Press Release March 13, 2009

Bike week for the Griffin Racing Team began in Savannah , GA , at the Oglethorpe Speedway on February 8^th. The track was really fast and I was getting great starts. My Honda Ascot has always gotten off the line really well. I have a great respect for the AHRMA racers. Several in my class are old national numbers whom I would put against any of the top Grand National riders today. I’m really fortunate to be able to compete and take lessons from these guys. My heat landed me a place on the second row for the main. When the flag dropped, my Honda took me from the second row, around the outside of everyone on the front row, and into the lead by the time we went into the first turn. I was getting pumped. My lead would diminish after a lap or so. Youth would give way to experience and horsepower. I finished 7^th at the checkered flag and was thankful to get that!

The rain set in the next night and the Hotshoe race ended up being cancelled. I was really looking forward to putting some laps in on my WKR motor and get my new Boughner Suspension dialed in. We left there that night and headed away from the rain searching for sunshine in Daytona. The Municipal Stadium is always a tough track. The AMA was kind enough to add a Pro and Expert class to the amateur nationals being held there on Sunday. I was excited that I was able to get some seat time before the Grand National Championship races on Wednesday and Thursday. Mike Boughner was there and really helped get my suspension dialed in. He’s really been a blessing to me. I didn’t make the main but, I learned a great deal about the track. It was a tough night because the AMA took the winner out of each heat. I finished 2^nd in my heat behind Colt Chebultz from Kansas , who is an up and coming force to be reckoned with. Someone told me the races used to be like that back in the 70’s. Back then, there were so many Novices, a racer could win his heat and still not make the show. That means “go fast or go home”.

Next we headed to Volusia Speedway for some fast racing on the half mile track. My Kawasaki 450 worked great but again, I missed the main event by one place. I knew it was going to be tough. On another note, I’ve been praying for a Harley XR750 to ride in the Pro Twins class. Well, Jerry Steele stepped up and offered to let me ride his Suzuki SV650. It wasn’t a Harley but it did have an orange and black paint scheme. I wasn’t complaining. I was grinning from ear to ear after coming off the track for practice. The bike handled great. It was a little heavier than my singles bike but, I didn’t really notice the weight after I got going. I got off the line in 2^nd place as we went into the first turn. I ended up finishing third. I was extremely pleased. Ironically, that would be my best finish all week. That was my first experience on a twins bike and I’m really looking forward to riding one again.

Daytona Motor Group did a great job both nights of the GNC at Municipal Stadium. It was little cooler than I would have cared for the first night, but the second night it warmed up. This was my very first Grand National Championship race that I was competing. I was really just thankful to be there. I didn’t make the program. Both nights I fell short by only a few places. Thousandths of a second separated me from a shot at competing in the big show. The track changes so quickly during qualifying that it’s really just luck of the draw which group you go out in. I went out with the first group and our lap times were a second slower than the last group that went out. The track grooved up really fast towards the end. That’s not my excuse, only an explanation. I’ll get em’ next year!! Thanks to everyone that has supported me, especially my parents. See ya’ at Springfield . I can’t wait to get on the Mile. 2009 Sponsors : WKR, Lance Jones, Boughner Racing Suspension, Westcoast Hotshoes, Motion Pro, Saddlemen, A&A, Rekluse, Wiseco, Moose, EVS, Vortex, RK, Excel, Works Connection, Scott, Motonation, Pure Attitude.

Jason Griffin 23c