Two Race Cars and Several Divisions Equals Thousands of Laps in 2013
Grand Rapids, Michigan (Friday, April 5th, 2013): Most 11 year olds are busy with school and after school activities such as sports or coming home to play video games. Christopher Joyce is not like most 11 year olds as the Grand Rapids, Michigan pre-teen is getting ready for his third season of stock car racing in a full-sized racecar and the 2013 racing season is going to be a busy one to say the least with running both a Front Wheel Drive and a Rear Wheel Drive Four-Cylinder in several divisions and at several different tracks.
The first race of the 2013 campaign begins for Joyce on Saturday, April 13th at the 3/8s (0.375) mile semi-banked dirt oval of Winston Speedway, located north of Muskegon in Rothbury, Michigan for their 2013 Season Opener / Prelude to the Player Hater. Joyce and crew will return to Winston on Friday, April 26th as the track moves to its regular slot on Friday nights for the remainder of the season after the Player Hater 50 on April 20th.
“I'm excited about this season trying multiple tracks with multiple cars.” The excited youngster stated as he and his Joyce Racing Team continue preparations for the upcoming season. "I'm hoping to finish better this year and to just keep turning laps, gaining experience and getting better. I really want to thank my fans and sponsors for their support each year. I’m ready to get back into the #20 and for this season to begin. I’m looking forward to learning new things as I've been given a great opportunity and hope to make the best of it." He added.
In addition to competing at Winston full-time in 2013, Joyce will also make a run for the Track Championship at his home track of I-96 Speedway in Lake Odessa, Michigan in the tracks’ UMP Sport Compacts division. Also on off weekends from Winston and I-96, Joyce also looks to compete at several other area tracks including Mid-Michigan Raceway Park in Muir, Michigan as well as Orleans Raceway in Belding, Michigan. Plus, and for the first time in his career, he’ll head over to the pavement and race at Springport Motor Speedway in that tracks’ Sport Stocks division a couple of times this year.
After starting his career in Go-Karts at just five years old where he became a Three-Time Champion. He also finished second in the Go=Karting Nationals in 2010, Joyce made the bold move to full-size stock cars at just nine years old in 2011 and competed at I-96 Speedway in the UMP Sport Compacts division. In his Rookie season he was impressive to say the least by finishing Seventh Overall in points and he was the Rookie of the Year Runner-Up in the tracks 17 & Under Freshman title chase while turning 10 years old during the season.
His second year was even more impressive as he ventured away from I-96 for the first time and became the Youngest Feature Winner in Winston Speedway History when he took the checkered flag in the Young Guns division at the Rothbury, Michigan speed plant on June 8th, 2012 just a couple of weeks after his 11th birthday. Back at I-96, he improved one position overall from his rookie year by finishing in Sixth Place in points in the UMP Sport Compacts division with Three Top Five finishes with a season high of a Fourth Place during the season.
For the 2013 racing season, the widely popular lime green #20 Joyce Racing / Ford Escort as well as the new #20 Joyce Racing / Ford Pinto will carry sponsorship stickers on the side of each car from Busbee’s Auto Repair as well as Coopersville Oil Change, NAPA, Horvath Graphics & Design, and M.P.H. Promotions.
For more information about 11-year-old driving sensation, Christopher Joyce and to inquire about additional sponsorship opportunities for the upcoming race season, please call: (616) 644-3120. Also for more information about his Joyce Racing Teammate, Billy Eppink, who will compete full-time on the pavement at Berlin Raceway in Marne, Michigan in the tracks Open-Wheeled Modified and Vintage Racing Organization of America (VROA) Modified divisions in 2013 beginning on Saturday, April 20th, log onto the new and still a work in progress website located at: www.joyce-racing.com You can also log on at the teams Facebook Fan Page located at: www.facebook.com and search “Joyce Racing” and on Twitter as well at: www.twitter.com/JoyceRacing
Friday, April 5, 2013
Thursday, April 4, 2013
KBR Development Heads To Nashville For Inaugural Southern Super Series Race With Brian Campbell
Aggressive 2013 Schedule for Michigan
Veteran (Special from KBR Development)
Grand Rapids, MI (April 4, 2013) – Brian Campbell is one of the most accomplished drivers in the country and has proven that time and time again with over 40 major career victories at tracks such as Bristol Motor Speedway, Lucas Oil Raceway, Toledo Speedway and many more. Whenever his home track of Berlin Raceway in Marne, Michigan has an event that the 34-year-old enters, he is automatically the one to beat.
