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JUSTIN WAKEFIELD ENTERS THE NASCAR
KODAK SOUTHEAST SERIES FOR THE 2003 SEASON
Woodstock, GA - 4/22 - Young driving sensation, Justin Wakefield is taking a
step closer to realizing his motorsports dream this season by competing full
time on the NASCAR sanctioned Kodak Southeastern Series. Wakefield, a resident
of Woodstock, GA will be turning laps in his #98 Ford Taurus owned by Jake
Carswell, also of Woodstock, GA. The team will run under the banner, Carswell
Motorsports with the team being based out of former NASCAR Winston Cup driver
and multi-time former NASCAR All Pro Series champion, Jody Ridley’s shop in
Dalton, GA. Ridley will play a consulting role with the team throughout the
season.
Justin’s first event will be this weekend (April 26) at Greenville – Pickens
Speedway in Greenville, SC, which will also be televised on the Fox Sports
network. Wakefield’s first effort in the Kodak Southeast Series will be under
the eye of Jody Ridley, who will play the role of crew chief for Wakefield’s
first event. Ridley has a long impressive history in auto racing with a victory
in the NASCAR Winston Cup Series for legendary car owner, Juney Donleavy.
Ridley’s win came at the monster mile of Dover Downs International Speedway
with the win being the only victory Donleavy has a car owner in his lengthy and
historic Winston Cup Series career.
Wakefield and crew will criss-cross the southeast this season taking the young
driver to tracks such as Nashville SuperSpeedway (June 6, 2003), which will also
be televised on Fox Sports and to Kentucky Speedway in Whiteville, KY (June 26,
2003). This will be Wakefield’s first season on asphalt as Justin competed
last season in the regional ranks of the super dirt late model division.
Wakefield will also be competing for the Victory Circle Chassis “Rookie of the
Year” honors in the Kodak Southeast Series with the top rookie at the end of
the season earning $5,000.
“I am very excited about the opportunity that Jake Carswell has given me this
year,” comments Wakefield. “There will certainly be a transition from last
year on dirt to this year on asphalt. Right now, we have two goals in mine. One
is to run in the top-15 every event, and the second is basically for me to gain
valuable asphalt seat time,” concludes Justin.
Justin began racing in the support classes at Dixie, near Atlanta, and Rome (GA)
Speedway during his teen years and proven himself to be one of the up and coming
driving forces coming out of Georgia by capturing several victories including a
division championship in the 2000 season. Wakefield’s motorsports aspirations
are to eventfully compete at the zenith of stock car racing, the NASCAR Winston
Cup Series.
“Growing up, I loved watching the late Dale Earnhardt race, and when I found
out that I could make a living racing cars, I knew then that all I wanted to do
was race,” states Wakefield. “Racing this season in the Kodak series will
give me that opportunity to build towards my goal in Motorsports. I can not
thank enough Jake Carswell, my family, and all those who have supported me
throughout the past few years,” concludes Wakefield.
Last season, Justin officially began his professional auto racing career by
competing in the super dirt late model division near home at Dixie Speedway and
other tracks in neighboring states across the southeast. Wakefield picked up his
first major win of the season at Rome Speedway (Rome, GA) by leading flag to
flag and outrunning some of the top national stars in dirt late model racing.
Justin also produced a stellar run at Dixie Speedway for the former United Dirt
Track Racing Association (now known as the Xtreme Dirt Car Series) sanctioned
50-lap event by placing 8th in his first-ever appearance on the nationally
touring series. Justin concluded the season with an overall 10 top-10 finishes.
“I had a good time last season running at Dixie and Rome Speedway,”
states Justin. I will be at Dixie a lot this season when I am not racing in the
NASCAR Kodak series, and I am hoping that I will be able to turn some laps and
race a few times,” concluded Justin.
For more information on Justin Wakefield, please visit his official website
at www.justinwakefield.com
Media Contact and Source: Brandon McCullers/Victory Lane Communications, Inc.
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