JA MotorSports

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Last Thursday the JA MotorSports and driver Travis Allen hit the track at State line Speedway. The test went well with the main goal of the day is to get Travis some seat time in the new car. The practice was cut short due to a small oil leak that was diagnosed at the track to be a seal leak in the dip stick. Click Here to view pictures from the track.

JA MotorSports new Pontiac Grand-prix motor was fired up for the first time this past week. With the count down to race day ticking off faster and faster every day the team feels better than ever about the up coming season in there chase for the championship. Special thanks to one of our sponsors Doc's Muffler for there help with the new exhaust on the JA MotorSports 80 Pontiac Grand-Prix.

Engine Builder Andy Campbell will drive under the JA MotorSports banner for the 2008 Race Season. Andy Campbell will be driver the JA MotorSports Chevy Monte Carlo that was driven by Travis Allen last year. Andy's number will be 88, with the paint scheme to be announced.

JA MotorSports has purchased the 3K Racing number 41 car. This car with driver Kameron McKeehan won the 2007 North West Pro 4 Alliance series. The JA MotorSports team is hoping the car brings them similar luck. "I am really excited about the new car for next year. I mean who wouldn't be it is a proven winner!" Driver Travis Allen. Special thanks to 3K racing and Kevin McKeehan for every thing they have done to help make the transition smooth.

Travis spends the evening with teammate at Oasis Racing Mr. Jiggs #88 Boat Racing Team. Mr. Jiggs Racing held its annual Sponsor appreciation party at there shop, H & S Marine. The night was filled with good food and good times. Click Here to view pictures from the night of the photo link on the left hand side.

In the week coming up Driver Travis Allen will be heading to the Oasis Racing Mr. Jiggs Boat Racing end of year party. Than on to NASCAR end of year party at Oasis Pub and Eatery with is located at 14913 E Trent in Spokane Valley starting at 8:00am. With next weekend Travis will be making the trip back down to Lewiston ID, to spend the weekend with 3 K racings Kevin McKeehan.

"I have to give a thanks to Jack Morse for inviting me, it is great to get together with other race car people out side of the track." Travis Allen With a turn out of nearly 100 people Hooters in the Spokane Valley was the place to be on Wednesday night.

After last Saturdays race at Spokane Race Way Park the end of the 2007 race season is here. But the work for the JA MotorSports teams work has only begun. The team has to strip down the Ron Rhodes Racing Pontiac Grand-Prix and return the car to Lewiston, ID. Again no thanks could ever be enough to let Ron and Susan Rhodes know how much the JA MotorSports team appreciates them for lending their back up car so the team could finish the season with the unfortunate events that accrued in Boise. Then the work to the JA MotorSports Chevy Monte Carlo begins. Driver Travis Allen will making the trip to Lewiston, ID many times this winter as he helps Kevin McKeehan rebuild the car.

JA MotorSports would like to give a special thanks to their sponsors and every one for there help with out you the JA MotorSports season would not be what it was.

The JA MotorSports team troubles started on the way to the race track, with the team van breaking down on the way to State Line Speedway. The next trouble began when driver Travis Allen went out to hot lap for the first time of the night the Pontiac Grand Prix would not go into gear. After help from Jerry from the number 2 crew it was determined that the clutch would not work at least for the night. The next problem aroused when Travis finally got on the track he was sent out with the ICAR series, giving him a test of what it is like in the next level but the motor had a bad miss forcing him off the track. Kevin McKeehan did his best to get the motor timed right but with no mark on the pulley he wasn't able to get it quite right. Timing in only about a second slower with the sway bar removed from the car. The JA MotorSports team again turned to the help of Kevin McKeehan to help out in the sway bar issue. The heat race provided the results the team figured would happen with the timing of the car off. The Main event on the other hand had different results. Travis was able to stay out of trouble for the first 26 laps of the race wheeling himself to a top five finish when the cars battery died forcing him to retire into the infield watching the last four last of the race.

The JA MotorSports team will have the week off to get the Pontiac Grad-Prix ready for the season finally at Spokane Raceway Park on Sept 22.

