MONDAY MEMORIES – ROMERO GRABS SIXTH CAREER PCS WIN WITH SHASTA VICTORY

NORTH HIGHLANDS, Calif. (April 27, 2020) – This week’s Monday Memory is a look back at Jason Romero’s first victory in a Late Model outside of the All American Speedway in Roseville. Romero looks to factor heavily in Tuesday night’s discussion for the top-three Pro Late Model drivers in the state of California as well.

2019 All American Speedway NASCAR Late Model champion Jason Romero won his sixth career Pacific Challenge Series main event on April 21, 2018 at Shasta Raceway Park. Romero’s previous success came with a 2009 Late Model title at All American Speedway along with a pair of Mini Stock championships.

Romero opened the night at the 3/8ths mile Shasta Raceway with a new PCS Super Late Model track record, charging to a 15.428 second lap around the speedway. His lap time was also three tenths ahead of the rest of the 14-car field.

2015 PCS champion John Moore won the pole by virtue of winning the American Racer Tire dash ahead of 2006 Westcar Late Model champion Shannon Mansch.

Moore took the lead from Mansch at the start, bringing third-starting Romero with him. Several laps later, both Matt Scott and Cole Moore dove inside Mansch as well shuffling her back to fifth.

The top-four broke into two pairs of battles until Scott and Cole Moore came together in turn one with Scott spinning his #35 car.

Romero passed John Moore on the outside to take the lead on the restart. The caution flew on lap 11 when debutant Jarrett Gilmer slowed with mechanical problems. Romero picked the inside for the restart which allowed John Moore to lead the 12th lap by a nose. Romero took the lead back the following lap.

A lap 21 restart sparked an incident that sent both Romero and John Moore spinning into turn one. Both had to restart at the rear of the field. Mansch assumed the lead with Cole Moore moving up into second. Three laps later, Cole Moore took over the top position.

Cole Moore’s hopes for victory were dashed when he stopped in the infield on the backstretch for a lap 38 caution. Moore was able to re-fire and drive into the pits but it handed the lead back to Mansch once more. Cole Moore did not return to the race.

Romero knifed his way through several incidents into second place. He took over the lead from Mansch, then built up a sizeable advantage. He eventually drove to a five second win over Mansch and former PCS champion Mike Beeler.

Jason Romero went on to win the June event at Shasta as well, part of six top-twos en route to the 2018 Pacific Challenge Series championship. Romero’s pair of Shasta wins continue to be his only triumphs outside Roseville, as he failed to convert on a Madera win in 2019 in Pro Late Model competition.

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About Steven Blakesley

Steven Blakesley is a motorsports announcer and public relations specialist with more than 15 years of experience. His biggest pet peeve is race fans who only enjoy one form of racing over all others.