Seekonk, MA - October 11, 2009 - Jake and the team entered the season ending DAV Fall Classic 100 with high hopes, looking to bring their #16 Reese's Service Center Fusion with a good finish. It looked like the team would have just that until a slew of events with 20 to go relegated the team to a 19th place finish.
Jake started the race in the 10th position. Quickly, he used the outside groove to advance position. Surviving several caution periods, he had worked his way into the top five shortly after the halfway signal.
"We had a good car. I wanted to go, but my spotter kept telling me just to be patient and by my time because we knew our stuff was good enough for the end. He usually spots for the True Value Modifed Racing Series 100-lappers, so we took his advice and just tried to ride around in the first half of the race."
With just over twenty-five to go, Jake began to work on the #51 car of Bobby Tripp. Looking inside and outside, Jake did all he could to get by the seasoned Seekonk Speedway veteran, but his efforts were to no avail.
Eventually, Tripp got sideways coming off of turn four and Jake, with nowhere to go, made contact with Tripp, sending him around. ARC officials, then, penalized Jake, sending him to the rear of the field.
"The 51 was taking up so much room out there. We had a great car, and it was getting to the point where we needed to go. He would not give any room.
He ended up getting loose, and I either had to get run over or run him over.
They thought that I took him out, so I had to go to the rear. He obviously wasn't happy because he hit me four or five times under caution. Finally, they parked him. Its just crazy that they way things happen out there sometimes."
A few short laps later, the #16 Pro Stock began to show smoke, and Jake brought the car pit side, to the attention of his team. It was then determined that there was rearend damage, and the team would be unable to continue, forcing them to retire from the race.
"I just feel bad for the team. This has been a rough season, and we finally had a great car and a day with a lot of promise. It was just not meant to be today. At any rate, its time to work on it in the off season and get ready for next year."
Stay tuned to www.mad-dogmotorsports.com for all of the latest off season information as the team begins to plan for 2010.