WHEATLAND, Mo. — Kris Jackson’s record seventh Lucas Oil Speedway track championship felt a little different from the others because he won it driving a car he built from the ground up.
It was more than a year ago when Jackson and his cousin, Tony Jackson Jr., formed J2 Motorsports with the idea putting Kris’ background of B-Modified success to use in business. J2 chassis number one – driven by Kris – wound up winning 31 features in 64 total events in 2022.
Included were six wins at Lucas Oil Speedway where the 38-year-old Jackson claimed another Ozark Golf Cars USRA B-Mod championship. He wound up 17 points in front of Ryan Gillmore, who charged fast in the season’s home stretch to keep the outcome in doubt until the final night.
Perhaps the latest championship, to go with others in 2012-14 and 2019, 2020 and 2021, was meant to be. Jackson all but ceded the points lead to Gillmore in a mid-summer race, to compete at a special event in Wisconsin, but a rogue thunderstorm rained action out at Wheatland.
“We got lucky,” Jackson said.
Maybe he was lucky that week. But otherwise, luck had little to do with it for one of America’s premier USRA B-Mod drivers. A two-time USRA National champion, Jackson finished runner-up in national points this season, 62 behind Minnesota’s Joe Chisholm.
The fact Jackson did it in the new chassis made it a bit sweeter. J2 just sold its 21st car this week and drivers using the chassis have combined to win nearly 100 races this season. Shadren Turner and Jon Sheets are among Missouri drivers to win multiple times.
“I would say that to me is what I’m proudest about,” Jackson said. “There’s not just one fast car coming out of here, they’re all pretty fast. Shadren Turner, Jon Sheets, Jake Hodges out in Kansas. We sent one to Tennessee that Brent Smith won in.
“We probably had five cars racing this year and I think we’ll have at least 10 racing next year, if everybody that has one races.”
Jackson said he was pleasantly surprised by how good the car was right out of the shop, beginning with a successful venture to the Wild West Shootout last January. He plans to take the same car back to Vado, N.M., next month for the six-night series.
“I really thought we would have to change more stuff than we did,” Jackson said. “It was fast right off the bat and we’ve changed out set-ups a little bit and picked up some speed again. I’m just very happen with them.
“I didn’t really anticipate business going this good, but it’s moving along quite well. We’ve moved into a new building on Route 66 in the middle of Lebanon. We bought it and refurbished and got settled in, trying to click out some cars.”
As for his racing plans beyond the Wild West Shootout, Jackson said he anticipates a similar schedule. But unless Mother Nature creates some timely rain outs, when he chooses to travel for B-Mod specials, his record number of Lucas Oil Speedway championships might stall at seven.
Looking into the not-too-distant future, there’s also a chance that son Karter, soon to turn 11, might get into a Modified and get some test time.
“We’re planning on taking him out and let him drive around the local track and get used to it, then maybe turn him loose when he’s 12,” Jackson said.
But until then, Karter will continue helping his dad, along with crew members Jordan and Jared Medley.
“It definitely was another good year. We can’t complain,” Jackson said.