Not to worry, Saturday nights feature winner Ron Rhode offer his back up car to the JA MotorSports team to finish up the season in. So the JA MotorSports team will be back on the track this Saturday night to do battle with the North West Late Model 4's at State Line Speedway.

The JA MotorSports team did not have the weekend that they were hoping. Friday on the way to Boise ID, the JA MotorSports hauler blew a oil cooler oil line, causing a five hour delay. Getting to Meridian Speedway about 3:30 am the team was ready to hit the track the next morning. With the gates opening at 8:00 am the team unloaded and prepared to make their run for the top 10 in points. After driver Travis Allen finished up his early morning interview for the TV show Wide Open for the ISCAR racing series, Travis hit the track for the first hot lap session on the flat 1/4 mile race track. The second hot lap session turned out to be the demise of the evening. After a caution flag three laps in to the session Travis went to pass a car on the inside going in to turn one when the FSCRA driver didn't see him and turned his car down into the door of the JA MotorSports Monte Carlo. With the FSCRA car spinning around he collected Travis and sent him into the wall. After hitting the wall the air cleaner bent over and caused the throttle to stick sending Travis on the ride of his life into the water barrels outside of turn two. The impact ended the night and the season for the JA MotorSports Monte Carlo.

The JA MotorSports team ready to make the journey to Boise, ID and race with the best in the North West at Meridian Speedway. The 75 Lap A Feature race will feature the top 30 Pro-4 Drivers in the North West. There will be plenty of races inside of the of the race. Watch for JA MotorSports driver Travis Allen doing all he can to get in to the top ten in points. Also who will win the Inaugural Pro-4 alliance series will it be the FSCRA driver John Grosvenor or the young late model driver son of one of the best drivers in the North West Late Model 4's or will it be the ARCA West Lincoln Truck Welder driver Steve Thompson with only 26 points that separate the top three it will be a great race. We wish the best of luck to Travis and the rest of the JA MotorSports team.

Saturday nights race will be featured on the International Sports Car Auto Racing Series at www.iscarsonline.com. The Pro-4 Alliance will be on the Auto Challenge show Wide Open. Make sure to check out the ISCAR web site.

After all of the excitement is over Sunday September 2nd at 12:00 noon will be the Pro-4 Alliance awards banquet. Awards will be in the covered area nest to the turn 4 grand stands. Following that will be the fan appreciation 35 lap race to honor all of the fans that have come out and support the Pro-4 Alliance. JA MotorSports would like to thank Bob Coply, Jerry Koepping, and every one else that has been involved with the Pro-4 Alliance.

The JA MotorSports team with driver Travis Allen took to the track Friday night to do battle with the North West Late Model 4's. Starting out side on the second row of the B trophy dash Travis was able to wheel him self to a second place finish.

The B heat looked very similar to the dash as far as staring positions go. Travis just found himself at the wrong place at the wrong time and ended up having to work from the back to the front. Making some good moves Travis was able to bring home a top five finish.

The Main event yielded great promise for the JA MotorSports team staring outside pole next to the 43 of Ron Stocker. After battling the 43 car for a few laps Travis was able to sneak by on the out side to take the lead. Where he stayed out for about the next seven to ten laps. With a little bump from the 41 car of Kevin McKeehan Travis had to wheel him self back to the leaders. Doing a great job of not letting them get away Travis managed to stay in the top four, for about the first 20 laps. With a great restart after Paul McCarthy and Ron Rhodes got into each out Travis was able to get right along with the three place car of Brad Carpenter. From there the car started to get away from Travis and the JA MotorSports team brought home a respectable top 10 finish.

Next Week the JA MotorSports crew heads to Boise, ID for the third and final race in the Pro-4 Alliance series. Best of luck to Travis and the rest of the team as they look to break into the top 10 in points which is just a mere 3 points away.

Travis Allen and the JA MotorSports team had a couple of strong finishes Saturday with the FSCRA touring group. Starting the B Heat on the inside of the second row. Travis was able to wheel in Jerry Koepping but unable to make the pass with two laps left. Instead of battling for the win Travis found himself battling to hold on to the second spot again the FSCRA number 22 Ford Mustang. Travis was able to hold him off on the outside to finish up the heat race in second place.

