AN
ALTERNATE TO THE WINNER’S CIRCLE
Kevin
Jones, the fourth alternate after final qualifying, completes storybook weekend
with Top Fuel Ironman victory at Tulsa Raceway Park
Kevin Jones, a barber from Berea, Ky., will probably be sending Doug Foley a
gift card good for a lifetime of free haircuts. When Foley decided to pull out
of the Skull Shine Sooner Nationals presented by Wolverine and Academy Sports +
Outdoors to compete in the NHRA race in Englishtown, Jones and Sipple Family
Racing were contacted by IHRA to see if they were interested in filling out the
Knoll-Gas Torco Racing Fuels Pro NitroTop Fuel field by competing at the Nitro
Jam event in Tulsa.
They had three days to get ready and head to
Oklahoma, but
the trip was more than worthwhile.
Jones drove past Bruce Litton, Indianapolis, to claim the
first career Ironman for Sipple Family Racing. He carded a 5.138 at 260.71 mph
to defeat Litton, who lost traction at half-track and lifted out of the run.
Jones and crew chief Mike Sipple were thrilled with the victory, but they wish
John “Doc” Sipple, the patriarch of Sipple Family Racing, could have been there
to enjoy it with them.
“Doc” recently had a stint put in his heart and was
back home in Kentucky recovering, unable to make the trip to
Tulsa.
“This was the first time a Top Fuel team has ever
pulled out of Berea without him in the rig,” Jones said. “It
was kind of an emotional thing, but we knew we had to do what we had to do. If
the Lord lays the way out for you, doggone it, that’s just the way it has to be.
We may not understand it or like it, but if the grass is green the grass is
green. You just have to follow that path.”