J.P. Morgan Celebrates the Birth of His Daughter by Staying Undefeated at Anderson in Pro Cup Competition
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CARS X-1R Pro Cup Series
www.x1rprocup.com
Contact: Chris Ragle
chris@carsprocup.com
Mooresville, NC 10/7/13- J.P. Morgan did what he needed to do to stay in the hunt for 2013 X-1R Pro Cup Series Championship as he bested Clay Rogers at Anderson Motor Speedway Saturday night. The win was Morgan’s third of the season and kept the Ether, North Carolina driver undefeated at the South Carolina track dating back to the series’ inaugural event there in March of 2012.
Championship leader Clay Rogers grabbed his first MAHLE Pole Award of the year, and then matched his runner up finish from two months ago at the same track. Series sophomore Gus Dean rounded out the podium with his third place finish making it back to back top five finishes in the last two races.
“I’m not sure what it is about this place, but I love it as much as it’s loved me the last couple of years. The fans here are always great, and it’s just a good racing race track,” explained J.P Morgan in Edlebrock Victory Lane. “Last night was a long night for me so standing here in victory lane right now caps a perfect weekend for me, my family, and this team. I know it’s going to be tough to catch Clay with just two races to go, but this sure does help things in the points.”
Morgan, who had a sleepless Friday night welcoming his first child into the world with wife Jackie, qualified third behind #02 machine of Tyler Young and pole sitter Clay Rogers. It was Rogers who jumped out to the early lead taking advantage of his best starting position this season. Rogers opened a sizable lead through the first sixty-three laps over AFR Rookie of the Year contender Eric Gerchak and veteran J.P. Morgan before the field was slowed for debris laying in turn two.
Having passed Gerchak for the second position just prior the waiving of the yellow; Morgan had the opportunity he needed to get around Rogers as the field went back to green flag racing on lap sixty-eight. That restart proved to be the race winning move of the race for Morgan, as he opened up a sizable lead over Rogers and youngster Gus Dean at the event’s halfway competition caution on lap 125.
Morgan proved to be just as good with fresh tires and fuel as the field went back to green flag racing he went back to leading the field around the 3/8th mile track. Hard racing for position didn’t take long to develop with fresh tires as youngsters Boswell, Dean, and Ryan Heavner went to work on each other taking advantage of the situation. Dean quickly showed that he was the better of the three taking the third position on lap 144 and then advancing ahead of Rogers one lap later.
Dean’s pass on Rogers came at a perfect timing as the yellow flag would fly for just the second and final time on lap 171 setting up his best opportunity to make a move on the veteran. Morgan showed those in attendance just how good of a car he had pulling away from Dean in a hurry and never looking back. Lapped traffic allowed Rogers get around Dean with twenty-three laps remaining and gain a few additional points toward the championship standings.
With just two championship series races to go the series will make its return to the Hickory Motor Speedway on Saturday October 19th. The Pro Cup Series will be in action for 250 laps of short track racing along with the modified stars of Bowman Gray Stadium for twin twenty-five lap features. Free tickets to the event will be available at Hickory, NC area Bojangles’ beginning Monday October 14th. For more information on this race and others visit www.x1rprocup.com.
X-1R Pro Cup Series
Palmetto State 250
Anderson Motor Speedway-Williamston, SC
Official Results
1. #16 Clay Rogers
2. #23 JP Morgan
3. #56 Gus Dean
4. #21 Eric Gerchak
5. #2 Brady Boswell
6. #05 Codie Rohrbaugh
7. #1 Dalton Hopkins
8. #26 Dylan Presnell
9. #33 Ryan Heavner
10. #21 Eric Gerchak
Chris Ragle
Director of Operations/Marketing
CARS X-1R Pro Cup Series
www.x1rprocup.com
Office: 704-662-9212
Phone: 940-393-3167
Email: chris@carsprocup.com