WAYCROSS, GA (April 11, 2013) – The Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series is pleased to announce the talented group of young drivers that have officially declared to compete for the series Rookie of the Year title in 2013. This year’s group of drivers includes two racers from the state of Illinois and another young gun out of the state of Arkansas. This group of racers not only has the talent to compete for the coveted JRi Shocks Rookie of the Year – presented by Dunn-Benson Ford, but could also contend for the series national points championship while becoming the next stars of the sport.
The 16-year-old driving sensation Bobby Pierce, the son of the legendary Bob Pierce, will be piloting the #32 Pierce Race Cars House Car as he competes for the JRi Shocks RoY- presented by Dunn Benson Ford in 2013. “Little Bobby”, from Oakwood, IL has already won three (3) RED BUCK Fast Time awards in 2013. He leads the RED BUCK Fast Time points category among all drivers and sits fourth (4th) in the LOLMDS national points standings. Bobby is currently leading the JRi Shocks Rookie of the Year – presented by Dunn-Benson Ford points standings after eight (8) events in 2013.
“We feel like winning the JRi Shocks Rookie of the Year title would not only be a great honor, but would be an outstanding feat for our team. We’ll be competing against two other extremely talented drivers for the Rookie title and will be racing against the toughest group of drivers in the nation all season. We just hope that we can make it happen on a great series like this”, stated Bobby Pierce. Bobby Pierce just recently was named the winner of the Champion Spark Plug “Search for a Champion” contest and earned a nice sponsorship package from Champion Spark Plugs for 2013. His sponsors include Pierce Race Cars, Pro Power Racing Engines, Champion Spark Plugs, Pierce Posse, Petersen Aluminum, and American Metal Supply Company. To learn more about Bobby Pierce, visit his official website at: www.bobbypierceracing.com.
Another second generation driver of a legendary hall of famer will be competing for the JRi Shocks RoY – presented by Dunn Benson Ford title in 2013. 25-year-old Billy Moyer Jr. out of Batesville and driver of the #21jr hopes to use the vast knowledge and experience from a storied career of his father, Billy Moyer, to compete on the LOLMDS full time in 2013. Moyer Jr. will also be competing for the RoY title and looks to mix it up against the toughest competition anywhere in the country in all series events. Moyer Jr. has accumulated 24 super late model wins over his young career and is excited to be running for the RoY title on the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series in 2013.
“I’m excited to run for the RoY on the LOLMDS in 2013. My goal is to get one series feature win and hopefully win the Rookie title. To be able to race against this level of talent and compete on the LOLMDS week-in and week-out, will make me a better racer and improve my overall program. This is a great series and we’re looking forward to traveling to a lot of new places in 2013”, stated Billy Moyer Jr. Billy sits 11th in the LOLMDS national points standings and is currently second in the JRI Shocks Rookie of the Year – presented by Dunn-Benson Ford points standings. Billy Moyer Jr.s’ 2013 sponsors include: Victory Circle M1 Chassis by Moyer, Pro Power Racing Engine, Sparks Motorsports, Henderson Motorsports, NXS Powerline, Imperial Motors, Banner Valley Hauling, Carcityinc.com, Crop Production Services, Red Line Oil, and Performance Bodies. To learn more about Billy, visit his official website at www.billymoyerjr.com.
Another young up-and-coming talented driver out of the state of Illinois will be competing full time on the LOLMDS in 2013 and has entered the chase for the JRi Shocks RoY – presented by Dunn Benson Ford title as well. Jason McBride – 27 years old, out of Carbondale, IL will pilot the #77 Victory Circle M1 Chassis by Moyer on the LOLMDS in 2013, in hopes of earning the coveted RoY title. McBride, owner of his own successful trucking company, has 7 wins in his super late model career and will be looking to contend for some wins on the tour while battling the talented 2013 rookie class.
“We feel like this is the best opportunity for us to compete on a national tour, given all the options. It was simple to choose the Lucas Oil tour because of their professionalism, contingencies, and other programs that they offer to us racers. It’s going to be tough to run against the best [drivers] in the country every week, but it’s going to be a lot of fun to race at all the new tracks this season”, stated Jason McBride. Jason and his entire team bring a great level of professionalism and organization that will represent the LOLMDS very well all season long. Jason currently sits fourteenth (14th) in the LOLMDS national points standings and third (3rd) in the JRi Shocks RoY- presented by Dunn Benson Ford points standings. Jason’s sponsors for 2013 include Orthopaedic Institute of Southern Illinois, Best One Tire & Auto Care, Allstar Performance, and McBride Mack. To learn more about Jason and his race team visit his official website at www.jasonmcbride.com.
The driver that wins the rookie of the year honors in 2013 will earn a cool $10,000 in cash and a complete set of JRi Shocks valued at over $3,500 at the year-end awards banquet. The rookie of the year runner-up will take home $2,500 in cash and numerous product awards for his efforts as well. Associate sponsors of the RoY program in 2013 that will be awarding several product awards also include: Performance Bodies, Eibach Springs, Fast Shafts, Weld Wheels, AR Bodies, C&R Racing Inc., HAWK Performance, FK Rod Ends, Fuel Safe, SWEET Mfg and Wrisco Aluminum.
JRi Shocks, based in Mooresville, NC and title sponsor of the Rookie of the Year program in 2013 has increased their involvement drastically in dirt late model racing over the past four years to establish a foot print in the industry. Brannon Earnest is the short track specialist for the company and instrumental in gaining a bigger market share of the dirt late model industry. Racers using JRi Shocks have won some of the biggest dirt late model events in the country last year along with helping Jonathan Davenport win the 2012 Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Rookie of the Year title. To learn more about JRi Shocks visit their website at www.jrishocks.com.
Dunn-Benson Ford based in Dunn, NC has signed on as the associate sponsor of the RoY program along with providing the “Official Pace Vehicle” for the series in 2013. Carlton and Kemp Lamm, owners of the popular Ford dealership have been involved in the late model industry for many years. Carlton and Kemp Lamm have fielded racecars for numerous well-known drivers, as well as some young up-and-coming drivers in the sport. They have sponsored race teams, drivers, race tracks, racing series and even won the sport’s biggest event – the World 100 in 2006 at Eldora Speedway with driver Earl Pearson Jr. Carlton and Kemp have since retired as team owners several years ago, but wanted to stay involved in the sport on some level and partnering with the LOLMDS was a great fit for their company. To learn more about Dunn-Benson Ford visit their website at www.dunnbensonford.com.