Story By: JUSTIN SNYDER A2DPR / SCOTT HESS RACING – NEWVILLE, PA – Tony Jackson and Scott Hess Racing put forth their best effort this past Saturday in their attempt to score back-to-back Sportsman 100 victories at BAPS Motor Speedway, but late-race contact while battling for the lead relegated the team to a sixth-place finish on Saturday.
Jackson charged forward from his fourth starting position to take the lead on the opening circuit and lead the first 48 laps of the Winged Sportsman crown jewel event. Following a break at the halfway point, Jackson fell as far back as fourth on the grid but charged back to the lead on lap 65 before a caution negated the pass.
With five laps remaining, he was once again challenging for the lead and he and Scott Dellinger raced wheel-to-wheel over the final handful of laps. However, contact between the leaders caused Jackson to spin. With only eight cars left on the lead lap, Jackson lined up eighth and was able to pass two cars to settle for a sixth at the checkers.
“Overall, it was a good night. We had plenty of speed and I think me and the 30 car were the best cars there,” said Jackson. “We should’ve at least run second, but I was hoping to win my second 100 lapper in a row. We’re happy with the car but disappointed with the result. We’ll regroup and try and get another one of those things next year.”
With only one more planned Wingless Sportsman event on his 2024 schedule in November, Jackson will now start looking to the future. Next season will serve as Jackson’s final season behind the wheel of a sprint car as he is set to retire from competition after 2025.
The current plan is for Jackson to compete in a pick-and-choose type schedule focusing on winged and wingless sportsman racing with a goal to close out his career by hitting the 50-victory mark in the division. Jackson currently has 46 career victories to his name.
“The goal is to have a lot of fun and try and get to 50 wins overall in the Sportsman,” said Jackson. “ Then, I’ll call it a career, and hopefully in a couple of years my son will want to race and we’ll look to the future.”
While the 2024 season started optimistically for Jackson and Hess as they embarked on a rookie season in the 410 Sprint Car ranks, plans changed just after the halfway mark when Tony decided he wanted to scale back to focusing on the Sportsman. While the plan at the time was for him to jump back in the Sprint Car when he was ready, he ultimately decided to move forward with life after racing as the decision weighed on his mind.
“They say there is a certain time when you are just ready to do different stuff and this year, I’ve just kind of transitioned to a new mindset,” said Jackson. “I own my own business and I bought a new cabin, and I think my mind is just telling me it’s time to do something new.”
“When a Saturday comes along after a long week at work and you’re telling yourself that you don’t care if it rains, you know maybe it’s time to step away. Plus, when you’re doing it so much, it’s hard to really enjoy it. I don’t even really watch it at home anymore as I’m just not really into it enough to keep going,” he added.
National Sprint Car Hall of Fame driver Lance Dewease piloted the 410 Sprint Car for two shows following Jackson’s decision to step out of the car, and the veteran hot shoe will again compete for Hess this coming Saturday at BAPS during the Kevin Gobrecht Memorial.
Depending on schedules for the remainder of the season, he may drive the car for a handful of other 2024 shows as well. Plans for 2025 and the 410 Sprint Car team will be announced at a later date.
For Jackson, he’s incredibly grateful for all that Hess has done for him and continues to do for him and he’s looking forward to closing out this chapter of his life competing for wins and having fun. He noted that while it will be a bittersweet decision to close out this chapter, he’s looking forward to life after racing and the potential of his son getting involved down the road.
And he knows that if and when that time comes, he’ll have a ton of faithful and loyal supporters to back him as a result of relationships he’s made over the years.
“I’ve had some sponsors and supporters who have been with me from the get-go and I know if my son wants to get going that I’ve still got those people in my corner,” said Jackson. “It’s been great to have supporters like that. I’ve had the same names on my cars for the last 11 years and I’m proud of the fact I never burned those bridges and built up relationships. That’s the biggest thing that I’m most proud of. The wins and success have been cool, but I value those relationships more than ever and I hope to make them proud next season as I close out my career.”