West Michigan Drivers were part of the Speed51.com draft selection. To view all of the picks go to www.speed51.com
Pick #11
Johnny VanDoorn
Age - 23
Hometown – Coopersville, MI
Series – CRA Super Series, SLMs
When it comes to champions there’s no bigger championship trophy than the Super Bowl trophy and although many teams have posted back to back wins in consecutive seasons, no team in recent history has ever won three in a row. That’s exactly what Johnny VanDoorn is trying to do this year. After claiming the CRA Super Series title in 2009 and 2010, VanDoorn is already on track to break records and capture his third consecutive championship.
The 23-year-old from Coopersville, Michigan won the famed All American 400 and finished second in CRA Super Series standings in only his first full season in late models. After a sophomore slump in 2008 with only one win, VanDoorn changed teams and went to Kaos Motorsports for the 2009 season. They won in their first race out and haven’t looked back since after five wins and two championships.
Pros: The back-to-back champion, who works as a fabricator at Port City Racecars, is simply marketable. He’s a very polite, hard-working young man who’s not afraid to talk a little and never forgets to thank his sponsors.
Cons: VanDoorn needs to step out of his comfort zone a little more often. We’ve seen him travel down for a few sporadic shows around the Southeast and usually see him at the Snowball Derby every year but we’d like to see him run the big shows more regularly and maybe see him grab another big win like his All American 400 victory in 2007.
Pick #12
Erik Jones
Age - 14
Hometown – Byron, MI
Series – PLM, CRA JEGS All-Stars Tour
The #12 pick in the NFL draft was Christian Ponder, a quarterback from Florida State who went to the Minnesota Vikings. Ponder wasn’t the popular pick that early on in the draft and many critics say he’s not quite ready to be a starting NFL QB just yet, but with some time and polishing, he could be quite good. The time and polishing is about all that stands in 14-year-old Erik Jones’ way from being the next bright young star in short track racing.
Jones has turned heads quickly on the Midwestern Pro Late Model scene. He came into the Varney Late Model Series in 2010 and won three races, becoming the youngest winner in that series’ history. He also won the series’ prestigious event during Oktoberfest weekend at LaCrosse (WI). He’s traveled outside his Midwestern roots, as well, putting a good showing together at the Snowflake 100, starting 34th and finishing 7th. He also led laps earlier this season at the Pro Rattler 125 at South Alabama and finished third in the opening JEGS CRA All-Stars Tour event at Toledo (OH).
Pros: Making some noise against tough talent and not afraid to race, and succeed, against top competition.
Cons: Still young at just 14, so as much seat time as possible will only help his development. Running in the Crate Late Model classes is good, but we’d like to see him in some Super Late Model shows near the end of the year to see how he handles the high horsepower.
Pick #51
Dakota Carlson
Age - 23
Hometown – Cedar Springs, MI
Series – Outlaw Super Late Models
Dakota Carlson is not only a strong competitor on the racetrack, but the Michigan State University student is pretty good in the classroom, as well. Carlson has been getting it done in his Outlaw Super Late Model over the past few seasons, earning the win in the first Great Lakes Outlaw Series race. He finished fourth in Great Lakes points in 2010 and is a past winner of such big Outlaw shows as the Firecracker 150 at Auto City (MI) and the East Vs. West Shootout at Dixie (MI).
Pros: Has won some big shows in the past and isn’t afraid to mix it up on the track. Has worked with Johnny Benson, Sr. in Michigan, so he knows how to make cars go fast.
Cons: A tad on the pudgy side. Admitted in an article last year that he thinks he’s too old to make it to the next level at just 23, so maybe he’s okay with being a short track ace in the future.
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