VETERAN ZOLL MAKES FIRST TRIP TO MADERA


VETERAN ZOLL MAKES FIRST TRIP TO MADERA

Veteran racer Don Zoll Jr. may not look like a rookie, may not have the experience of a rookie, and may not have the stats of a rookie, but the Goodyear, AZ racer is a rookie in this year’s SPEARS SRL Southwest Tour Series. Zoll will head to Madera Speedway on June 8, for the “SPEARS Southwest Tour 125 presented by 51 FIFTY LTM.” looking to make his third start in the series. Zoll will be looking for his first top-10 finish, after frustrating starts at Irwindale Speedway (33rd) and the Bullring @ Las Vegas Motor Speedway(20th).

Zoll began his driving career back in 1992, winning seven track championships along the way. He has championships at Tucson Speedway, “The Bullring”, Orange Show Speedway and I-10 Speedway in Blythe, CA. He has participated in Bombers, Street Stocks, Legend Cars, ASA Trucks, Modifieds and of course Super Late Models. Thus far, however, Zoll admits to not showing his usual championship form, as the series heads to Madera.

“We have got a brand new car, but this car has been a nightmare so far”, Zoll told the SPEARS SRL Southwest Tour Series. “We bought the car and then found out it was crooked. It had all the manufacturer’s trick stuff on the car, but that stuff doesn’t work for us. We put it back to what I would normally run. We run up front everywhere we go, but I’m disappointed with how we have run with ‘The Tour’. Hopefully we have it figured out for Madera, because we changed everything.”

This will be Zoll’s first trip to Madera Speedway, but it won’t be the only first for Zoll this season. Racing in the Southwest Tour has been something that Zoll has looked forward to for a long time.

“We have never been there (Madera Speedway), so ‘The Tour’ is going there, and that’s why we are going”, Zoll began. “We want to run every show, but we did miss the one event (ALL AMERICAN SPEEDWAY – ROSEVILLE CA). We have looked into running the series, because I’ve always wanted to do it, since (Ron) Hornady Jr. ran, because he was one of my idols growing up. So, we decided we were going to go run “The Tour”. We have wrecked in both races, and it has cause us a little bit of a struggle, as we foot our own bills, but we plan on running every show.”

Despite his tough luck, in his first two outings, Zoll has enjoyed his time with the series, and the concept of having a set of standards and rules, that apply the same to everyone.

“Actually, the officiating and everything to do with it, has been super awesome”, Zoll stated. “It’s been better than any track I’ve been too, in dealing with people. Honestly, it’s been one of the best, because we are all the same. I don’t care if Joe Gibbs shows up, I get treated the same as him. I really like that, and it makes you feel better. It has been awesome and that is why we are running it.”

Participating in the series with a small team is no small task, and Zoll is thankful for the small group of partners that help him make it to each event.

“I’d really like to thank BC Automotive; he is a partner with me”, Zoll proclaimed. “I’d also like to thank Barry Conoyer and Dacia Evans Conoyer; they do a really good job for me. Also, my wife for putting up with it, LOL. We have one crew guy that runs with us everywhere named Jason, and then whoever we can find to help. I appreciate all the help we receive.”

One result, that would truly help a low-budget team, would be a $5,000 win at Madera. With the help of the “Winner’s Bonus”, sponsored by MPI – Max Papis Innovations and Tilton Engineering for the Madera event, each race will pay a minimum of $5,000 to the winner. Zoll would love to be that winner.

On June 8th, the SPEARS SRL Southwest Tour Series will run 125 laps in the “SPEARS Southwest Tour 125 presented by 51 FIFTY LTM.”. They will be joined by the Spears Modified Series presented by Lucas Oil, the Legends of the Kearney Bowl, and the Madera Speedway Hobby Stocks. The Event will be televised nationally on MAVTV, at a date to be announced later.

Celebrating its nineteenth season in 2019, the SPEARS Southwest Tour Series is a regional stock car series competing on paved ovals in the southwestern portion of the U.S. “The SPEARS Southwest Tour Series..…Where the Champions Race”.