Springfield IL – TT – 26 May 2012

Here we were back at it in full swing in Springfield, two and a half months after Daytona. Last year we had an amazing weekend, first winning the Mile and placing 2nd in the TT. I knew that matching those results would not be easy. It was the hottest I have ever been in Springfield... record temperatures added to the mix.

The TT started out decently... I never seem to qualify the greatest but at least was in the front row for my Heat. I was able to pass Mikey Martin in the right-hander, but he tried to make a re-pass on me, ramming right into the back of PJ Jacobsen, taking out PJ and himself, and knocking me to the ground as well. The red flag came out and I had to line up at the back of the field, since I had been involved. I got back going again and was making some decent passes and another flag came out. I was in mid-pack. We re-started again and J.R. Schnabel went down really hard, moving me up a spot. After we got going again, I was able to come up through the field into 2nd and a lap later took the lead and won my Heat race. Man, it was a burner, coming up through the pack like that was really tough!

Next up was the Dash for Cash. I grabbed a second place start and was on tow to Henry Wiles. In turn One I was going to try to go under him, but there was no room so I had to check up and just about went over the handlebars because of how deep I was. I lost a spot to Jake Johnson and stayed there for the rest of the race.

In the Main Event I was 3rd off the pole. Wiles got a great jump and Johnson and I were side by side. I got the advantage going right but he stuck it in there on the next left turn and I basically rode his rear wheel for the rest of the race, unable to pass. Wiles checked out and I ended up in 3rd Place. Not a bad night but I really wanted to get a win here to add to my GNC wins!

Springfield Mile - 27 May 2012

Next up: The first Twins race of the year. I qualified, I believe, 11th and was in the 2nd Heat race. I got the hole shot and was leading it for a while until Willie McCoy and Brandon Robinson came into the game. We played the normal cat and mouse back and forth for a while and then on the last lap I slid under Robinson, towing off of McCoy, and was able to get 2nd , which qualified me for the Dash for Cash.

In the Dash I came out right behind Kenny Coolbeth and went by him early on. Then came the Kawasaki of Bryan Smith who had a rocket-ship bike and was darn near impossible to draft. I lost a spot to Johnson and held onto 3rd. We then made a few minor adjustments for the Main, nothing too big.

In the Main Event, Smith got the hole shot and was leading but a red flag came out. It was a pretty big crash involving Robinson, Nichole Cheza, Sammy Halbert and Robbie Pearson. Nichole and Sammy were hurt and were unable to make the re-start. Later I learned that Nichole had two broken vertebrae and was very sore, and that Sammy had a hurt shoulder and concussion. Hopefully they both recover in time to make it back for Lima. On the re-start I nailed the start and was leading. John Lewis and Johnson came up and we were dicing it up. And then came Bryan Smith. We all towed behind Smith for most of the race until McCoy and Coolbeth came into the mix and we were all dicing behind Smith. I was the last guy of the lead pack and then something happened with Lewis and Coolbeth and they slipped up the track, allowing me to get by them, running 4th. I finished 4th with McCoy winning his second Springfield Mile in a row.

Congratulations go out to Willie.

We made some great points, and now sit 14 points ahead of Matt Weidman in Combined GNC points.

Dairyland Classic – Plymouth WI – 1 June 2012

This place has been great for me the last few years. Coming into 2012 I had won it three years in a row.
I had the same setup as in the past. The track was in great shape and it was very chilly... quite a change from Springfield. I was fast qualifier, sitting on the pole. I got the hole shot in the Heat and took the lead on lap one, winning it. I got to pick my spot on the line for the Main, so I picked the middle. I nailed the start and put in some good laps, winning my 4th Dairyland Classic in a row.

All Star – Calumet County Speedway – Chilton WI – 2 June 2012

This was a Steve Nace race at a new track for me. Before the race was to start it rained a lot but then the sun came out and the wind picked up so we went out quickly. In practice I struggled but once the Heat races came around I was good to go. I won my Scratch and Heat races and sat on the pole for the Main Event which I hole-shotted and won by a good length.

Thank you to my Team and supporters for making these last two weekends such a success. I have a weekend off and then will be racing the All Star races in Peoria, IL as a warm-up for the August GNC race.

Again, thank you all.

Jared Mees - # 9

2012 JMR/ Partners:

Singles Series:
Montgomeryville Cycle Center, National Cycle, Lucas Oil, Rogers Racing, Saddlemen, Rod Lake, Bell Helmets, Speed Strength Leathers, KK M/C Supply, Vizzo, Battley, Kelly's, JE Piston, Cometic , Sunoco,Tsubaki, Motion Pro, TCX Boots, MRT, Troy Lee, K&N, Millennium Technologies, Vortex, Craig Pickett, Works Connection, Rekluse, Gene & Gail Cummings, Eddie Mulder, NGK, Z Gallerie, Dick Winters, Oakley, West Coast Hot Shoes, Jupiter Wheels, EBC, Mikuni, Web Cam, Pro Plates, Kold Kutter, Crank Works, Ezup, Twenty Six Suspension, Digger 57, G2, Penske, Chicken Hawk, Ferrea, Royal Publishing Co, M&Z Anodizing, Universal Coatings, TSS Graphics, Boyesen, Fluidyne, Dyno Jet, CV4, Cycra, DVS Shoes, Techflex, Helix, Gunk, All Balls, Xtremely Fit, Swift Springs,Jim Gilbert, Mototassanari, Astericks, Suspension Direct

Twin Series:
Rogers Racing, Blue Springs H-D, Saddlemen, National Cycle, Montgomeryville CC, Rod Lake, Bell Helmet, Speed Strength Leathers, KK M/C Supply, Vizzo, Battley, Kelly's, JE Piston, Cometic, Sunoco,Tsubaki, Motion Pro,TCX Boots, MRT, Troy Lee, K&N, Millennium Technologies, Vortex, Craig Pickett, Works Connection, Rekluse, Gene & Gail Cummings, Eddie Mulder, NGK, Z Gallerie, Dick Winters, Oakley, West Coast Hot Shoes, Jupiter Wheels, EBC, Mikuni, Web Cam, Pro Plates, Kold Kutter, Crank Works, Ezup, Twenty Six Suspension, Digger 57, G2, Penske, Chicken Hawk, Ferrea, Royal Publishing Co, M&Z Anodizing, Universal Coatings, TSS Graphics, Boyesen, Fluidyne, Dyno Jet, CV4, Cycra, DVS Shoes, Techflex, Helix, Gunk, All Balls, Xtremely Fit. Swift Springs, Jim Gilbert, Mototassanari, Astericks, Suspension Direct