Travis started the main in the same spot as the heat, with the start of the race going pretty much the same as the heat race but this time Jerry Koepping didn't have similar luck with motor problems forcing him to drop out of the race. Travis inherited the lead for a couple of laps. The pushing was the front end was too much for Allen to hold the car down on the track allowing for Kevin Koepke, Dan Hale, Wayne Dillon, and David Callander to tuck inside of the JA MotorSports number 80 car. After the red flag waved for a car lying down oil on the track, Travis was able to work with way back up to pass Callander on the outside. After getting caught up in lap traffic Travis track position took him out of contention for the win.

All in all it was a good night of racing for the JA MotorSports team with the FSCRA. Make sure to come out and see Travis and the rest of the JA MotorSports team as they take to the track this Friday to do battle with the North West Late Model 4s in the last race before the finial Pro 4 Alliance race in Boise ID Sept 1st.

Travis Allen and the rest of the JA MotorSports team would like to thank Mobil One Lube Express Valley Auto lube for there support today as well as through out the year. Click Here to view pictures or click on the link on the left.

The night didn't start out the way that the JA MotorSports team would have liked. During the first hop lap session the team discovered that the drive line in their Chevy Monte Carlo was not to their liking. When the team got the drive line back from Watts wheels Travis had about 10 laps to figured out his line before having to go out and qualify. The 10 laps must have helped because the team turned their best qualifying time all year with a 14.48. With John Jackson pulling double duty running with the North West Late Model 4s as well as the INSSA group, that put Travis and the JA MotorSports team in the fast dash. Travis started the heat race on the pole position. From the drop of the green flag Travis battle the top drivers in the North West Late Model 4s to bring home the three win of the 2007 session.

Travis Allen and the whole JA MotorSports suffered their first DNF (Did Not finish) of the year last Saturday. The team suffered a broken J Bar mounting bracket. Kevin McKeehan did his best to help cure the problem but a missed shift in the main event caused the bracket to break away from the frame. The night wasn't all bad the team welcomed the newest addition Steve Sauther. Steve is fresh from High School. He is going to be majoring in Engineering and hopefully will be able to help take JA MotorSports to the next level.

Travis Allen and the JA MotorSports team brought home a second place finish in Saturday nights race. The team still not getting the qualifying run that they were looking for missed the trophy by one spot, qualifying in the 5 spot. The team rebounded in the heat race starting the race on the outside pole. Travis was able to wheel the car to a fourth place finish in the heat. Staring the main on the outside pole again. The JA MotorSports team got locked in behind some traffic and had to make their way back to the front of the field. With a bit of luck the JA MotorSports team was able to wheel its way to a second place finish.

Despite a poor qualifying run JA MotorSports brings home a top ten finish in the second Pro-4 race.

There was 33 cars that showed up for the second race in the Pro-4 Alliance series at State Line Speedway Saturday June 23. Travis Allen wheeled the JA MotorSports Chevy Monte Carlo to a 22 qualifying spot. The only problem with that is, only take the top 18 qualifiers advance to the A main on time. The team needed to make it into the show through the B main. Starting sixths in the 15 car field. The race started with a stack up between the 14 car of Ted Mundy the 16 car of Bob Winkler and Travis Allen. After it happened again, the 14 car was sent to the rear of the field for brake checking. About a quarter of the way through the B main the JA MotorSports team were sitting in fourth place when a couple of cars made it three wide and Travis was the unlucky one getting spun out and sent to the back of the 15 car field. Travis was able to wheel the car to a three place finish advancing them to the A Main. Staring 21st in the 22 car field in the 75 lap A Main. The wreck filled first lap ended fast qualifier Wayne Dillon's night early continuing his bad luck streak in the Pro-4 Alliance feature races. As well as the number 5 car the 43 car of Kyle Stocker's night ended as well. The Main event seemed to be a battle between the number 10 car of Jeff Jones and Travis Allen. Jones spun Allen out twice in the main and the two drivers banged each other through out the race. The JA MotorSports driver Travis Allen made sure to let Jones know he didn't appreciate his driving style by giving him a love tap during one of the cautions. The rest of the race went pretty smooth with the JA MotorSports teams bringing home there second top ten finish in the second Pro-4 Alliance race.