Grand Rapids, MI (April 4, 2013) – Brian Campbell is one of the most accomplished drivers in the country and has proven that time and time again with over 40 major career victories at tracks such as Bristol Motor Speedway, Lucas Oil Raceway, Toledo Speedway and many more. Whenever his home track of Berlin Raceway in Marne, Michigan has an event that the 34-year-old enters, he is automatically the one to beat.
To learn more about Brian Campbell as well as KBR Development Teammate,
Wes Griffith Jr., who will make a run at the 2013 JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour
Presented by Chevrolet Performance Championship starting on Sunday, April 28th
at Springport Motor Speedway in Springport, Michigan in the running of the
Cabin Fever 100 Presented by JEGS.com, go to the KBR website located at: www.teamkbr.com
You can also log onto the teams’ Facebook Fan Page at: www.facebook.com/teamkbr and on the team
Twitter Page as well at: www.twitter.com/teamkbr
Wednesday, March 27, 2013
8-year-old Chase Burda Scores “Hat Trick” With Three Feature Wins To Close Out Inaugural Winter Racing Season
8-year-old Chase Burda Scores “Hat Trick” With Three Feature Wins To Close Out Inaugural Winter Racing Season
Midwest Indoor Racing Series end 2012/2013 Winter Campaign on a high note
Birch Run, Michigan (Saturday, March 23rd, 2013): The 2012 / 2013 Winter Racing Season ended on a high note for the Midwest Indoor Racing Series on Saturday, March 23rd at the Birch Run Expo Center in Birch Run, Michigan as the Inaugural campaign for the Eaton Rapids, Michigan based series come to a close with 107 teams in the building and another packed house in the grandstands.
The highlight of the evening was the driving display by 8-year-old Chase Burda who would complete the rare “Hat Trick” by winning three Features in one night! The Columbiaville, Michigan youngster took his first checkered flag in the Outlaw Shock Company Quarter Midgets Junior Honda Feature and then followed that up with the Win in the Outlaw Shock Company Quarter Midgets Light 160 Feature.
The driver of the #18 Rob’s Service entries then completed the rare feat in dramatic fashion in the Outlaw Shock Company Quarter Midgets Junior Animal / Senior Animal / Heavy Honda Combined Feature when he made the pass for the Victory going into turns three and four on the checkered flag lap to cross the start/finish line first in front of the crowd who was on their feet at that point. The young man received a standing ovation for his efforts.
What made the accomplishment even more impressive was the fact that Burda also swept all three Qualifier Heat Races in the three divisions he competed in to go a perfect six for six on the weekend.
In the remaining two Outlaw Shock Company Quarter Midget divisions that Burda was not entered in, the Senior Honda Feature would see 10-year-old young lady, Corey Smith take the checkered flag first in her #8 Rusty Schlenk Racecars Quarter Midget. In the Qualifier Heat Race, Jerry Osterhouse would be the driver visiting victory lane as he picked up that win.
Finally in the Outlaw Shock Company Quarter Midgets Heavy 160 Feature, 14-year-old Renton Joling enjoyed a banner night himself as the Wyoming, Michigan teenager in his #0 Tri-State Car Collector Appraisals machine would walk away with the Feature Win, his seventh overall of the Inaugural MIRS Winter Racing Season, tying him with Burda with the most Overall Feature Wins this Winter. He also collected the Qualifier Heat Race win as well.
In the headlining divisions of John Belott & Sons Auto Purchasing Winged Mini Sprints and Non-Winged Mini Sprints action, Tim Neal wrapped up the season in the last Feature of the night by steering his #19 Dunigan Motorsports machine to victory in the Winged Mini Sprints 50-Lap Feature. The Ypsilanti, Michigan driver held off a hard-charging Larry Sroufe for all 50 laps to secure the Win, his third of the season in MIRS competition. Sroufe was the Fast Qualifier with a 6.688 while Neal won the Dash and Mark Zumbrun picked up the win in the Qualifier Heat Race.
