June 10-Joseph Joiner Claims Fifth Win of the Season in Late Model Action at Southern Raceway.

Milton, Fla. – June 10, 2009 – After winning two races in one weekend the previous week, Joseph Joiner and the Joiner Racing Team had planned to take this past weekend off.  But on Saturday morning the team decided to scrap those plans and head back to their home track of Southern Raceway in Milton, Fla.  The change of plans proved beneficial as Joiner brought home another victory in Saturday night’s FASTRAK Late Model feature.

Joiner set the second fastest time in qualifying to start the feature from the outside of the front row.  After incidental contact with pole-sitter Bo Slay before the start, Joiner took the lead at the drop of the green flag and led every lap in the caution-free race to claim his fifth victory of the season.

“The car was pretty good Saturday night,” Joiner said on Monday.  “We missed a little on air pressure, but other than that it was good. We’re getting a lot better with our setup and all.  I think that’s what has made the difference here lately.  Hopefully we can keep this going and keep winning races.”

“I really don’t know what happened with Bo (Slay).  It definitely wasn’t intentional on my part,” Joiner said of the contact that sent Slay to the pits with a flat right front tire.  “The starts are always hectic at Southern.  Guys are moving back and forth trying to get the line they want before you take off.  He wasn’t giving me much room and
was coming up the track.  I was just trying to keep the line I had.  I hate he got a flat tire, but that’s just part of it. We’ve been on the other end of those kinds of things a lot in the past.”

On the final lap of the race, Joiner caught Slay to put him a lap down.  Slay had slowed down considerably even though his car was still under power.  Instead of making the pass on the back straight, Joiner pushed Slay through turns three and four then passed him coming to the finish line.  Slay then turned Joiner around in turn one after the
race was over.

“When I saw that he was slowing down on the last lap, I pretty much knew what was on his mind,” Joiner explained.  “Whether or not he would have taken me out before the finish I don’t know, but I knew that he was mad about the flat tire and I wasn’t going to take the chance of getting taken out.  I didn’t know how much of a lead I had so I couldn’t just wait behind him.  I’m sure he’s not happy about it, but I did what I had to do.”

“As far as him spinning me out after the race, it’s not that big of a deal.  Yeah it was a dumb thing of him to do, but I guess everyone makes poor decisions sometimes.  We’ll move on and come back next time.”

The team had planned to compete in the Mississippi State Championship Challange Series races at Northwest Florida Speedway and Southern Raceway on Friday and Saturday nights, but as of now those plans are questionable.  The team is considering traveling to Mississippi for a pair of NeSmith National Tour events. Final plans will posted on the Joiner Racing website on Friday. 

Joseph Joiner and the Joiner Racing Team would like to thank All Pro Tune Up, Car City Engine and Machine, A-Plus Party Rentals, Pit Stop Parts and Services, and Siding 4 the South for their continued support. For more information about Joseph Joiner and the Joiner Racing Team, visit www.JoinerRacing.com or call Joshua Joiner at (850)232-9331.