POST FALLS, IDAHO – June 24, 2007 www.raceidaho.com – John Grosvenor took the lead halfway through the 75-lap main event to capture the 2007 Northwest Pro 4 Nationals Championship Saturday night at Stateline Speedway. Grosvenor topped a 30 plus car field, representing five western states in route to the victory.

Grovesnor, a Puyallup, Washington driver, passed Utah’s Kurt Madsen to take the lead after surviving an opening lap backstretch wreck involving five cars including many of the race’s front-runners and fast time setter Wayne Dillon.

Local drivers Kameron McKeehan and John Jackson of Lewiston, Idaho finished second and third.

2006 Nationals champion Steve Thompson was closing in on Grovesnor with 15-laps to go with Jeff Bard in tow. Bard and Thompson made contact with each other dashing their chances at the lead.

Thompson pulled off track. Bard finished sixth. Kevin Koepke won the wrecked marred 25-lap last chance race for the transfer to finish ninth. Spokane’s Travis Allen, the third transfer, rounded out the top ten.

Jim Bailey and Bob Winker won dashes. Dan Madsen and Jeff Jones won the heats.

The Northwest Pro 4 Nationals was the second of a three race series making up the Northwest Pro 4 Alliance. The series moves to Meridian Speedway for race number three.

Stateline Stadium/Speedway
Saturday Night – 6/23/07 Results

NORTHWEST PRO 4 NATIONALS
Fast Time – Wayne Dillon, 13.872. Trophy Dash -- A) Jim Bailey; B) Bob Winker. Heat – A) Dan Madsen; B) Jeff Jones. B Main -- 1) Kevin Koepke; 2) Bob Winker; 3) Travis Allen; 4) Scott Earsley; 5) Bud Rumsey; 6) Johnny Rumsey; 7) Dan Bedwell; 8) Robert Quartman; 9) Ron Rohde; 10) Chris Gerchman. Main -- 1) John Grosvenor; 2) Kameron McKeehan; 3) John Jackson; 4) Madsen; 5) Jones; 6) Jeff Bard; 7) Dan Hale; 8) Chris Yokum; 9) Koepke; 10) Allen.

Travis Allen and the JA MotorSports team had a rough night on Saturday running with the North West Late Model 4's. The JA MotorSports Chevy Monte Carlo had trouble with the front wheels chattering and a tight condition with the problem switching to a lose condition by the end of the night with the tires continuing to chattering. It wasn't until Sundays inspection of the car that the team found a bolt located in the front suspension that had broken. "There are good days in racing and bad days in racing and we had a bay day, as Darrel Waltrip would say. It was the first bad day that we have had in a long time and we figured out the problem and we are going to come back strong next week with the Pro-4 Alliance." Driver Travis Allen

Brad Carpenter scored the victory in the Late Model 4 30-lap feature over Jeff Smyth and John Jackson. Bob Winker finished fourth. The race was caution free.

Winker won the dash and B Heat. Jackson took the win in the A Heat. The race was a tune-up for next weekends Northwest Pro 4 Nationals.

Next Saturday the ASA AERO Exhaust Northwest Tour will take to the track for the rescheduled Access Road Solutions 150. The historic event will mark the first time the series has visited the region in nearly twenty years. Special invite rules have been extended to local drivers adding hometown flair to the special event.

In addition the Northwest Pro 4 Nationals will return for the 2nd annual running of the event that features the top drives from local Late Model 4’s, FSCRA and the Northwest Pro-4 Alliance. Defending champion Steve Thompson is expected to compete. Over 20-cars are anticipated.
Plus, the winged fury of the Inland Northwest Winged Sprints will also be in the show. Festivities start at 6pm with qualifying. Adults are $20; kids under the age of six are free.

Fast Time – Jeff Smyth, 13.744. Trophy Dash -- 1) Bob Winker. Heat – A) John Jackson; B) Winker. Main -- 1) Brad Carpenter; 2) Smyth; 3) Jackson; 4) Winker; 5) Jennifer Rasmussen; 6) Kevin McKeehan; 7) Dan Bedwell; 8) Travis Allen.

