With Pennsylvania Speedweek racing into the third of a nine-race gauntlet at Selinsgrove this weekend, Jake Waters looks to make his return at the Snyder County oval. Returning to the scene after a fiery crash nearly took his life almost three years ago, Waters looks to build on his fifth-place finish in last year’s event.
“Ever since the first RaceSaver race at Selinsgrove, we have tried to support the facility as much as possible,” reflected Waters. “Mike (Heffner), Steve (Inch), and Alan (Kreitzer) have dedicated a lot of effort to improve as much as possible there and during my time in the hospital after the accident, they went above and beyond for me and my family. When someone dedicates time to do that for you, the least you can do is support them.”
Despite this season’s results not yet showcasing the Mifflintown, PA-native’s speed is working hard to rebound from the 2016 accident on-track. With four completed events this year under his belt, Waters and the team hope to swing the results back toward single-digit finishes, starting this weekend.
“Pill draws have not been our ally this season.” Waters noted. “The best starting spot we have had all year in the heat was fourth, and that night was rained out after our heat. We have unloaded and been a top-five car out right of the box, but with the tight competition and the large car counts that RaceSaver and the PA Sprint Series has, it can be challenging at times to move forward in qualifying events, and to get a good starting position for the feature.”
This weekend marks the first of four races at Selinsgrove for Waters and JCWRacing this season, with the season finale competition being the Jim Nace Memorial in September. Jim, who passed away in 2009 after a battle with cancer, was a hero to Waters and someone both he and his family looked up to.
“If we can’t win this weekend, we hope that we can learn enough from each of our trips until Jim’s race, and just let it all hang out there. Jim was very instrumental in making sure I had good equipment to race, and when I won my first heat race in 2009, he was one of the first ones to the car.” Waters continued.
But before the team makes the trip to Selinsgrove Sunday, Waters plans to assist his step-daughter Sophia, who qualified for the World Pinewood Derby Championship in Times Square Saturday in New York City. After finishing second in her local scout troop, and third in regionals, Sophia will take on over 400 scouts from across the United States and world.
Updates from the race weekend, along with results, can be found on the team’s social media accounts, @JCWRacing on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Action at the 1/2-mile dirt track kicks off Sunday, June 30, at 7:30 p.m. ET, with grandstands and gates opening to fans at 5 p.m.
“Ever since the first RaceSaver race at Selinsgrove, we have tried to support the facility as much as possible,” reflected Waters. “Mike (Heffner), Steve (Inch), and Alan (Kreitzer) have dedicated a lot of effort to improve as much as possible there and during my time in the hospital after the accident, they went above and beyond for me and my family. When someone dedicates time to do that for you, the least you can do is support them.”
Despite this season’s results not yet showcasing the Mifflintown, PA-native’s speed is working hard to rebound from the 2016 accident on-track. With four completed events this year under his belt, Waters and the team hope to swing the results back toward single-digit finishes, starting this weekend.
“Pill draws have not been our ally this season.” Waters noted. “The best starting spot we have had all year in the heat was fourth, and that night was rained out after our heat. We have unloaded and been a top-five car out right of the box, but with the tight competition and the large car counts that RaceSaver and the PA Sprint Series has, it can be challenging at times to move forward in qualifying events, and to get a good starting position for the feature.”
This weekend marks the first of four races at Selinsgrove for Waters and JCWRacing this season, with the season finale competition being the Jim Nace Memorial in September. Jim, who passed away in 2009 after a battle with cancer, was a hero to Waters and someone both he and his family looked up to.
“If we can’t win this weekend, we hope that we can learn enough from each of our trips until Jim’s race, and just let it all hang out there. Jim was very instrumental in making sure I had good equipment to race, and when I won my first heat race in 2009, he was one of the first ones to the car.” Waters continued.
But before the team makes the trip to Selinsgrove Sunday, Waters plans to assist his step-daughter Sophia, who qualified for the World Pinewood Derby Championship in Times Square Saturday in New York City. After finishing second in her local scout troop, and third in regionals, Sophia will take on over 400 scouts from across the United States and world.
Updates from the race weekend, along with results, can be found on the team’s social media accounts, @JCWRacing on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Action at the 1/2-mile dirt track kicks off Sunday, June 30, at 7:30 p.m. ET, with grandstands and gates opening to fans at 5 p.m.