In the John Belott & Sons Auto Purchasing Non-Winged Mini Sprints Feature, Sroufe didn’t head back home to Larwill, Indiana empty-handed as he would put his #21 Sroufe’s Garage mini sprint in victory lane at the end of the 35-Lap Feature. He also set Fast Time with a 6.844 while in a role reversal of the Winged Mini Sprints; Zumbrun won the Dash while Neal picked up the Qualifier Heat Race accolades.
The Arena / Mini Cup Cars would see hometown favorite from near-by Bridgeport, Michigan, Scott Quaal collect his third MIRS Feature Win of the 2012/2013 Winter Racing Season in his #1 K-R Metal Engineering / Chevrolet as he also made a clean sweep of the entire evening as he also was the Fast Qualifier with a lap measured at a 7.661, which was a new MIRS Track Record at the Birch Run Expo Center. He also scored the Win in the Qualifier Heat Race.
18-year-old Parker Hencak, in his first ever race of any kind in any race car, led the first 18 laps of the 30-lap Legends / Dwarf Cars Feature before Dave Wylie overtook him and from there, the Howell, Michigan driver in his #28 Wylie Soft Water / Chevrolet would hold off Hencak to collect the Feature triumph. Hencak’s night was nearly perfect though as in addition to finishing second in the feature, he also picked up his first ever win in his first ever race when he won the Qualifier Heat race.
The Great Lakes Tire Go-Karts Open division would see Aaron Morrison put an end to Taylor Tabaszewski’s three-race winning streak as the Westland, Michigan pilot in his #24 Morrison Motorsports machine withstood several challenges from Tabaszewski to pick up his first ever MIRS Feature Win. Tabaszewski won the Fast Qualifier Award earlier in the day with a 6.701 while Morrison won both the Qualifier Heat Race and the Australian Pursuit.
In the Great Lakes Tire Go-Karts 360 Flat Heads / Animals / Clones Combined Feature, Lorain, Ohio veteran, Charlie Schultz, a regular during the regular season in the MSA Super Modifieds Tour and in an Outlaw Super Late Model in the Main Event Racing Series, pulled out his Go-Kart once again and would drive his #9 Ice Oil Company kart into victory lane for the second time in a row dating back to the last MIRS event at the Delta Plex Arena in Grand Rapids, Michigan back on February 2nd. 16-year-old Nate Randall, Cody Jarrett, Schultz and Mike Schmidt all collected Qualifier Heat Race victories.
A relatively new division to MIRS, the Great Lakes Tire Go-Karts Caged Kart Feature saw a new winner as Bellevue, Michigan competitor, Brad Feuerstein would pick up the victory in their main event of the evening as he edged out Qualifier Heat Race victor, Cap Henry to score the checkered flag. MIRS is looking to make this class a permanent division for the 2013 / 2014 Winter Racing Season.
As for the Great Lakes Tire Go-Karts Gold Plate division, 13-year-old Anthony Deming would score his first MIRS Feature Win of the Inaugural season as the Bayport, Michigan youngster in his #77 Superior Tree Service machine, who has been to every MIRS event during the series’ first season, was able to put it all together on the final night to secure the win. In the Qualifier Heat Races, another 13-year-old, Matthew Jacot swept both events leading into the main event of the evening.
The beginners division within the Great Lakes Tire Go-Karts, the Purple Plate division would witness 13-year-old Hunter Doutre end the first season within MIRS with his second consecutive Feature Win to go with his triumph back on February 2nd at the Delta Plex Arena in Grand Rapids, Michigan as the driver of the #73 Outdoor Adventures R.V. Resorts Kart fought off ferocious challenges from 9-year-old Samuel Crawford and 11-year-old Victorya Truemner to get the job done. Doutre also won a Qualifier Heat Race and so did Crawford.
The Lawn Mowers once again brought three divisions to race and in the headlining Super Modifieds division, Jeff Diebel would put it all together to score his first MIRS Feature Win aboard his #96 Diebel Racing grass cutter as he held off Martin Sturm, who finished second and was the Fast Qualifier from earlier in the afternoon with a lap measured at an 8.613 and he also scored the Qualifier Heat Race win.
