Berkley, MA – (August 18, 2008) – The Mad Dog Motorsports team survived seven caution periods and scoring issues to cross the line in the seventh position. 

Jake earned a fourth place starting position by virtue of his third place heat finish.  Jake quickly moved into third at the drop of the green flag and stayed there through the first third of the race.  Dave Darling snuck by Jake, shuffling him back to fourth.  Once in fourth, Jake would begin a torrid battle with Ryan Vanesse and Scott Dion for the third position, one that he would eventually win.  

“That was some good hard racing out there with Ryan and Scott.  David was quick and got by us on the inside, but we had a good car tonight, and were able to get back into the third spot.”

Just 10 laps later, Jake would begin another battle for the third position, this time with Fred Astle, Jr. and Tom Scully, Jr.  Jake got shuffled back several positions into the fifth position.  This is when the third caution of the event flew, and also when things began to get interesting.  When the restart lineup came down from the tower, Jake was listed in tenth, a position he had not vacated for the previous 32 laps.  Then, when the caution came out again for a false start, Jake had been moved up into the seventh position despite not completing a lap.     

“Tonight was an extremely frustrating night, not only for me, but for all the guys.  Just like everyone else here, we put a lot of time into our car and to come here, be running in the top five, and then be put back five positions is just frustrating.  It seemed like there was no rhythm or reason to the way that tonight’s race was scored and that is too bad for all of the competitors, just not us.” 

Despite the fiasco, the team gained a position and moved themselves into eighth in the point standings, trailing Tom Scully, Sr. by a mere 6 points.  Jake is also second in the running for the Rookie of the Year crown. 

MDM will be back at it this Saturday night as they will compete at Seekonk Speedway (MA) in a special 75-lap event – the Miller Gold Cup Classic.  Heat races will begin at 6:00 PM.