Provenza and team keep moving forward after a rough weekend in Utah.

UTV Weekly | July 5, 2013

After an injury cursed Joey in Lake Elsinore, the Pro-2 driver was ready to return to the track for LOORRS Rounds 7&8 at the Miller Motorsports Park in Northern Utah. Friday would give all classes the opportunity to run two practice sessions before having to qualify on Saturday morning. After the first practice, Joey was at the back of the pack and significantly off the pace of the other drivers and his own pace. When the team met back at the pit some items were discussed and Joey went out for his second practice.

The results were much of the same. He did improve his time by about a full second. With Qualifying coming up on Saturday the JPM Team met with Lucas Officials and decided that Joey needed to improve his speed significantly in order to race in the Main Event on Saturday. Joey took this as a test from his Team and Lucas. Joey qualified in last, but he improved his time by about 4-1/2 seconds. This was good enough for the Team and Lucas to let him race in the Main Event with the other Professional Pro-2 Drivers.

16 Pro-2 trucks lined up for the start of round 7. As the trucks barreled into turn one, Joey was at the back of the class. After 8 laps of racing

Joey had an alarm go off in the car indicating “Low Oil” Joey decided to pull off the track and not risk damaging the Kroyer Racing Engines Power Plant. Once again the Team met with Lucas Officials to determine Joey’s status for the Sunday event. It was determined that Joey would Qualify Sunday morning and a decision would be made after that. Qualifying Sunday, with the heat on, Joey laid down his best time of the weekend and improved his previous qualifying time by 2 tenths of a second. Seeing improvement, Lucas Officials, and the JPM Team decided to allow Joey to race in Sunday’s main event.

Round 8’s last race would see all the Pro-2’s ready for one final chance to get the top spot. A lap after laying down his fastest lap of the weekend, Joey took an aggressive line in turn 4 and ended up in the k-rail. The impact broke the front right wheel. As the other trucks continued to earn valuable laps, Joey was getting towed back to the hot pit area. By the time the crew had the tire changed out it Joey was a few laps down and without being able to fully inspect the truck for any other damage the Team decided that the race weekend was over.

At the end of the weekend the JPM Team evaluated their efforts, desire, preparedness, commitment and ability. While some of the items were consistent with the other professional teams, the Team felt like racing some Lucas Oil Regional Events would be the best line of approach for Joey Provenza and his racing endeavors. JPM looks forward to improving and that starts with testing, preparing, commitment and racing the Glen Helen Regional in July.

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