In the Lawn Mowers Modifieds Feature event, Sumner, Michigan driver, Brian Gager backed up his Feature Win in his first ever MIRS appearance at the Delta Plex Arena in Grand Rapids, Michigan back on February 2nd by walking away with his second straight victory in dominating fashion. Gager was also the Fast Qualifier with an 8.869 and he also won the Qualifier Heat Race for a clean sweep of the entire night.
Lastly in the Lawn Mowers Stocks division, Ralph Brackenberry, a regular in the Engine Pro Sprints on Dirt Series, made the most of his first ever MIRS appearance as the Pigeon, Michigan veteran in his #2 R-Ra Repair Lawn Mower scored the Feature victory in a wild event that saw three separate roll overs. Jayson Mikula set a New Track Record in the class with a 9.014 and also won the Qualifier Heat Race.
Midwest Indoor Racing Series end 2012/2013 Winter Campaign on a high note
Birch Run, Michigan (Saturday, March 23rd, 2013): The 2012 / 2013 Winter Racing Season ended on a high note for the Midwest Indoor Racing Series on Saturday, March 23rd at the Birch Run Expo Center in Birch Run, Michigan as the Inaugural campaign for the Eaton Rapids, Michigan based series come to a close with 107 teams in the building and another packed house in the grandstands.
The highlight of the evening was the driving display by 8-year-old Chase Burda who would complete the rare “Hat Trick” by winning three Features in one night! The Columbiaville, Michigan youngster took his first checkered flag in the Outlaw Shock Company Quarter Midgets Junior Honda Feature and then followed that up with the Win in the Outlaw Shock Company Quarter Midgets Light 160 Feature.
The driver of the #18 Rob’s Service entries then completed the rare feat in dramatic fashion in the Outlaw Shock Company Quarter Midgets Junior Animal / Senior Animal / Heavy Honda Combined Feature when he made the pass for the Victory going into turns three and four on the checkered flag lap to cross the start/finish line first in front of the crowd who was on their feet at that point. The young man received a standing ovation for his efforts.
What made the accomplishment even more impressive was the fact that Burda also swept all three Qualifier Heat Races in the three divisions he competed in to go a perfect six for six on the weekend.
In the remaining two Outlaw Shock Company Quarter Midget divisions that Burda was not entered in, the Senior Honda Feature would see 10-year-old young lady, Corey Smith take the checkered flag first in her #8 Rusty Schlenk Racecars Quarter Midget. In the Qualifier Heat Race, Jerry Osterhouse would be the driver visiting victory lane as he picked up that win.
Finally in the Outlaw Shock Company Quarter Midgets Heavy 160 Feature, 14-year-old Renton Joling enjoyed a banner night himself as the Wyoming, Michigan teenager in his #0 Tri-State Car Collector Appraisals machine would walk away with the Feature Win, his seventh overall of the Inaugural MIRS Winter Racing Season, tying him with Burda with the most Overall Feature Wins this Winter. He also collected the Qualifier Heat Race win as well.
In the headlining divisions of John Belott & Sons Auto Purchasing Winged Mini Sprints and Non-Winged Mini Sprints action, Tim Neal wrapped up the season in the last Feature of the night by steering his #19 Dunigan Motorsports machine to victory in the Winged Mini Sprints 50-Lap Feature. The Ypsilanti, Michigan driver held off a hard-charging Larry Sroufe for all 50 laps to secure the Win, his third of the season in MIRS competition. Sroufe was the Fast Qualifier with a 6.688 while Neal won the Dash and Mark Zumbrun picked up the win in the Qualifier Heat Race.
In the John Belott & Sons Auto Purchasing Non-Winged Mini Sprints Feature, Sroufe didn’t head back home to Larwill, Indiana empty-handed as he would put his #21 Sroufe’s Garage mini sprint in victory lane at the end of the 35-Lap Feature. He also set Fast Time with a 6.844 while in a role reversal of the Winged Mini Sprints; Zumbrun won the Dash while Neal picked up the Qualifier Heat Race accolades.
