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Elite Racing CMS World Finals event report

Introducing the 2010 World of Outlaws Champion: Jason Meyers Walking away from 2010, not only a winner, but a champion "Champions are not made in the gym. Champions are made from something that is deep inside of them - a desire, a dream, a ...

Introducing the 2010 World of Outlaws Champion: Jason Meyers
Walking away from 2010, not only a winner, but a champion

"Champions are not made in the gym. Champions are made from something that is deep inside of them - a desire, a dream, a vision" (Muhammad Ali). There is no doubt when Jason Meyers and his Elite Racing team pulled into the Dirt Track at Charlotte Motor Speedway that they were hoping that they could go out and win both races plus the championship. With over 50 competitors on the track it did not seem likely, but "Hot Foot" put an exclamation point on 2010 by doing just that. After Friday's race being called because of inclement weather, Meyers would make Saturday a career day by winning the last two races of the season and the championship.

Almost 24 hours later early on Saturday evening Jason Meyers and his Elite Racing team got to finish what they started on Friday night. After finishing 2nd in one of the toughest heat races of the afternoon, Meyers would start from the pole of the dash after the pill draw decided that the inversion would be the first eight cars. The Californian would go on to finish 2nd in the dash and as a result got the outside pole for the feature event.

On the start of the feature Meyers lined up side-by-side with Sam Hafertepe Jr. "Hot Foot" would try to get to the inside of the 15h on the first lap, but would have to settle for second early in the event. Hafertepe would build a one-second lead in the first four laps, but once he started experiencing traffic on Lap 5, Meyers was able to close. In traffic, Meyers would try to take the lead away from the Texan in his #14 Allstar Performance KPC. Meyers would dart under the 15h on Lap 8 while in lapped traffic. Hafertepe unfortunately spun trying to fight back on the low side.

Restarting the feature as the leader Meyers would choose the top side for the restart. Behind him Joey Saldana would pick up the second position, but the green track conditions did not last long as the red flag flew on Lap 10. When the field took the green flag, Meyers would jet out to a one-second lead within two laps.

By lap 15, Meyers was contending with traffic again. In traffic second place Joey Saldana would close, but could not catch the Californian. Meyers kept building his lead until on Lap 21, he had three lapped vehicles between him and his nearest competitor.

Meyers would take the checkered flag with a commanding lead with Saldana and Daryn Pittman rounding out the top-three. With his 11th victory of the season, Meyers officially clinched the 2010 World of Outlaws championship for himself and his Elite Racing team.

The second round of racing on Saturday eerily felt like the first one as Meyers finished second in the dash again and was on the outside pole for the feature, only this time to his outside was the #27 of Daryn Pittman. When the green flag was unfurled Meyers tucked in behind Pittman, but not for long. The yellow banner would wave on Lap 5 setting up a double file restart.

On the double-file restart, Meyers had the outside line and when racing action resumed he once gain was beat to the line by Pittman. By lap 10 around the 4/10-mile oval, the lead duo were encountering heavy traffic and Meyers knew if he was going to walk away a winner he would have to use traffic to his advantage.

On the 11th circuit of the track Meyers made his move in his #14 GLR Investments KPC. When Meyers noticed that Pitman was being blocked by a lapped car he used it to his advantage. Meyer drove under both Pittman and that lapped car and took over the lead.

Within 4 laps Meyers had pulled out to a two-second lead over the rest of the field and on average he was turning laps two-tenths of a second quicker than his nearest competitor. Meyers spent the rest of the 25-lap feature skillfully slicing through heavy traffic. There were a few close calls, but the Champion held strong.

Meyers was the first car to pass under the checkered flag the second time on Saturday, making Meyers the only driver this year who has won two features in one day. Daryn Pittman and Sammy Swindell would round out the top-three. This was Meyers 12th feature win of the season and his fourth victory at the Dirt Track at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

"It was really special," expressed Meyers. "People kept asking all week, where do you need to finish in order to win the championship. I finally told someone later in the week that we are not worried about it. We are going to go out there like we do every weekend and try to win the race and stay out of trouble. To come here and get two wins against this type of competition is unbelievable. It is very tough to win against these guys, but my crew worked hard all weekend and gave me great race cars. Everyone involved really made this a championship team and I am happy I could win this for them."

After three second place finishes in their career (2005, 2008 and 2009), the championship vision finally became a reality for Jason Meyers and his Elite Racing team. Not only did they win the 2010 World of Outlaws title, but they did it convincingly by doing what they have done every weekend. Go out and try to win each race.

As a result Meyers and Elite Racing become the first team to win the World of Outlaws title from the State of California. Meyers also became only the 8th driver to win a World of Outlaws title, joining the ranks of: Steve Kinser, Donny Schatz, Sammy Swindell, Bobby Davis Jr., Dave Blaney, Mark Kinser, and Danny Lasoski.

"It feels great!" Meyers said with a smile in victory lane. "Words cannot describe tonight. This team is unbelievable. We were up against a lot this weekend, but it all paid off today. This Allstar Performance, DDNI, Media Tile, GLR Investments, Elite Landscaping car was amazing tonight. Thank you to everyone who has been behind us. Charlie Garrett who builds our engines is here tonight and Steve Kent is also here... There are a lot of people behind this team who helped make this all happen. It has been a long time coming. Glen (Beaton) and Brian (Bloomfield), I love them guys. They do a heck of a job. Sam (Matthews) has also been doing a great job with us. I have an incredible team. My wife Robyn and my daughters are here tonight, along with my whole family. This is absolutely incredible."

-source: er

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