|
| Justin Larson’s Busy Late Model Season Kicks Off At New Smyrna | Team Rlease
Hundreds of drivers, from NASCAR’s biggest names to youngsters in the Legends car ranks, will travel to the Daytona, Florida, area to begin their 2007 racing seasons at tracks both large and small. Every single one of them hopes to give the season a good head start with strong showings during Florida Speedweeks, whether it be at the big track in Daytona or one of the many short tracks running during a two-week stretch in February.
But for 18-year-old Justin Larson, shining during Speedweeks at New Smyrna Speedway will do much more than kick off what he hopes will be an outstanding season of Limited Late Model racing in Florida and beyond. Running up front during the nine nights of racing during the history-laden Speedweeks event will show that his stellar 2006 season in the Goodyear Challenge Series was not just rookie luck, but a sign of Justin Larson being the latest in a line of next young talents to come out of the Sunshine State in recent years.
“I’m going into Speedweeks just focused on winning the championship,” said Larson. “I want to walk out of there with the title of World Series of Asphalt Racing champion. I know my team can do it and I know I can do it as a driver. It’s a very prestigious event, and it’s important because it’s just 15 minutes from Daytona, where all the Cup guys will be running. You never know who could be there watching. Plus there’s going to be a whole bunch of great drivers from other states coming down to Speedweeks that have been preparing for this for months, so they’ll be tough to beat.”
Larson is coming off a season in which he came from the karting world as an established and decorated star to one of the brightest prospects in Limited Late Model racing. In his rookie season in the Florida-based Goodyear Challenge Series, Larson excelled with numerous strong finishes and was in contention for the series’ Rookie of the Year title. With a season in the series under his belt, Larson is looking at Speedweeks as a chance to start the championship swagger that he hopes his team will carry throughout the 2007 season.
“If we can get a couple of wins under our belt and maybe even the Speedweeks championship, I think we’ll have a good head start on winning races and a championship in the Goodyear Challenge Series this year.”
There is plenty of excitement built around Larson’s 2007 season for the driver and team alike, but the entire Larson #88 organization is proud to have new sponsor Skinner Nurseries taking the journey with them during the entire new season.
“Any win and every good run is very important, but to start off the season with good runs will boost the confidence level for the whole team. Doing well there will also mean a lot because we’ll be out to impress the new primary sponsor, Skinner Nurseries. I want to show them what I can do and what this team can do.”
Racing for nine straight nights at New Smyrna will take a toll on any race team, but Larson knows that if he is going to be in contention for race wins and a championship, he is going to have to do everything he can on the track to put himself in the right positions. He and his team ran only a few nights during Speedweeks in 2006 and he learned what it is going to take to run up front for the entire Speedweeks schedule this year.
“Being my first year that we’re planning on running all nine nights, I think we just have to be consistent. I know I’m going to have to be on my tippy-toes to try and stay out of every wreck. I want to be up front consistently in every race. I can’t be afraid to get the car a little scratched up if I have to and fight to the finish every night.”
Speedweeks 2007 at New Smyrna Speedway kicks off February 9th and runs through the 17th. Larson kicks off his Goodyear Challenge Series season on March 10th at USA International Speedway (FL).
Have an opinion on
this story? Post a message on
our Message Board! or Email KARNACto send a letter to the editor!
|
