Guest Post from Jason Watson, a dedicated fan

 

       The season is now over and the 33rd and final chapter of the 7th volume of the NASCAR Nationwide Series has been written.  Jeremy Clements Racing finished strong with a P13 at Homestead with the NEVER GIVE UP attitude.  The season was filled with 33 races of ups and downs.   The heartbreak of the Talladega crash with five laps to go that may very well ended up in a Top 5 if not a win.  I think one could hear the loudness of the cheers in JUGNation as Jeremy charged to the front in those final laps and then the deafening silence fall over all of us as we worried about Jeremy after the crash and the disappointment of what might have been and then not to mention weeks later the needless accident at Kentucky.   But then there were the Highs of two Top 10s in three week period.  A career best P6 finish at Elkhart Lake (Road America) and a P8 at Daytona in July that propelled the 51 into the first round of the Nationwide Dash 4 Cash at New Hampshire and a P11 at Phoenix in the last weeks, basically without any brakes.  This season to date is Jeremy’s best year in the Nationwide Series with only 2 DNFs (really only one if you take out Talladega) and best average finishing position for a season. This performance led to another Top 15 in the driver point standings and the way I see it if you take out the High Cost of Racing or Inflation so speak or maybe just Sprint Cup dollars, Jeremy finished in the Top 3 as a true single car team.

           So all of us that follow JCR know what an uphill battle these guys fight week in and week out. From a small crew to limited budget and older technology, yet they still have the never yield attitude every week.  How do they do this?  With the help of some great sponsors: Repairable Vehicles, Merit Pro,  All South Electrical Constructors, Inc., Value Lighting, Inc.,  Diamond Pistons, Graham and Turner Grading , Morristown Lumber , ANP Lighting,  St. Clair Foods , Crescent Services , BRT Extrusions,  and  the associate sponsors - Robert Ianuario, Curry's Roofing, Coca-Cola of Spartanburg, Carolina Driveline, Safety Kleen,  and Cometic Gasket as they are valuable part of this team.

    What else makes this 750 horsepower powerhouse team run?   It is you the fans.  What a great idea with the Indiegogo Crowd Funding  program that allowed fans to be apart of Team JCR.  Jeremy and Team also give back to the community by Remembering Veterans and fans in riding along with Team 51 throughout the year; honoring Wayne Chapman and the South Carolina ALS Foundation;  #DrivingWithHeroes, remembering Canadian soldiers – Warrant Officer Patrice Vincent and Corporal Nathan Cirillo; The USS James E Williams (DDG95);  and Racing for a Cause.   Not to mention the fans catapulted Jeremy, aka #TheFansMan, into a Top 5 finish in the NNS most popular driver vote.  What an accomplishment!

           What’s next?  Jeremy and the crew get some much needed time off, but will also be working hard toward the start of the 2015 season.   Granted the daunting task to go up against bigger budgets and newer technology every week will be still there but this team has the desire and talent to do it. The “doing more with less” most definitely defines Team 51.  What can we do as fans in the off season?  Continue to talk about JCR to co-workers, family and friends and tell them what great people there are in this organization and how their business, cause or name would look awesome on the 51 car next year.   Who wouldn’t want to be apart of this Team when JCR wins their first race?  

           The future is bright for JCR.  2015 brings a new series sponsor in Xfinity and the points set back to zero starting at Daytona in 95 days.  So to all have a Great and Safe Holiday Season!!!!!   #SeeYouUpFront  #BumperDoorClearOn2014   #TheFansMan   #51n’15

Disclaimer - I am not a writer nor even a blogger so if I left anyone or anything out my apologies.  I’m just an avid NASCAR fan but moreover a passionate JCR fan.  
                       
                                                        Thank You!
                                                                  Jason Watson