The Arena / Mini Cup Cars would see hometown favorite from near-by Bridgeport, Michigan, Scott Quaal collect his third MIRS Feature Win of the 2012/2013 Winter Racing Season in his #1 K-R Metal Engineering / Chevrolet as he also made a clean sweep of the entire evening as he also was the Fast Qualifier with a lap measured at a 7.661, which was a new MIRS Track Record at the Birch Run Expo Center. He also scored the Win in the Qualifier Heat Race.
18-year-old Parker Hencak, in his first ever race of any kind in any race car, led the first 18 laps of the 30-lap Legends / Dwarf Cars Feature before Dave Wylie overtook him and from there, the Howell, Michigan driver in his #28 Wylie Soft Water / Chevrolet would hold off Hencak to collect the Feature triumph. Hencak’s night was nearly perfect though as in addition to finishing second in the feature, he also picked up his first ever win in his first ever race when he won the Qualifier Heat race.
The Great Lakes Tire Go-Karts Open division would see Aaron Morrison put an end to Taylor Tabaszewski’s three-race winning streak as the Westland, Michigan pilot in his #24 Morrison Motorsports machine withstood several challenges from Tabaszewski to pick up his first ever MIRS Feature Win. Tabaszewski won the Fast Qualifier Award earlier in the day with a 6.701 while Morrison won both the Qualifier Heat Race and the Australian Pursuit.
In the Great Lakes Tire Go-Karts 360 Flat Heads / Animals / Clones Combined Feature, Lorain, Ohio veteran, Charlie Schultz, a regular during the regular season in the MSA Super Modifieds Tour and in an Outlaw Super Late Model in the Main Event Racing Series, pulled out his Go-Kart once again and would drive his #9 Ice Oil Company kart into victory lane for the second time in a row dating back to the last MIRS event at the Delta Plex Arena in Grand Rapids, Michigan back on February 2nd. 16-year-old Nate Randall, Cody Jarrett, Schultz and Mike Schmidt all collected Qualifier Heat Race victories.
A relatively new division to MIRS, the Great Lakes Tire Go-Karts Caged Kart Feature saw a new winner as Bellevue, Michigan competitor, Brad Feuerstein would pick up the victory in their main event of the evening as he edged out Qualifier Heat Race victor, Cap Henry to score the checkered flag. MIRS is looking to make this class a permanent division for the 2013 / 2014 Winter Racing Season.
As for the Great Lakes Tire Go-Karts Gold Plate division, 13-year-old Anthony Deming would score his first MIRS Feature Win of the Inaugural season as the Bayport, Michigan youngster in his #77 Superior Tree Service machine, who has been to every MIRS event during the series’ first season, was able to put it all together on the final night to secure the win. In the Qualifier Heat Races, another 13-year-old, Matthew Jacot swept both events leading into the main event of the evening.
The beginners division within the Great Lakes Tire Go-Karts, the Purple Plate division would witness 13-year-old Hunter Doutre end the first season within MIRS with his second consecutive Feature Win to go with his triumph back on February 2nd at the Delta Plex Arena in Grand Rapids, Michigan as the driver of the #73 Outdoor Adventures R.V. Resorts Kart fought off ferocious challenges from 9-year-old Samuel Crawford and 11-year-old Victorya Truemner to get the job done. Doutre also won a Qualifier Heat Race and so did Crawford.
The Lawn Mowers once again brought three divisions to race and in the headlining Super Modifieds division, Jeff Diebel would put it all together to score his first MIRS Feature Win aboard his #96 Diebel Racing grass cutter as he held off Martin Sturm, who finished second and was the Fast Qualifier from earlier in the afternoon with a lap measured at an 8.613 and he also scored the Qualifier Heat Race win.
In the Lawn Mowers Modifieds Feature event, Sumner, Michigan driver, Brian Gager backed up his Feature Win in his first ever MIRS appearance at the Delta Plex Arena in Grand Rapids, Michigan back on February 2nd by walking away with his second straight victory in dominating fashion. Gager was also the Fast Qualifier with an 8.869 and he also won the Qualifier Heat Race for a clean sweep of the entire night.
