2019 TOP TEN – John Moore
We now move into the top-five of the 2019 championship standings of the Spears Srl Southwest Tour Series. Holding down spot number five is a former Pacific Challenge Series Champion, and last year’s seventh place competitor, John Moore. Moore jumped up two spots, racing for JM Racing and JD Motorsports, with championship Crew Chief Mike Dossturning the wrenches, and maintaining the car.
Moore would score one top-five and five top-10 finishes in his nine series starts. He led 55 laps, at the LVMS Bullring and Dirt Track, in the season finale. Moore’s best finish was a fifth at the July Irwindale Speedwayevent. His two DNF’s, in 2019, were the first of his SRL career, after 27 career starts. Moore completed the season with a finishing average of 10.7, while the team struggled in qualifying a little bit, averaging a 16th place effort. It did lead to two “Hard Charger” Awards for the veteran driver, as he improved the most positions in a race, twice.
Despite getting into the top-five, Moore would have liked to have finished a little bit higher in the standings, as the team gained on the driver’s preferences in car set-up throughout the year. By season’s end, the pairing was gelling and Moore became a threat to win.
”For the 27-car it was a bit frustrating”, Moore told the SPEARS Southwest Tour Series. “I had a race car on the verge of being fast the whole year. With two to go, we found the adjustment, and I had a laser. All in all, it was a solid top-five season, and I got to know some talented folks. It was a reminder that our sport is racing not winning, and to enjoy the experience. Its special and not many get to experience it.”
Those improvements culminated in the season finale at the Bullring. The result was his worst finish of the season, with rear end failure, but the effort was the most encouraging performance of the campaign. Moore led 55 laps, and dueled with Tyler Fabozzi and Derek Thorn for the lead, before succumbing to mechanical failure. The performance showed that the veteran driver could still get it done behind the wheel.
“Vegas was a thrill going in”, Moore glowed. “I knew I had a fast racecar under me. I was able to keep it in the top-10 throughout all the practice sessions, and felt I could make the redraw (the top eight redraw for position for the feature event). We started in the top eight, and quickly took control of the race. I felt something going astray with the handling, and soon after, the pinion broke in the rear end. What it showed my peers is that the old dog can still hunt.”
Despite the success Moore had, by finishing in the top-five, the biggest success was represented by his son Cole Moore. The youngest Moore brought home the championship in the series, making his father proud. It was an accomplishment that John felt honored Cole’s big brother “JD” Moore, who had passed after a practice accident 15 years ago at Stockton 99 Speedway.
John began, “Cole, my youngest son, winning the SRL Southwest Tour Championship, is still unbelievable to all of us closest to him. Not because we didn’t feel he had the talent, it’s just an incredible accomplishment. It is absolutely surreal, and I believe he honored his big brother.”
Despite the improvement throughout the season, Moore will be uniting with an old friend and racing champion this next season. The new year will find John teamed up with well-known crew chief, and former NASCAR ARCA Menards West Series Champion, Mike David.
“In 2020 I’ve got a new team, new race cars, and the plan is to pass everything in front of us”, Moore explained. “I’ll be racing with David’s Racing Products, with the highly experienced, and dedicated to the sport, Mr. Mike David as my crew chief. My goal is to keep smiling, and having a good time.”
Not only will Moore be with a new team in 2020, he will also be a big part of the series, through his company JM ENVIRONMENTAL, INC.. John will sponsor a series of three events, that will take place at ALL AMERICAN SPEEDWAY – ROSEVILLE CA and The New Stockton 99 Speedway. Two of the events will be in Roseville, with one in Stockton. They will be known as the “JM Environmental Wild West Shootout”. The Roseville races will pay $7,000-to-win, while the Stockton event will pay $10,000-to-win, with a $2,000 halftime leader bonus, for the 227-lap affair. $15,000 in bonus money is also up for grabs for the winners, over the three-race series, on the SRL’s shortest tracks.
The sponsorship is something Moore enjoys doing for the racing community, and he is excited to be a part of making racing exciting for his local tracks.
“The Wild West Races, that JM Environmental Inc. is sponsoring, are going to be super fun”, Moore expressed. “I like to give back to the sport, and keep everyone excited when I can. Helping the SRL with the races was not difficult. They make it fun, and do all the work.”
Moore enjoys giving back to the racing community, but he is also thankful to the individuals that give back so much to him.
“The main person that I would like to thank is the anchor, the rock, and the backbone to just about everything good in my life. That is my wife Tonja! Also, of course, I’d like to thank Mario Izola for dedicating his time and passion to JM Racing.”
The next event on the schedule is the season opener at Irwindale Speedway. The resumption of the All-Star Showdown will pay $25,000 to the winner of the 200-lap Feature Event, thanks to Sunrise Ford, Bob Bruncati and the West Coast Stock Car Hall of Fame. Over $75,000 will be paid out to the 36 starters, plus additional cash bonuses for the drivers eligible for the Spears Manufacturing Frequent Flyer Program.
Celebrating its twentieth season in 2020, the SPEARS Southwest Tour Series is a regional stock car series competing on paved ovals in the southwestern portion of the U.S. “The SPEARS Southwest Tour Series…Where the Champions Race”