Members of the JA MotorSports crew took to the track for a little bit of Go Kart racing Monday night. Driver Travis Allen, Spotter and Team manager Gary Allen, Fabrication and Marketing crew member Brittney Allen along with Dustin Beach a friend of Travis and a few of Brittney's family all meet up at the Fastcart indoor speedway in Spokane Washington. The Monday night race was inspired as a going away party for Brittney as she will be moving to Hawaii in a couple of days. The race included a couple of wrecks in the race including a four car pile up on the first lap and former driver Gary Allen giving a lesson to driver Travis Allen about how to rub someone in the wall. The whole JA MotorSports team would like to wish the best of luck to Brittney and thank her for every thing that did to help the JA MotorSports team.

The JA MotorSports team and driver Travis Allen take to the track this Saturday at Stateline Speedway to due battle with the North West Late Model 4's. visit www.raceidaho.com for all the race times and driving directions.

Northwest Pro-4 Alliance Kicks Off 2007 Season at South Sound Speedway

May 25th, 2007

by NP4A Media/Bob Coply
Boise, Idaho — The Northwest Pro-4 Alliance will kick-off the much anticipated 2007 Tri-Track Showdown on May 26th and 27th at South Sound Speedway, in Tenino, Washington. The “Callander and Associates 100,” presented by Bill Isom and Northwest Connecting Rod, will draw the best four-cylinder late model drivers in the western United States to one of the fastest race tracks in Washington.

With the alliance of the three major four-cylinder late model groups in the Northwest, the event will draw several champion drivers such as Wayne Dillon, Steve Thompson, Kevin McKeehan, John Jackson, Jerry Keopping, and California’s Eddie Secord. Last year’s Rookie of the Year class will also be well represented, as Travis Allen and Kevin Koepke have also entered to participate in what is sure to be the biggest gathering of talent seen in many seasons.

Joining with the title holders are many more teams that could upset the pecking order and leave South Sound Speedway with the win. Leading this list are drivers Bud Rumsey, David Callander, Johnny Rumsey, Mike Bailey, Cody Stewart, Matt Melby, Ron Rohde and Ron Stocker.

With entries still coming in, this event could develop into the biggest race of the 2007 season. This inaugural event of the Northwest Pro-4 Alliance 2007 Tri-Track Showdown not only brings together the best race teams, but it also brings along some of the top marketing partners in short track stockcar racing such as:

Miller Welding, Aero Racing Wheels, Hoosier Tire West, Race Engineering, Aluminum Racing Products, Crow Enterprises, Rockett Brand Racing Fuel, The Joie Of Seating, Pyrotect, Bergman Racing Supply, Performance Promotions, Race Car Supply, and Mulder’s Automotive Machine.

These companies have shown incredible foresight and a deep commitment to grassroots racing, and for that the Northwest Pro-4 Alliance is proud to carry their banners and decals into one of the most competitive short track stockcar series in the country.

The stage is now set for the best race cars, the best drivers, the best tracks and the best sponsors to put on the best racing weekend of the Memorial Day Holiday for the best short track racing fans in the western United States! Mark the date and come join us for the “Callander and Associates 100,” presented by Bill Isom and Northwest Connecting Rod, as the cars and the stars of the Alliance come to South Sound Speedway.

This weekend the JA MotorSports crew headed towards the west side of the state to do battle with the best of the west. It was the first of three races in the Pro-4 Alliance series. The Pro-4 Alliance is a combined effort of the three racing organizations the FSCRA, North West Late Model 4's, and the Late Model Lites out of Boise ID.

Twenty Seven cars showed up to the track on Saturday morning to qualify for Sundays big show. Travis Allen and the JA MotorSports crew arrived Friday night and got in an hour of practice before the track closed. The team loosened up the car after driver feed back. With the change in weather the changes to the car turned out to be too much and Travis qualified the JA MotorSports Chevy Monte Carlo in the 20 position just two spots out of a locked in position to the big show. Starting polo posting for the nights second heat race Travis jumped out to and early lead and lead for the first ten laps of the fifteen lap heat until the car started to free up to the point where the eventual winning of the heat race caught up and passed Travis doing a great job of saving the car from hitting the wall on lap 13 Travis was passed by two more cars to come in fourth.

