8/1/05
STARS OF KARTING RACER JASKOL SELECTED FOR ROUSH RACING'S GONG SHOW
Matt Jaskol, the 20-years old Las Vegas’ driver and ASA Speed Truck Series points’ leader, and current CRG pilot in the Snap-on Stars of Karting presented by the IRL, was selected to participate in one of the most exclusive competitions in motor sports, Roush Racing’s Gong Show. Matt was among the 25 drivers announced earlier this week by Roush Racing and Discovery Channel in Concord, N.C., to compete for a fully sponsored ride in the 2006 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. Roush and his team of judges selected these finalists - who will also participate in the Discovery Channel Original Series about the final selection process - from 1,700 applicants.
Matt was obviously elated to be part of the group: “I am really honored to be in that list. I aspire to be a professional race driver, with a top team, and in a competitive series, be it on ovals or road or both, with or without fenders. The Roush organization is at the top of their game, in one of the most competitive professional series in the world. They are a successful and victorious team, and this is an incredible opportunity for me. I am sure I will! learn a lot with this experience, and I can’t wait to get started.”
Roush Racing is a subsidiary of Roush Industries which operates 10 motor sports teams; five in NASCAR Nextel Cup with drivers Mark Martin, Matt Kenseth, Kurt Busch, Greg Biffle and Carl Edwards; three in the Busch Series with Martin, Kenseth and Edwards; two in the Craftsman Truck Series with drivers Ricky Craven and Todd Kluever.
The selected drivers for the Gong Show come from across the United States, Canada and New Zealand, with backgrounds such as ARCA racing, Hooter’s, USAC Sprints, Midg! ets, Craftsman Truck Series, Legends, Late Models, Modifieds, ! the NASC AR West Division, even Busch series.
Even though Matt has a road racing background, he is not concerned about the other 24 selected drivers’ backgrounds – all markedly from oval racing: “Of course I respect their experience, and I am really honored to be selected in their group. For sure it won’t be easy. But that said, I am confident in my ability to adapt quickly and I know that will bring me right up to speed. I look forward to drive in Martinsville.”
The first round of the selection will be at Martinsville Speedway, August 2-4, and candidates will compete on and off the track, testing their skills behind the wheel as well as their marketability and fan appeal. Discovery Channel will produce a 13-part series about the gong show, which will debut this fall on the network’s 90.2 million households across the nation.
