9/6/2018
Jarrett Martin Sweeps in Micro, Scores Top-Ten with ASCS Southwest Over Labor Day Weekend in Show Low
(Image: 26 Promotions)
26 Promotions – Show Low, AZ – (September 6, 2018) – Jarrett Martin claimed two micro sprint feature victories and an ASCS Southwest top-ten finish during the two-day Tribute to Lowell Carsten event at Show Low Speedway Park.
“I was hoping for good runs in both the micro and sprint car going into the Labor Day weekend,” said Martin. “My expectations were high for the micro, and my goals for the sprint car were just to try to get the hang of the track and build some speed throughout the weekend.”
Saturday night didn’t start off on the right foot for Martin as a fuel pump issue would see him exit the track before the green flag would wave for his heat.
“We kind of had that same problem before, and it cost us a win last time we raced up there,” he explained. “While I got ready to run the sprint car heat, my dad started searching for the problem on the micro. It was a hectic night, but by the time we needed to roll out for the micro feature, my dad and I thought we fixed the problem and threw a setup at the car.”
After not being able to complete a lap in his heat, Martin would be forced to tag the field for the start of Saturday night’s micro feature.
“We kind of stalled early on in the race but once I got by a few guys and got an open track, I started gaining some momentum,” he said. “We were able to track down the leaders and right as I was getting ready to make a move for the lead we caught a late race caution. With a few laps to go, I was able to get by and take the win on night one.”
Over on the sprint car side, Martin would start fifth and finish seventh in his heat, lining him up 13th for the start of the feature.
“My plan for the sprint car on Saturday was to try to learn the track and get some good laps in so we could come back faster on Sunday,” he explained. “The track slicked off a little bit for the feature, so we tightened the car up some and left enough wing for me to move back if I needed it.”
Martin was able to move up through the field and was running ninth around the halfway point of the race.
“The track actually didn’t change too much over the course of the race which gave me a chance to search around and find where I was good and where the car was working best,” he said. “With about seven or eight laps to go, I got passed by a couple of the leaders and changed my line. I moved from the top to the bottom of one and two and ended up looping it coming off two. Shortly after there was another red that cut the race short before I had a good chance to make up any spots.”
Martin ended night one in Show Low with a 12th-place finish.
“Historically, we have always had some trouble in the micro on night two in Show Low,” Martin said. “I was really hoping everything would finally go our way so that we could get the sweep of both micro features.”
Starting third in his heat, Martin would come out on top of the 3-car battle for the lead, taking the heat race win and the outside front row starting position for the micro main.
“I was thinking about what changes to make to the car before the feature, but after running the sprint car heat and walking the track, the track still looked pretty heavy, so I only made small changes and figured I had enough shock adjustment if the track changed throughout the race,” he explained. “We took off to an early lead and led pretty smoothly for most of the race. However, the track was starting to dry out a little bit where I was running in turn one, so I was trying to move around to keep up. I accidentally made contact with a lap car with a few laps to go, and when we restarted, I knew I was going to have to keep the 41 behind me going into turn one. I saw his nose in the center of the corner, but after that, we held onto the lead to take the win and the sweep.”
Martin has now won six of his last eight micro sprint races.
Closing out the weekend in the sprint car, Martin started and finished sixth in his heat on a hammer down track. The result would place him on the outside of the sixth row for the start of the 25-lap feature.
“From hot laps on, I felt a lot more comfortable in the sprint car on Sunday,” he said. “The car was good, but I think we were lacking some speed and I wasn’t super consistent. Lining up 12th for the feature, I felt like I could make some moves and maybe get a couple of spots in the beginning.”
After avoiding a wreck on the backstretch, Martin would line up tenth with about 20-laps to go.
“I was trying to find my way around the ninth-place car for about ten laps, but after a while, I started to fall back,” he said. “I was better than the night before at the end of the race but still not as good as I need to be.”
Martin ended the night with his fourth ASCS Southwest Region top-ten finish of the year.
Martin will be back in action this weekend with the Power 600 Series micro sprints at Central Arizona Speedway.
Jarrett Martin would like to thank Streaker Racing, K Corp, Pace Chassis, My Race Pass, Paint by Steve, The Race Shack, Bell Helmets, Steve Stone Racing, Torco Race Fuels, Macenzie Motorsports, Southwest T-Shirt Company, and J&J Auto Racing for their continued support.
Saturday’s Micro Sprint Results
Heat: 1st -> 6th
Feature: 10th -> 1st
Saturday’s ASCS Results
Heat: 5th -> 7th
Feature: 13th -> 12th
Sunday’s Micro Sprint Results
Heat: 3rd -> 1st
Feature: 2nd -> 1st
Sunday’s ASCS Results
Heat: 6th -> 6th
Feature: 12th -> 10th
Links
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jarrett.martin.20
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jmartinracing
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jarrettmartinracing/
Website: http://www.jarrettmartinracing.com
Article Credit: 26 Promotions
