs that people don’t want to do,” Sides said. “He’s a hard working guy and we’ve been fortunate to have him as part of our team for several years. Dave and his family have become more family than a sponsor. I call him when I just want to talk. His support means a lot.”

Sides would also like to thank Wetherington Tractor Service, Inc., BR Motorsports, VRP Shocks, King Racing Products, Dancer Logistics, Inc., R.E. Enterprises, Jim Schuhknecht, TORA TORA, FSR Radiators, Mid-States Equipment, Brad, Driven Racing Oil, Ingles Racing Engines, Wings Unlimited and All Pro Aluminum Cylinder Heads for their continued support.

INSIDE LINE PROMOTIONS –

Inside Line Promotions specializes in affordable public relations and media management for motor sports drivers, teams, sponsors, tracks, series, events, organizations and manufacturers. ILP Founder Shawn Miller leverages professional journalism with new media technologies and social networking to improve your exposure and the return on investment for your sponsors.

To meet the media relations needs of your program by joining Team ILP, contact Shawn at 541-510-3663 or Shawn@InsideLinePromotions.com. For more information on Inside Line Promotions, visit http://www.InsideLinePromotions.com.

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