Woodland Hills, CA -- Thanks to an un-named source, the police were able to recover the JSI Motorsports Jerrico transmission, Tilton bell housing and several sets of quick-change gears from an auto shop, which purchased the items for $800.00.

The police were able to gather enough information and managed to track down one of the persons involved in the theft and make an arrest. Only a race jack, impact gun and a few tools were able to be recovered. The suspect claims the trailer had already been broken into when he stole the above items.

But, driver Nick Joanides and the team will now be able to compete in El Cajon as they now have a complete race car with the recovery of the transmission and bell housing and with the help of Jackson Race Cars loaning the team enough equipment to get by until they can replace the remaining lost items.

Joanides and the team would like to thank all those involved in recovering these items and all of the people who offered their support.

RacingWest: If you were at the Copper World, do you still have a car to race at Cajon?
Nick Joanides: Yes, unfortunately a valve spring broke on the first lap of the race in Phoenix, so we just rode around and completed the laps. Thanks to the help of the L.A. County Sheriffs Dept., our transmission, bell housing and quick change gears have been recovered from the theft, so we now have a complete car again.

RW: How has your team used their "free time" with almost 2 months between races?
NJ: We had planned on doing some testing, however the theft of our equipment and parts prevented us from doing that. We pretty much spent the time trying to figure out how to keep going, and were very happy we are able to compete in El Cajon.

RW: What do you like the most about racing at Cajon?
NJ: I've had alot of success at Cajon in the Late Model Sportsman, so it will be alot of fun to get back there. The fans and local officials at Cajon are wonderful and offered me more support than any other track after my fire accident at Mesa Marin in 1995.

RW: On a scale of 1 to 10 what would you rate Cajon overall?

NJ: 10

RW: How will your team be the "team to beat" in Cajon?
NJ: With my experience as a driver at Cajon and our awesome Jackson Race Car, we should have a great run and will be looking to get our first win in the Southwest Series there.

RW: Will you be excited to get back to the short tracks?
NJ: Yes, we're still Saturday night racers and short tracks are what its all about. It's fun going to the short tracks and being the main attraction and the fans are great.

RW: Will your team be using a different racecar for this short track than it did in Phoenix?
NJ: We only have one car, so we don't have a choice!

RW: Does qualifying matter here?
NJ: Very much so, Cajon is a tight track and accidents will happen. If you don't qualify well, you better cross your fingers and pray that you can survive the middle of the pack!

RW: What's your favorite memory of you racing at Cajon or racing in general at Cajon?
NJ: My first race in a late model at Cajon in 1994, we had old tires with four races on them, qualified 17th out of 20 cars and drove through the field to finish second in the 30 lap main event.

RW: Do you have any new sponsors or team members you'll be introducing at Cajon?
NJ: Not yet, still searching for sponsors. Our team remains intact.

RW: Will you or your team be enjoying the sites in San Diego, and if so, which ones?
NJ: I think a few of the guys are planning on going to Sea World on Sunday.

RW: What hotels do you recommend?
NJ: We are close enough to make the drive there and home in the same day, so I can't be of much help in this area, Sorry!

Source: RacingWest and JSI Motorsports
Posted: 3/18/99