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Friday Night Test: Matt Jester Using July 22 'Blast at the Beach' Qualifier As Practice Run With Clearview Farms No. 62 Big-Block

By Marshall Gabell

GEORGETOWN, DE - Small-block versus big-block: which will go to victory lane?

That is the question Matt Jester is hoping to answer when he debuts his big-block motor during Fridays $2,000-to-win Big-Block/Small-Block Modified Blast at the Beach Qualifier event at Georgetown Speedway .

Jester also hopes the 25-lap feature will produce the first triumph for his No. 62 Clearview Farms Modified team since the track underwent new ownership following last season.

Through two previous starts at the half-mile dirt track this season in March, the veteran Jester has utilized his small-block motor, producing a fourth place result in the Deron Rust Memorial (a strictly small-block race) and a DNQ (did not qualify) in the season-opening Melvin L. Joseph Memorial event due to mechanical woes.

The 31-year-old, Milford, Del. native will be competing with his big block motor for the first-time this season at Georgetown tomorrow night, and he is hoping to compare the results to those that his small-block produced.

The data collected will help him and his team decide what motor to use at the Short Track Super Series Velocita South Region finale -- the third annual, $5000-to-win Blast at the Beach, held at Georgetown on Tuesday, Aug. 30.

I look forward to heading back to Georgetown, Jester said. It has been a little while since we raced there, but we are coming back with a little different package. We are bringing the big-block this time. Since the 360 Sprint Cars are there, we also know the track is going to be slick.

So, is the big-block going to be too much for a slick track? Do we need to bring the small-block for the Blast at the Beach? We have only run the small block at Georgetown this season, but we will see where we stack up.

Despite looking to use the qualifier as a learning experience, Jester is gunning for his first triumph at the Georgetown, Del. track since Brett Deyo took the controls of the historic facility, which would guarantee him a redraw position in the Blast at the Beach.

However, comparing the two motors and figuring out which one is faster is at the forefront of his mind as he chases that victory.

It is a big deal knowing that this could clinch our spot in the Blast at the Beach, Jester explained. But, it is a bigger deal for me to find out if the big block can run faster on a dry track then the small block can.

So, yes, I am coming down here to win Friday night, but am also using it as a test session and see how the big block compares with the small block. Hopefully we can figure out which will be better for the Blast at the Beach.

Jester will debut his big-block motor when the pit gates open at 4 p.m. Eastern, with grandstand gates opening at 5 p.m. Track run-in is scheduled to start at 6:20 p.m, with heat races slated for 7:15 p.m. on the action-packed night.

Along with the Big-Block/Small-Block Modifieds, the United Racing Club (URC) 360 Sprint Cars, Crate 602 Sportsmans, Southern Delaware Vintage Stock Cars, Delmarva Chargers, and Delaware Super Trucks are also on the nights racing card.

Adult grandstand admission is $18. Senior (ages 65 and up) and student (ages 13-17) tickets are $14. Kids 9-12 are $10 and children eight and under get in FREE. Pit passes are $30, with no license required.

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