LAS VEGAS, Nevada — Jim Pettit II tried every which way but loose to get around veteran M K Kanke during the closing laps of the ‘SPEARS Manufacturing 111’, but came up short by 0.217 seconds. The event, in the ‘Bullring’ at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway, marked the opening of the 2011 SPEARS SRL Southwest Tour Series season.
"I tried him (MK KANKE) every way but loose, but came up just a half a car length short. "— Jim Pettit II
After qualifying fourth in the twenty-seven car field, the Prunedale, CA. driver started eighth following an eleven car invert. Slowly working his way through the field, he was fifth on lap thirty; fourth on lap forty; third on lap fifty-one, and moved into second on lap fifty-six. From then on, it was between those two for the rest of the race.
“I raced him as hard as I could, especially during the last few laps. In fact, I was down on the rumble strips at one time. I tried him every way but loose, but came up just a half a car length short. We had a really good car Saturday night, and even tried a few things that I feel will help us the next time we come back, if we have the opportunity”, said Pettit.
As far as competing for the rest of the season, Pettit said, “We’re going to the next race at Roseveille, and that’s all we’re planning on at the moment. We definitely would like to continue. I’ve got some things in the works to help us that I hope will pan out, but we’ll just have to wait and see.”
Pettit’s second place finish was his second in his last three appearances on the third mile oval, the other being a win in the final race of the 2010 SRL season. He now has twenty-four top 5’s and twenty-five top 10’s in his thirty-three starts in the SRL, along with ten wins, the most in the Series history.
Driving the blue and yellow Ford Fusion number 03, Jim is sponsored by Golden Gate Petroleum, Top of the Hill Performance, Mo’ Gold, bizzwithbuzz.com, Swift Springs, and Fred Morgart Recycling. For more on his racing career, please visit his website at jimpettitracing.com, where you will find links to his sponsors, RacingWest, and the SRL.
