Each season racers set goals for themselves and their team. It gives them something to shoot for to track their progress during the season. This year Ryan Dovenbarger and his team came into the 2020 JEGS Performance ET Series with the goal to continue to develop and improve on their performance from 2019.
The season didn’t start out the way they were hoping for with some transmission problems early on forcing a slow start in the Sportsman points. But things turned around for Ryan in July, on the same weekend he scored a win and a runner-up. It was the confidence boost he needed to kick start his season into high gear.
“This year has been a very up and down year for us. We started slow and then found some momentum and came on strong at the end. I need to thank my dad (David) and mom (Larissa) for the support they give me and helping me,” said Ryan.
Going into the final weekend of the points Ryan was sitting in 7th place with no thought on the championship. On Saturday, September 25th, Ryan was runner-up and it jumped him all the way to #2 in points. On the final day his fellow competitors fell be the wayside and at the end of the day it was Ryan clinching his first ever JEGS ET Series Sportsman championship.
“Being a championship takes consistency, focus and a little luck. You must believe in yourself that you can compete with the best racers out there. Sometimes you lose good races and win bad ones, but you have to keep your confidence in your abilities,” said a very gracious Ryan.
Next year Ryan plans on defending his Sportsman championship if his college schedule will allow it. He also plans on entering some money races as he continues to develop into one of the best young drivers in the division.
Congrats to the 2020 JEGS Performance ET Series Sportsman champion Ryan Dovenbarger.
Photos by: Hook’s Performance Photography
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