Jean Serratore shocks the racing world; Wins Qualcomm 200 at San Diego
Jean Serratore is an upcoming rookie with potential that some say is second to none. This year, Serratore has defied all odds placed against him, taking advantage of an opportunity given to him by Brad Simmons in relief of Grant Jacobs. Serratore has posted two top 10s and is now a race winner in the AERS.
In just his 4th AERS start, Serratore started 38th. His callup due to yet another Grant Jacobs issue that will likely see him spending time in lower tiers. The 40 car drove right through the field and found himself up front in no time.
After pit stops, it looked like leader Jalen Scransen had the race in the bag, stretching his lead late to almost two full seconds. In the final green run of the race, Jean Serratore tracked down the Dollar General Chevrolet and waited patiently in second as the two tried their best to navigate lapped traffic. Scransen seemed to show his experience, getting around lap cars and putting some separation between the two late in the race.
On the white flag, though, Serratore found himself on the back bumper of the 26 after passing lapped car Keith Jesse. The 40 car stuck on the low side of the track and weaved his way around the 26, clearing him in turn 3 and sealing what was an upset nobody could have expected. Jean Serratore is the newest AERS race winner, and did it in one of the most impressive ways a rookie could.
“I can’t believe it!” Serratore said in victory lane, English improved and all. “We hung right there all race and goodness we got fast. It is unbelievable to be here right now in winners circle. I need to say thank you to everyone who believes in me and my family, and also my team. They give me great opportunities and I try to do my best. It’s unbelievable.”
Serratore becomes the first rookie winner in 2018, and secures his first win before the likes of fellow rookie sensations Caine Dwyer, Madison Vermette and Seth McGuire. It’s safe to say that this driver has a promising future ahead of him.
“Oh man, I just can’t believe that,” Jean Serratore said of that fact. “They all so good drivers. I should not be winning before them. I am honored.”
Jalen Scransen came home 2nd after an performance which saw him lead 88 laps, topping the field in that category. Unfortunately for the veteran, he comes up just short in San Diego.
“We’ve kind of had a quiet season, so to be up front today was real nice,” he said of his second place effort. “At the end there, I just got outraced. It was a great battle, but today just wasn’t our day.”
When asked if this race will affect contractual negotiations this offseason, Scransen gave the prototypical response from the shy guy in the garage.
“I’m focused on winning races with my team right now.”
Scransen remains an upcoming UFA for the 2019 offseason.
(Derek Anist, AARO.com, 7/22/18)
Juveno unhappy with SGR once again, Lester embarrassed with himself after blunder under yellow
Following yet another incident between a Silver Green Racing car that caused him to this time retire from his first start with a brand new team, Barry Juveno voiced displeasure once again after climbing from the Amp Energy Dodge Charger with a crunched-in left front end and moderate suspension damage.
"How many motherf***ing times do I gotta warn these chumps?", Juveno annoyedly said to some press members huddled around his car. "Dis crew puts too much work into makin' these cars run and I ain't taking this bulls**t from that team [Silver Green Racing] no more. I'ma put 'em in the fence if I gotta to make 'em cut it out. Car coulda gotten a Top 20, but the 12 and 22 wanna play tag like f***in' idiots, so that's cool. No wonder why nobody wanna drive there."
Unbeknownst to him at the time, the accident cost Juveno a spot in the driver's standings and sets him back to 34th, 78 points ahead of James Rodin. Team officials quickly stepped in to have some words with their newest driver and attempted to settle him down. With JN Motorsports being less lenient about driver personality and conduct, could we see a different version of the rowdy, boisterous Barry Juveno that we have come to expect over the past few years?
Additionally, one of his more popular nemeses would also net a poor result for his team. Casey Lester, after sustaining some front end damage in the Lap 69 accident, plowed into the back end of Jack Walter's car and ended his own race coming to bunch behind the pace car. The 87 crew had reported some light brake issues before the second caution of the race flew, but Lester remained adamant that his retirement was because of his own doing.
"That was straight-up dumb on my part", Lester told the media after climbing out of his 39th-place Dunkin' Donuts Ford with a DNF. "Yes, we were having brake issues, but I was simply not paying attention and didn't react in time with the limited braking power. I'd like to say sorry to Jack's crew too because that's extra work they have to do in the shop. My fans, sponsors, team, teammates, etc. deserve and expect better of me than that and I've shown I'm better than that, so I'm sorry to everyone. That was needless and I'll do all I can so that doesn't happen again.
Dropping himself out of the points lead by 8 with that mistake is likely another lesson learned by the 31-year-old chasing his first AARO championship. Luckily for the 87 team, Mikael Carter was also caught up in that accident and could not capitalize much on Lester's mishap. This brings the title fight much closer as we begin to approach the home stretch towards the AERS championship weekend.
(Robert Correll, AARO.com, 7/23/18)
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Subject: Re: 2018 AERS Race 15 - San Diego (Qualcomm 200) Wed Aug 01, 2018 12:42 am
(Know its late but better late then never)
JRM has a terrible day with Richson and Jefferson get wrecked and Knee only getting up to 28th. Richson injured, unknown timeline for return
Most of JRM's day was best to be forgotten but not as badly as Richson wants to forget. Even though he was awake and alert, Richson who was injured in the previous race had his injuries become more severe, breaking at least 3 ribs that were already cracked. Richson will be out for an unknown number of weeks and Silver Cody, JRM's leading prospect will be filling in.