On October 26, the Jett Noland Motorsports team headed to Cordele Motor Speedway for an intense night of racing under the lights. With October marking Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Jett’s car sported bold, pink paint as a tribute, standing out proudly on the track. Here’s how the night unfolded, full of strategic calls, technical challenges, and a display of skill and determination.
Practice Challenges & Pushing The Limit
The day started with some unexpected challenges. During practice, the team noticed issues with the car that needed immediate attention to be race-ready. After some quick adjustments, we were able to get everything sorted out just in time to pass tech inspections, a huge relief that allowed us to refocus on race strategy and get ready for the green flag.
Once the race started, Jett showed just how competitive he could be. Beginning in ninth, he quickly made his way up the field and took the lead, holding it for approximately 100 laps. At one point, he even went three wide through the middle for the lead, making an incredible move without any contact—a bold display of control and precision that had fans on their feet.
Despite the solid start, our tire management strategy didn’t quite hold up over the long green-lap stretches. The race was unusually sparse on cautions, with cars spread out across the track, making it tough to reset or adapt to new strategies. As the tires wore down, we saw our lap times gradually increase, causing us to lose some of the hard-earned ground we’d gained early on. Reflecting on the race, we all know that strategy is a gamble, and sometimes, you just never know which approach will be the right one on race day.
“We led the race for around 100 laps in the beginning,” Jett reflected after the race. “Our tire management strategy didn’t work out. The cars were spread out, and there were a lot of green laps with very few cautions. You never know what strategy will work… maybe next time.”
In the end, we crossed the line in tenth spot, a bittersweet finish after a strong start, but a performance that leaves us optimistic about future races. We’ll take the lessons learned from Cordele and apply them as we prepare for the next race, with hopes of clinching that top spot.
Thanks to everyone who showed their support, and to those who supported Breast Cancer Awareness Month with us. We’ll see you at the next track — ready to bring it again!