PHOENIX — Jason Meyers had to wait a couple of weeks thanks to Mother Nature to continue his fast start to the 2008 Advance Auto Parts World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series season, but he made the wait well worth it, as he picked up right where he left off in Florida, by winning the Cactus Classic at the famed Manzanita Speedway in Phoenix, Arizona on Saturday night.
After rain interrupted last weekend’s events at his home track of Thunderbowl Raceway in Tulare, Calif., Meyers and his team spent the week working hard in the shop in preparation for the Cactus Classic, as they continued to tweak their self-designed and built chassis.
Meyers lined up fifth for the 30-lap feature Saturday night and was third by the completion of the first lap. He then patiently shadowed Shane Stewart early in the race and worked his way into the runner-up spot on the 14th lap.
He made the pass for the lead and ultimately the win on the 17th trip around the half-mile, as he dove under two-time defending series champion Donny Schatz exiting the fourth turn.
“Day in and day out, we have great race cars,” said Meyers, driver of the GLR Investments KPC. “These guys are doing a great job. We are putting up wins like we need to do for our sponsors. Over the last couple of weeks, we have seen who will be tough this year. I think the list of who wouldn’t be tough is shorter, because everyone out here is tough. To come out and win against these guys is a privilege. This car is just incredible right now and it’s truly a privilege for me to drive it.”
For Meyers, it was his first win with both his wife, Robyn, and baby daughter, Delaney, at the track and his second win of 2008.
“It’s awesome to win with them here,” said Meyers. “We made the decision for them to come down here, which was a hard decision with the price of fuel and everything. To win the first one with them here is pretty special. Hopefully it’s the first of many.”
Schatz, who started on the pole and led the first 16 laps, finished second.
“We’ve been up front here the last several times,” said Schatz. “We were good and got caught asleep in the rubber. The R19 (Jac Haudenschild) and the 14 (Jason Meyers) were racing through it and knew it was there. I just didn’t see it and that’s just the way it goes sometimes.”
Shane Stewart picked up his best finish of the season, taking third. Joey Saldana and point-leader Craig Dollansky rounded out the top five.