Lastly in the Lawn Mowers Stocks division, Ralph Brackenberry, a regular in the Engine Pro Sprints on Dirt Series, made the most of his first ever MIRS appearance as the Pigeon, Michigan veteran in his #2 R-Ra Repair Lawn Mower scored the Feature victory in a wild event that saw three separate roll overs. Jayson Mikula set a New Track Record in the class with a 9.014 and also won the Qualifier Heat Race.
------------------------------
The entire management and staff of the Midwest Indoor Racing Series and MGM Motorsports would to Thank everyone who was a part of the Inaugural Winter Racing Season; the Fans as well as the Crew, Drivers, Host Facilities and especially the Officials for making the 2012 / 2013 season such a rousing success and we look forward to an even bigger and better second season in 2013 / 2014 beginning the last weekend of October at Perani Arena & Events Center in Flint, Michigan.
More events are slated to be added over the spring and summer months as well as into the fall leading up to the 2013 / 2014 Winter Racing Season Opener. Tentatively, an eight-race schedule is planned for Late October 2013 to Late March 2014.
MGM Motorsports LLC, is based out of Eaton Rapids, Michigan and features MIRS sanctioned short track racing inside sports arenas throughout the Midwestern United States. For more information, please call Jack Gritter at: 1 (616) 813-5965 / Scott Menlen at: 1 (586) 201-0378 or Scott Mathews at: 1 (313) 909-4270.
To learn more about the Midwest Indoor Racing Series and to inquire about the 2013/2014 Winter Racing Season, please go to the website located at:www.midwestindoorracingseries.
The entire management and staff of the Midwest Indoor Racing Series and MGM Motorsports would to Thank everyone who was a part of the Inaugural Winter Racing Season; the Fans as well as the Crew, Drivers, Host Facilities and especially the Officials for making the 2012 / 2013 season such a rousing success and we look forward to an even bigger and better second season in 2013 / 2014 beginning the last weekend of October at Perani Arena & Events Center in Flint, Michigan.
More events are slated to be added over the spring and summer months as well as into the fall leading up to the 2013 / 2014 Winter Racing Season Opener. Tentatively, an eight-race schedule is planned for Late October 2013 to Late March 2014.
MGM Motorsports LLC, is based out of Eaton Rapids, Michigan and features MIRS sanctioned short track racing inside sports arenas throughout the Midwestern United States. For more information, please call Jack Gritter at: 1 (616) 813-5965 / Scott Menlen at: 1 (586) 201-0378 or Scott Mathews at: 1 (313) 909-4270.
To learn more about the Midwest Indoor Racing Series and to inquire about the 2013/2014 Winter Racing Season, please go to the website located at:www.midwestindoorracingseries.
Sunday, March 17, 2013
Kyle Busch Motorsports Adds West Michigan Driver Erik Jones to His Driver Lineup
KBM Adds 16-Year-Old Jones To Driver Lineup
Already boasting three talented young drivers in its stable, Kyle Busch Motorsports (KBM) announced the addition of a fourth today, with the signing of 16-year-old Erik Jones. The 2013 Snowball Derby winner will make his NASCAR Camping World Truck Series debut driving the No. 51 Tundra in the Kroger 250 at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway April 6 as part of a five-race schedule for KBM this season.
Last March, Jones became the first 15-year-old driver ever to compete in the ARCA Racing Series, making his debut at the Mobile ARCA 200. Across 10 ARCA Racing Series starts in 2012, he posted four top-five and five top-10 finishes while leading 103 laps. The talented youngster qualified inside the top 10 for all 10 races and twice posted third-place finishes, June 24 at Winchester (Ind.) Speedway and Aug. 11 at Berlin Raceway in Marne, Mich.
The Michigan native made a name for himself last December when he raced side-by-side for several laps and eventually worked his way past KBM owner Kyle Busch in the closing laps to win the 45th Annual Snowball Derby at Five Flags Speedway in Pensacola, Fla. The victory came in a race widely recognized as the most prestigious late model event in the country, with a field which included NASCAR regulars Busch, David Ragan and Johanna Long along with up-and-coming second-generation drivers Chase Elliott, Ross Kenseth and John Hunter Nemechek.
