(NEWS RELEASE)

PEORIA IL SHORT TRACK – ALL STAR SERIES – 19 Aug 2011

Singles and Twins Championships Winner – All Star Series – 2011

This was the second time this year at this track. I had always known about it but had never had the chance to race it and now, here we were again. In June I won this race.

In my Heat I got off the line in 2nd place but soon passed Mick Kirkness for the lead and held it. It was the fastest Heat, putting me on the pole for the Main Event. When I won it in June I was riding right around the bottom of the track so I decided to try the same line this time. In the Main I was going to stick to the plan to see if I could get it done down there. I got the hole shot and was leading the race on the bottom. Then, here came Chris Carr and Sammy Halbert, both going around me on the top. So I moved up there. It took me a couple of laps to get the rhythm of the new line, and then started catching up to Chris and Sammy. I got up to them as they were riding each other hard. Finally I was able to stick my nose in there on the last lap, almost getting the lead coming off turn 2, but lost a lot of drive due to wheel spin. I then tried going around the bottom of the track but spun it up again and ended up in 3rd place. It was a great race. Congratulations to Chris for riding really well.

Finishing in 3rd was all I really needed to win the All Star Singles Championship to go with the All Star Twin Championship I had already won earlier, sweeping the All Star Series for 2011. Although there are two Single races left on the schedule, there are not enough points available to alter the outcome.

GALESBURG IL SHORT TRACK – 20 Aug 2011

For the last two years I have done this race but this year was uncertain about coming. Last year we did not get off the track until midnight and by the time we got a bite to eat, and drove to the hotel it was 2:30 am. I had a pretty long and hard week leading up to this weekend, trying to make sure all my equipment was perfect. I prep my Singles bikes all by myself and sometimes, on top of everything else, it gets tough. But at the last minute I decided to go to Galesburg anyway.

I felt awesome in practice but knew the track was going to change–and it did. They do a great job digging it up and trying to keep the track the same. I was in the 2nd Heat and got the hole shot but Chad Cose came up the inside. He and I battled back and forth until he stretched the gap but in the last two laps I brought him back in.

For the Main Event I was on the outside of the front row. I got the hole shot nailed at the light, and led for a couple of laps but then Cose came up. I worked him for a couple of laps and he split. He was making some mistakes and almost went off the bike coming off turn 4, allowing me to gain a lot of ground. As soon as I was going past, Sammy Halbert stuck a wheel in there, letting me know he was coming. I rode defensively the last two laps but on the lst lap Sammy stuck it in there on me, pushing me wide. By no means was this dirty, it was clean, short track aggressive racing and I always give credit where credit is due. He got the best of me that night. A $1400 difference between 1st and 2nd place, so there was a good reason for it.

PEORIA IL – GNC TT – 21 Aug 2011

I had been waiting all week for this race with great anticipation, spending a lot of hours working on my equipment. Just like everyone else, I knew that Henry Wiles was the guy to beat. With 6 straight wins coming into this one, how could he not be?

In the first practice I was fastest. Still, I knew Henry was out there. In the qualifying I was 2nd fastest behind Henry, putting me in the 2nd Heat. This was a tough Heat with Chris Carr, Sammy Halbert, Chad Cose, Matt Burton among others. I got a lousy start, coming off turn 2 in 3rd place. I got past Burton on the front stretch, followed Halbert over the jump and got him down in the front stretch on the next lap. I put in some hard laps but felt I was struggling a bit although I did win the Heat.

For the Dash for Cash we made some changes. I got off the line in 2nd but got past Wiles heading for the jump. I was able to hold off Wiles the entire 4 laps and win the Dash. The points that come with the win were what I needed to help close the gap on the Championship lead.

In the Main Event I knew that if I could get a good start I would be able to give Henry a run for his money. Not sure I could beat him or not, but certainly make him work for it. But I got off 3rd and had to work my way around Sammy, with Henry out front with the hole shot. I got around Halbert and was able to put in some hard laps trying to catch Wiles. I rode as hard as I have ever ridden this year and crept up to Wiles little by little.
With 6 laps to go I was starting to get front-brake-fade. It messed with my confidence going into the corners and I was not able to get up to Henry. He won his 7th straight Peoria TT so a big Congratulations to him and his team!

When I came to the podium you could take my front brake lever and pull it all the way into the handlebar. Not exactly the way it is supposed to work! I was disappointed about that but that is not the reason I was not able to beat Henry. He put in a very solid ride and deserved the win.

Déjà vu from Peoria last year: 2nd again. But I’ll take it.

Thanks to all my fans and friends and sponsors who all together make this happen.

See you all in Springfield!!

Jammin’ Jared Mees – # 9

Photo By: Flattrakfotos

2011 Single Series Sponsors:
Lucas Oil, National Cycle, Rogers Lake Racing, Montgomeryville Cycle Center, Twisted Beverage CompanyTM, Saddlemen, Digger 57, M.E.H. Corp, Rod Lake, Goodwin Racing, Rockysonline .com, Arai Helmets, Speed Strength Leathers, KK Motorcycle Supply, A&A Racing, Steve & Cindy Vizzo, Battley Cycles, MRT Racing, Kelly’s, MTA, JE Pistons, Cometic Gaskets, VP Racing Fuels,Tsubaki, Motion Pro, TCX Boots, Troy Lee Designs, K&N Filters, Millennium Technologies, Vortex, Craig Pickett, Goodridge, Works Connection, RekluseClutches, Gene & Gail Cummings, Eddie Mulder, NGK, Z Gallerie, Dick Winters, Oakley, WestCoast Hot Shoes, Jupiter Wheels, Supertrapp, ARC Levers, Moto Tassinari, EBC, Mikuni, Web Cam, Ancra, J&M Racing Frames, Pro Plates, Kold Kutter, Turn 1 Distributing. Crank Works Crank Shafts, Ez-up, Suburban H-D, Twenty Six Suspension, Flash, G2, Penske Racing, Chicken Hawk, Ferrea Valves, J2 Motorsports, Royal Publishing Co., Applied Diamond Coatings, M&Z Anodizing, Brent Armbruster, CV4, Bristol Core, Universal Coatings, Hammer Head, Hot Rods, TSS Graphics, Dyno Jet, DVS Shoes, Xtremely Fit,