TWIN FALLS, Idaho — Jonathon Gomez, driver of the #22 Century Boatland/Living Like a Pirate Chevrolet in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series, is hoping to turn his luck around at Stockton (CA) 99 Speedway this weekend after a successful test last week at the quick quarter-mile paved oval.
" Team Excited About Stockton Event Despite Recent Run of Bad Luck"
This Saturday night, the NASCAR K&N Pro Series, in its 59th year, returns to Stockton for the 22nd time. Gomez will make his first series start at Stockton but the 29-year old has had success on the historic oval. Gomez has won in the SPEARS SRL Southwest Tour back in 2010.
"We had a great test at Stockton and we were among the fastest in attendance," Gomez said. "If ever we needed a great qualifying effort this is the race. Craig (Raudman) and the crew have put a really fast race car together for this weekend."
In the previous 21 series races staged at Stockton, the furthest back a winner has started was seventh with Jack McCoy accomplishing the feat back in 1971. Seven of the last 17 races have been won from the pole.
Stockton 99 Speedway provides drivers and their teams interesting challenges as the quarter-mile banked oval has two distinct sets of corners that require a unique set-up. Turns one and two are more flat but tighter while turns three and four offer more banking and a wider racing line.
"You have to really set up the guy in front of you and make the pass in three and four," Gomez said. Turn two closes up so fast that if you are out of position it is not a good thing."
Gomez sits 12th in the championship standings after three races just 46-points back from the leaders. A strong finish Saturday night will more than turn his season around. After running second with three laps to go at Miller last weekend, a cut tire dashed his hopes and he wound up finishing 15th.
We just need some luck to come our way," Gomez said. "I am really excited about Stockton this weekend and think this race could be the start to turning our season around."
Gomez has made 30 career starts in the NKNPS after making his series debut at Douglas County Speedway in Roseburg, OR on July 11, 2008. In his 30 career starts he has five top five and 12 top ten performances. He has a career best finish of second place twice (Iowa & Phoenix).
Gomez Motorsports is owned by John Gomez, a successful farmer and businessman based in Idaho. The team is lead by crew chief Craig Raudman and supported by Ron Copeland, Blaine Bergem, Derek Copeland, Kyle Cattanach, Adam Wyse, and Mike Mulder.
Grab yourself a new "Living Like a Pirate" t-shirt from Jonathon at http://www.livinglikeapirate.com/categories/jonathon-gomez-22.html.
About Gomez Motorsports
Jonathon Gomez is supported by Century Boatland, Living Like a Pirate, J&C Custom Harvesting, United Oil, Modern Machinery, DJ Safety, and Gomez Farms. Jonathon Gomez has competed in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series since 2008 and is the 2010 SPEARS SRL Southwest Tour Champion. Gomez is also a winner on the CarbonX Rocky Mountain Challenge Series and in the Mustang Challenge Series at Miller Motorsports Park. For more information on Jonathon Gomez, please log onto his website at www.jonathongomez.com or NASCAR Hometracks or the SRL Southwest Tour website. You can also follow all of the best in West coast racing action by visiting www.racingwest.com.
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