14-Year-Old Jake Griffin; Youngest Winner Ever In A NASCAR Sanctioned Event, Ready For Double-Duty At Winchester
Quincy, Illinois (August 29, 2013) – In addition to his run at the Howie Lettow Memorial Rookie of the Year title in the JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour Presented by Chevrolet Performance, 14-year-old Jake Griffin has been doing some racing with his UMP DIRTcar Modified as well as back on the pavement in NASCAR Whelen All-American Series competition in the Pro Late Models division at Lebanon I-44 Speedway in Lebanon, Missouri. All of the laps, gaining experience has paid off for the Quincy, Illinois teenager on August 17th.
Griffin brought home his first ever Late Model Feature Win at the 3/8s (0.375) mile semi-banked paved oval in the Show-Me State and became the youngest winner in NASCAR Whelen All-American Series history to do so. “Kevin Crider was able to come and crew chief on the car and it was really an awesome night. We ran a faster lap during the feature then we have ran all year at I-44. The car was hooked up,” The elated Prairie State driver stated. “I can’t thanks Kevin and the guys enough for the hard work they did, it was also NASCAR sanctioned event so that put the icing on the cake.”
Over the weekend of August 23-25th, Griffin went back to the dirt with a brand new car and continued to turn laps and gain more experience. Now it’s back to the Pavement for Griffin and he’ll get plenty of time on one of the most historic facilities in the country; the fast 1/2 (0.500) mile high-banked paved oval of Winchester Speedway in Winchester, Indiana on Sunday-Monday, September 1-2nd as he’ll compete in the World Stock Car Festival in both the JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour 100 lapper on Sunday and then the ARCA/CRA Super Series Powered by JEGS 100-lap main on Monday afternoon.
“We will have awesome teams on both of the JGR race cars, the Super and the Crate. On the Crate SNR (Scott Neal Racing) is going to be on it, which I’m really excited about because we had such a good run at Auto City just didn’t have the luck, I told the guys after that race that the car was the best it’s ever been.” He continued. “It could go where ever I put it at and it would stick. Just amazing, Scott had his car out to and I think both of us were the class of the field just didn’t catch any breaks.”
“After Lebanon and the win we had down there with Kevin helping out we decided to get the Super out for the first time since SpeedFest 2013 back in January with the ARCA/CRA Super Series with him crew chiefing it.” He added. “Kevin knows Winchester pretty well and his driver Chuck Barnes Jr. knows it really well to. So Kevin offered us Chuck to come help me out and be the driving coach and also crew on the car. Which is going to be a great experience to say the least. Winchester is definitely going to be really fun.” He ended.
Going into Winchester for the JEGS/CRA portion of the weekend, Griffin is second in the chase for the 2013 Howie Lettow Memorial Rookie of the Year title in JEGS/CRA as he sits 42 markers back of fellow freshman Corey Deuser. In addition, Griffin is also an impressive sixth place overall in the season long points chase, only eight points out of the coveted top five. So far in nine JEGS/CRA events, Griffin has one top five finish, which was a podium showing of third at Salem Speedway in Salem, Indiana back on June 22nd. He also has four top 10 finishes as well.
For the rest of the 2013 racing season, Griffin’s fleet of machines, whether it’s the JEGS/CRA car, the ARCA/CRA entry or the UMP DIRTcar Modified will carry the #08 and sponsorship decals from Sun Drop Soda as well as Phantom Racing Gear, Central Metals Recycling, McPikes Pawn Shop, McGunegill Engine Performance, Powdercoat Plus, Green Smart Builders, Microtel Inns and Suites, Big Muddy Towing and Recovery and M.P.H. Promotions
For more information about Jake Griffin and Jake Griffin Racing’s remaining 2013 racing schedule and to also inquire about additional sponsorship opportunities for the rest of the 2013 campaign, log on to the teams’ website at: www.jakegriffin.net You can also follow Jake Griffin Racing on Facebook by going to: www.facebook.com/jake.griffinracing and on Twitter at: www.twitter.com/jakegriffin08
Category: Driver Updates, Jake Griffin
