ML Motorsports 2nd, 8th In Double-Race Weekend

July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.

By DALE HUBLER, Times-Union Sports Writer-

DUQUOIN, IL - While much of the work force everywhere enjoyed Labor Day weekend with some time off from work, 25-year-old stock car driver Jason Jarrett and the Warsaw-based ML Motorsports crew pulled a double shift.

Their hard work payed off, finishing second Saturday at the new Chicagoland Speedway and eighth Monday at the DuQuoin State Fairgrounds.

Known as the most versatile stock car series in the world, the ARCA RE/MAX Series was versatile this weekend.

Saturday, Jarrett and company raced on a new 1.5-mile speedway in Joliet. Monday, on the 35th birthday of Kimmie Miller VanSessen, daughter of team owner Mary Louise Miller, the ML Motorsports crew ran on a 1-mile dirt track against NASCAR Winston cup stars Tony Stewart and Ken Schrader and Winston Cup owner Andy Petree.

For Jarrett, Saturday's race at Chicagoland Speedway was almost identical to June 2 at Kansas Speedway.

On that day, tire conservation and speedy pit stops from his crew gave him his first national-level win. Three months later that same formula almost worked again.

On lap 71 of 134, Jarrett came down pit road in sixth. After an 18.8-second stop for four tires and fuel, the North Carolina racer hit the track in third place.

Jarrett continued to stay in the top five, running fourth with 33 laps remaining. When caution came out on lap 111, the third-generation driver came down pit road running fifth. With crew chief Scott Eldridge gambling on taking just two tires, the 67 machine entered the track nine seconds later in first place.

"Scott saw Ed Berrier take two tires and made the same call," Jarrett said. "It was a gutsy call, but hats off to him it was the right call."

After the field shuffled over the next 20 laps, Jarrett continued to work his way to the front. With three laps remaining, the third-generation driver blew by current point leader Frank Kimmel to take second.

Ed Berrier, a journeyman racer from North Carolina that has competed in NASCAR races, took the checkered flag after starting 34th. It was his first career ARCA win in his 28th attempt.

Jarrett, driving the same car he won with at Kansas, qualified and finished second, two seconds behind Berrier. Michigan driver Tim Steele took third, followed by Billy Venturini, John Metcalf, Frank Kimmel, A.J. Henriksen, [[In-content Ad]]

DUQUOIN, IL - While much of the work force everywhere enjoyed Labor Day weekend with some time off from work, 25-year-old stock car driver Jason Jarrett and the Warsaw-based ML Motorsports crew pulled a double shift.

Their hard work payed off, finishing second Saturday at the new Chicagoland Speedway and eighth Monday at the DuQuoin State Fairgrounds.

Known as the most versatile stock car series in the world, the ARCA RE/MAX Series was versatile this weekend.

Saturday, Jarrett and company raced on a new 1.5-mile speedway in Joliet. Monday, on the 35th birthday of Kimmie Miller VanSessen, daughter of team owner Mary Louise Miller, the ML Motorsports crew ran on a 1-mile dirt track against NASCAR Winston cup stars Tony Stewart and Ken Schrader and Winston Cup owner Andy Petree.

For Jarrett, Saturday's race at Chicagoland Speedway was almost identical to June 2 at Kansas Speedway.

On that day, tire conservation and speedy pit stops from his crew gave him his first national-level win. Three months later that same formula almost worked again.

On lap 71 of 134, Jarrett came down pit road in sixth. After an 18.8-second stop for four tires and fuel, the North Carolina racer hit the track in third place.

Jarrett continued to stay in the top five, running fourth with 33 laps remaining. When caution came out on lap 111, the third-generation driver came down pit road running fifth. With crew chief Scott Eldridge gambling on taking just two tires, the 67 machine entered the track nine seconds later in first place.

"Scott saw Ed Berrier take two tires and made the same call," Jarrett said. "It was a gutsy call, but hats off to him it was the right call."

After the field shuffled over the next 20 laps, Jarrett continued to work his way to the front. With three laps remaining, the third-generation driver blew by current point leader Frank Kimmel to take second.

Ed Berrier, a journeyman racer from North Carolina that has competed in NASCAR races, took the checkered flag after starting 34th. It was his first career ARCA win in his 28th attempt.

Jarrett, driving the same car he won with at Kansas, qualified and finished second, two seconds behind Berrier. Michigan driver Tim Steele took third, followed by Billy Venturini, John Metcalf, Frank Kimmel, A.J. Henriksen, [[In-content Ad]]

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