Travis and the JA MotorSports was greeted with the news that the nights big race were going to start twenty five cars due to the previous wrecks the night before. So Travis and the JA MotorSports crew were in the Pro-4 Alliance 100. Starting twenty in the main event Travis Wheeled his way into the top fifteen by the 50 lap pit stop. After the stop and avoiding a couple of wrecks Travis was able to bring it is for and eight place finish.

The JA MotorSports team has two weeks off before heading back to their home track to battle the North West Late Model 4's and State Line Speedway Saturday June 16th.

JA MotorSports took to the track Saturday at Spokane Race Way Park for the first time this season. Driver Travis Allen and the whole JA MotorSports teams qualified sixth in the field. Starting on the out side pole next to Bob Winker, after a controversial start to the heat race Travis was able to reel in a good finish that set up for a great feature race. "The car had a ton of power but we were just too loose for me to be competitive in the heat, so the crew tighten it up and went out for a good finish in the main." Travis stated after the race. For the feature the JA MotorSports team lined up their Chevy Monte Carlo next to Bob Winker on the out side pole. The twenty lap feature provided a couple of close calls through out the race. About midway through the race Bob Winker spins out on the high side going into turn three while John Jackson spun out on the low side. Travis wheeled the car home for a fifth place finish for their second top five finish of the season.

Next week the JA MotorSports team takes to the South Sound speed way in Tenino WA for race number one in the three race series of the Pro-4 Alliance. Good luck the Travis and the whole JA MotorSports team as they head to the coast to battle the best of the west at the South Sound speedway.

Saturday's nights race at Yakima Speedway was rained out. The rain out came after the both hot laps and the qualifying were completed. Officials at Yakima Speedway after talked with the National Weather Association determined that the nights show couldn't even finish up the trophy dashes before the sky would open up and force all the drivers to the pits. Come see JA MotorSports and driver Travis Allen at Spokane Raceway Park Saturday the 19th.

JA MotorSports would like to say Happy Birthday to driver Travis Allen. Travis turned 22 on May 7th. Happy birthday Travis.

The whole JA MotorSports crew is gearing up for the race day at Yakima Valley Speedway, this Saturday the 12th. JA MotorSports will be meeting up with some of the best racers from the west side of the state representing the FSCRA. Last time Travis Allen took to the track with the boys from the FSCRA he brought home a top five finish in the feature. The team hopes to improve this time out. "We have always ran really well at Yakima just haven't quite had the finishes to back that up. I feel very good about our chances going into the weekend and look forward to running with the FSCRA organization again."

In the season debut of the JA MotorSports Chevy Monte Carlo, Travis Allen and team started on the pole position for the first trophy dash of the season. Travis never looked back upon taking the green flag. Jennifer Rasmussen gave a good challenge on the last lap but Travis held her off for his first win of his career in the B trophy dash. In the B heat race Travis started on the outside pole next to Ron Stocker. After a hard fought battle Travis was able to pass the number 43 car on the outside. A mid-race wreck narrowed the final laps of the heat to, two cars the JA MotorSports number 80 and the 29 car of Ron Rohde. With the race coming down to turn four on the last lap Rohde spins out giving JA MotorSports and Travis Allen there second win of the night. For the Feature JA MotorSports got another favorable starting spot in the outside pole. Travis was able to wheel the JA MotorSports Monte Carlo to the lead. But Kevin McKeehan who had swept both the A trophy and heat races, passes Travis on about lap 10 from there the JA MotorSports came in with a top 5 finish in the main event.

Three days until JA MotorSports will give it another shoot to try and start the 2007 race season. The JA MotorSports Monte Carlo has all the stickers it needs to be ready for the track. We would like to take this time to thank our new sponsor Spokane Sun Screen. Ashley over at the Valley Spokane Sun Screen was able to cut all of the missing stickers for the car in less than a week so everything could be complete for Saturdays race.

This weekend show at Stateline Speedway will be one to watch the INSSA Late Models as well as the North West Late Model 4's and the Hobby cars will all be in action. Time trials start at six with racing at seven make sure to come support JA MotorSports as they kick off their 2007 season see every one at the track and don't forget to click on the merchandise link and get your JA MotorSports gear for the track.