"I've been around Erik a few times running late models -- he's a good kid and a good driver, so we're excited to be adding him to the crop of young talent we've assembled at KBM this season," Busch said. "He did a nice job practicing my late model at Nashville last year for the All-American 400 and then he raced me hard and clean in the closing laps of the Snowball Derby to win that race. Doing those types of things is how you get recognized in this sport."
"Kyle is a driver that I have always looked up to and have a lot of respect for, so to be able to make my Truck Series debut in one of his Tundras is something I would have never imagined," Jones said. "This is definitely the biggest opportunity of my career. I've always wanted to drive in NASCAR, so I am really looking forward to getting on the track in Martinsville in a few weeks and being able to evaluate where I stand against the great mix of veterans and young talent that the Truck Series offers."
The addition of Jones to a lineup of young drivers which already includes 19-year-old Darrell Wallace Jr. and Joey Coulter and Parker Kligerman, a pair of 22-year-olds, provides KBM with the crop of young talent that Busch has desired since becoming a NASCAR owner at the start of the 2010 season.
A rule change announced at the end of the 2011 season, allows 16 and 17-year-old drivers to compete in NASCAR Camping World Truck Series events on tracks that are 1.1-mile or less. In addition to his debut at Martinsville, Jones will drive the No. 51 Tundra at Rockingham (N.C.) Speedway April 14, both Iowa Speedway races (July 13 and Sept. 8) and one more race yet to be determined.
Already boasting three talented young drivers in its stable, Kyle Busch Motorsports (KBM) announced the addition of a fourth today, with the signing of 16-year-old Erik Jones. The 2013 Snowball Derby winner will make his NASCAR Camping World Truck Series debut driving the No. 51 Tundra in the Kroger 250 at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway April 6 as part of a five-race schedule for KBM this season.
Last March, Jones became the first 15-year-old driver ever to compete in the ARCA Racing Series, making his debut at the Mobile ARCA 200. Across 10 ARCA Racing Series starts in 2012, he posted four top-five and five top-10 finishes while leading 103 laps. The talented youngster qualified inside the top 10 for all 10 races and twice posted third-place finishes, June 24 at Winchester (Ind.) Speedway and Aug. 11 at Berlin Raceway in Marne, Mich.
The Michigan native made a name for himself last December when he raced side-by-side for several laps and eventually worked his way past KBM owner Kyle Busch in the closing laps to win the 45th Annual Snowball Derby at Five Flags Speedway in Pensacola, Fla. The victory came in a race widely recognized as the most prestigious late model event in the country, with a field which included NASCAR regulars Busch, David Ragan and Johanna Long along with up-and-coming second-generation drivers Chase Elliott, Ross Kenseth and John Hunter Nemechek.
"I've been around Erik a few times running late models -- he's a good kid and a good driver, so we're excited to be adding him to the crop of young talent we've assembled at KBM this season," Busch said. "He did a nice job practicing my late model at Nashville last year for the All-American 400 and then he raced me hard and clean in the closing laps of the Snowball Derby to win that race. Doing those types of things is how you get recognized in this sport."
"Kyle is a driver that I have always looked up to and have a lot of respect for, so to be able to make my Truck Series debut in one of his Tundras is something I would have never imagined," Jones said. "This is definitely the biggest opportunity of my career. I've always wanted to drive in NASCAR, so I am really looking forward to getting on the track in Martinsville in a few weeks and being able to evaluate where I stand against the great mix of veterans and young talent that the Truck Series offers."
The addition of Jones to a lineup of young drivers which already includes 19-year-old Darrell Wallace Jr. and Joey Coulter and Parker Kligerman, a pair of 22-year-olds, provides KBM with the crop of young talent that Busch has desired since becoming a NASCAR owner at the start of the 2010 season.
A rule change announced at the end of the 2011 season, allows 16 and 17-year-old drivers to compete in NASCAR Camping World Truck Series events on tracks that are 1.1-mile or less. In addition to his debut at Martinsville, Jones will drive the No. 51 Tundra at Rockingham (N.C.) Speedway April 14, both Iowa Speedway races (July 13 and Sept. 8) and one more race yet to be determined.
Tuesday, March 12, 2013
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