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WS: Irwindale II: Jeff Jefferson preview

Jefferson Closing in on Top Ten NACHES, WASH. (August 13, 2008) Jeff Jefferson, driver of the MJ2 Racing Chevrolet, is finally starting to dig himself out of the hole after posting consecutive top ten finishes. Even though he is currently 12th ...

Published: Aug 14, 2008, 4:45 PM

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Jefferson Closing in on Top Ten

NACHES, WASH. (August 13, 2008) Jeff Jefferson, driver of the MJ2 Racing Chevrolet, is finally starting to dig himself out of the hole after posting consecutive top ten finishes. Even though he is currently 12th in the overall point standings, the middle portion of the NASCAR Camping World Series schedule dealt the three-time NASCAR champion a blow that has been difficult to recover from.

"We had three really bad races in a row that dropped us out of the top ten in the standings," Jefferson said. "In this series you have to be on your game at every race or you can find yourself where we are."

Even though those three races resulted in DNF's for Jefferson, there were some bright spots. "In those races we were running in the top ten in the closing laps," Jefferson said. "Some will say it was just bad racing luck and in some way I agree, but in this business you create your own luck. One of the ways you create better luck is to qualify at the top. That is our goal at Toyota Speedway Saturday night."

Jefferson's best qualifying effort (2nd) this season came at Evergreen Speedway last month and has only posted three top ten qualifying spots this season. "We have been working on our set-ups," Jefferson said. "Since most of our races are impound (meaning no work can be performed on the car after qualifying) events, we have to really compromise. We need to balance qualifying with end of the race set-ups. Thus far we have missed it as we have been decent in the race but not very good in qualifying."

"The race this weekend is a big test for the team," Jefferson continued. "It is no secret that the guys at the top of the standings have all the wins and qualify in the top five every race. That is the mark we are shooting for. It is pretty simple; starting up front means you are leading and not chasing."

"The team has been working extremely hard in the shop ensuring our car is good right out of the trailer," Jefferson said. "The racing at Toyota Speedway is some of the best all year and we want to be in the thick of it on Saturday. The second half of the season is going a lot better for us and I would be disappointed if we don't qualify in the top six."

Jefferson drives a team car to Jim Warn and is sponsored by MJ2 Racing, Gran Prix Imports, and Leupold Optic. The car is powered by a Chevrolet NASCAR Spec Engine and sits atop a Hopkins chassis. Jefferson has 34 career NCWS starts with one win, 9 top five and 16 top ten finishes along with two Coors Light Pole Awards. Jefferson is currently 12th in the NCWS standings after ten races with two top five and four top ten finishes.

The Pipe Careers "200" at Toyota Speedway at Irwindale is round eleven of the 13-race NASCAR Camping World Series-West schedule for 2008. The race will be televised on a taped delayed basis by SPEED Channel for airing on August 29 at noon ET. 2008 is the 55th year of competition for the NASCAR Camping World Series-West.

-credit: www.mj2racing.com.

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