5/12/2015
Inside Line Promotions
Ball and Kline Drive White Lightning Motorsports into Victory Lane
(Photo by Carroll Hoover)
Inside Line Promotions – KNOXVILLE, Iowa (May 12, 2015) – White Lightning Motorsports drivers Jamie Ball and Devin Kline powered to a pair of victories last week.
“It was a great week for our team,” Ball said. “It’s nice for both of us to get a win early this season. We know we’ve got the cars capable of winning so now it comes down to executing and taking advantage of opportunities each race.”
Ball kicked off the week last Wednesday at Southern Iowa Speedway in Oskaloosa, Iowa, with the Sprint Invaders. He finished second in a heat race to lock himself into the dash, where he placed third. The feature inversion then started Ball on the outside of the second row for the 20-lap main event.
“It was fantastic from the get-go,” he said. “I ran the most consistent 20 laps of my career. I quickly moved my way to the front. I was in second within three laps and took the lead on Lap 6.”
Ball led the distance of the race to capture his first career triumph at the track and his first with the Sprint Invaders.
“We had three or four yellows at the end that made it difficult,” he said. “I had some pressure on me, but I was able to get the win. The second-place driver could get in good through the center and it seemed on exit (of the corners) my momentum would carry me through. I kept my momentum up and drove the wheels off it. It felt great to win a 360ci race outside of Knoxville.”
Following Midwest races that were rained out on Thursday and Friday, White Lightning Motorsports tackled Knoxville Raceway on Saturday for the track’s season-opening race.
Ball qualified 13th quickest and placed second in a heat race to line up on the inside of the seventh row for the main event.
“It definitely was not the start we were looking for,” he said. “We got behind the eight ball with a bad qualifying time. The heat race went all right, but then the feature didn’t go well. It turns out we had a mag that went bad. The engine wouldn’t run and got us back in the field racing with some newer guys. One of them put us in the wall. We changed the right rear tire during a caution and we got back out on the track. The motor ran ok for about four laps and then started acting up again so we pulled it in.”
Ball was credited with a 21st-place result.
Meanwhile Kline kicked his season opener off on the right foot. He timed in sixth quickest during qualifying in the 305ci class. Kline then maneuvered from fifth to fourth place in a heat race to lock himself into the feature, which he started on the pole following the feature inversion.
“On the first start me and J. Kinder were side by side going into turns one and two and turns three and four,” he said. “We had a caution and on the second start he got a little better start than me. We were a little off on the setup and I just couldn’t do anything with him on the restarts.”
Kline ran second for the first nine laps before Kinder pulled off the track because of a mechanical issue. Kline led the final six laps to secure his third career victory at Knoxville Raceway.
“It was unfortunate that he broke, but it was in my favor,” he said. “I still had to fend off some pretty good cars. We definitely got lucky, but still had to do some driving. It gives us a boost and a lot of confidence with our program. We set our sights to go after the championship and the first night was a step in that direction.”
White Lightning Motorsports will return to Knoxville Raceway this Saturday.
QUICK RESULTS –
JAMIE BALL:
May 6 – Southern Iowa Speedway in Oskaloosa, Iowa – Heat race: 2 (1); Dash: 3 (2); Feature: 1 (4).
May 9 – Knoxville Raceway in Knoxville, Iowa – Qualifying: 13; Heat race: 2 (3); Feature: 21 (13).
DEVIN KLINE:
May 9 – Knoxville Raceway in Knoxville, Iowa – Qualifying: 6; Heat race: 4 (5); Feature: 1 (1).
SEASON STATS –
JAMIE BALL – 6 races, 1 win, 2 top fives, 2 top 10s, 4 top 15s, 5 top 20s
DEVIN KLINE – 1 race, 1 win, 1 top five, 1 top 10, 1 top 15, 1 top 20
UP NEXT –
Saturday at Knoxville Raceway in Knoxville, Iowa
MEDIA LINKS –
Jamie Ball Website: http://www.JamieBall.com
Devin Kline Website: http://www.DevinKline.com
Jamie Ball Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/JamieBall5j
Devin Kline Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/DevinKline5j
VIDEO –
Here is a link to highlights of Kline’s first win of the season at Knoxville Raceway on May 9: https://youtu.be/ErMdMcbuxjQ
APPAREL –
White Lightning Motorsports has t-shirts and hoodies available for purchase at their race trailers in the infield of each sprint car event at Knoxville Raceway in Knoxville, Iowa.
SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT – Matt Jones Trucking
Matt Jones Trucking is a licensed and bonded freight shipping and trucking company running freight hauling business from Monroe, Iowa. Matt specializes in the transportation of livestock throughout the Midwest. Call Matt today at (641) 891-0686 to get an estimate on all of your shipping needs.
“Matt Jones has been a long time crew member, supporter and sponsor of the 5J cars for the past 10-plus years,” Ball said. “Matt and his family (Christy, Jaslyn and Evan) have been instrumental in our success over the years. It is a pleasure to have Matt Jones Trucking on board the 5J cars this season.”
White Lightning Motorsports would also like to thank Jerry & Kelly Johnston, Housby, JJ Kane Auctioneers, Timberline Tree Service, BCP Weddings, The Hearing Clinic, Iowa State Savings Bank, Ostrich Racing Engines, Sweet Manufacturing, Keizer Aluminum Wheels, FK Rod Ends, Fragola Performance Systems, King Racing Products, BR Motorsports, Hoosier Tire, Bell Helmets, MPD Racing, Driver Websites, Champion Oil, Wingdance Graphics, Shell Shock and Hooker Harness for their continued support.
INSIDE LINE PROMOTIONS –
Inside Line Promotions specializes in affordable public relations and media management for motor sports drivers, teams, sponsors, tracks, series, events, organizations and manufacturers. ILP Founder Shawn Miller leverages professional journalism with new media technologies and social networking to improve your exposure and the return on investment for your sponsors.
To meet the media relations needs of your program by joining Team ILP, contact Shawn at 541-510-3663 or Shawn@InsideLinePromotions.com. For more information on Inside Line Promotions, visit http://www.InsideLinePromotions.com.
Article Credit: Inside Line Promotions
Submitted By: Shawn Miller