By all accounts, his first season in Peterborough Speedway’s Paul Davis Systems Thunder Car division was a success. Despite finishing 5^th in the final point standings and being named the Rookie of the Year and Hard Charger, Bailey Jacobs wanted to add a main event victory to make his freshman campaign complete, but try as he might it just wasn’t meant to be.

When the 2016 schedule got underway, Jacobs hit the track with a revamped ride and picked-up where he’d left off during his freshman campaign. Even before scoring his first career main event victory – Saturday, July 23^rd – the talented youngster from Warsaw, Ontario was logging some strong finishes and enjoying the support and adulation of a group of family, friends and fans in black t-shirts – emblazoned with the Jacobs Racing logo – who cheered his every move on the track.

“Its great to have so many people following what I do,” said the 18 year-old, second generation runner. “The cars are often too loud to hear them, but during the pace laps and caution flag periods, I see their reaction as the field rolls past the grandstand. There isn’t always time to talk with everyone, but the comments on Facebook after the first feature win were amazing and appreciated.”

As the division’s most recent winner, Jacobs knew track rules dictated he couldn’t start the Saturday, August 6^th feature race from any position better than 10^th, no matter where he might have qualified. As the green flag flew, there was plenty of action in front of the #60 Chevrolet and after a couple of caution flags, he’d restart on the outside of the front row. While Peterborough’s lower groove is the preferred racing line, the driver – who currently sits second in Thunder Car points – ran some patient laps, before taking the lead with 15 circuits on the scoreboard on the way to his second straight checkered flag.

“I had to work a bit harder for this one than I did a couple of weeks ago,” admitted the driver. “Racing for the lead is different than racing with the lead. Even though it seems like the season just started a couple weeks ago, we’re getting close to the end of the year and the point chase its pretty tight. I’m trying to finish ahead of the #28 and I think he’s trying to finish in front of me.”

The next Peterborough Speedway action for the Paul Davis Systems Thunder Car division is Saturday, August 20^th.

Bailey Jacobs’ 2016 season is proudly supported by the Kawartha Kart Club, T.G. Quirk Towing, Bernardi Consulting, Chemong Home Solutions, Lakefield NAPA Auto Parts, Close Quarters Tree Removal, Dart Heating & Air Conditioning and Clarke Motorsports Communications.