When the green flag waves over the Jet Tools 150 at New Smyrna (Fla.) Speedway for the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East (NKNPSE) season opener, three new drivers will join Justin Haley behind the wheel of HScott Motorsports with Justin Marks (HSMJM) race cars. Harrison Burton in the No. 12 DEX Imaging Toyota Camry, Hunter Baize in the No. 13 Bicycle Playing Cards/Pine Mountain Firelogs/Jones Group Chevrolet SS, and Tyler Dippel in the No. 38 EastWest Marine/TyCar Chevrolet SS will join Haley in the Braun Auto No. 5 Chevrolet SS.
HSMJM’s returning driver, Haley, enters the Jet Tool 150 coming off of a successful rookie campaign in the NKNPSE last year. The 16-year-old Indiana native finished sixth in points last season, scoring 10 top-10s and six top-five finishes. In addition to his bid for the 2016 NKNPSE title, Haley will make several select starts in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) this season.
Haley: “I’m ready to get back to the track this year, especially coming off the year we had in 2015. The HScott Motorsports with Justin Marks guys gave me great handling cars all season and I know they will this year, too. Hopefully luck will be on our side and we can take care of business on the race track, win some races and go for the championship.”
Burton enters his rookie season with the support and guidance of his father, 21-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series winner and NBC analyst, Jeff Burton. The 15-year-old North Carolina resident has been racing a late model on pavement tracks across the country in recent years, and most recently scored a runner-up finish in Speedfest at Crisp Motorsports Park in Cordele, Ga., last weekend.
Burton: “I’m pretty excited to kick-off the season with HScott Motorsports with Justin Marks. This team has had a ton of success in the past and I hope to add my name to some of those wins in their record books.”
Baize enters his NKNPSE rookie year following his most successful season racing season to date. The 18-year-old Kentucky native won two events and finished third in the ARCA/CRA Super Series point standings last season. In addition to competing in late models, Baize also made two ARCA Racing Series starts, where he earned two top-10 finishes.
Baize: “I can’t wait to get my Bicycle Playing Cards/Pine Mountain Firelogs Chevy on track at New Smyrna. The guys at HScott Motorsports with Justin Marks have worked hard on the cars over the off season and I hope I can give back to them and get a good run down there.”
Dippel, a Walkhill, New York native and a standout driver on dirt tracks, will make the transition to NKNPSE competition this season. The 15-year-old driver made three ARCA Racing Series starts last season with a best finish of fourth at Salem (Ind.) Speedway. In addition to his duties behind the wheel of the No. 38 EastWest Marine/TyCar Chevrolet SS, Dippel will continue to race for TyCar Motorsports in both big block modified dirt and pavement late model competition this season.
Dippel: “It’s nice to be starting the season and my career with HScott Motorsports with Justin Marks at New Smyrna, where I have some laps under my belt. I’m hoping the experience I have at the track will help me give good feedback to the team and we can have a good run right out of the gate.”
The Jet Tools 150 is the first of 14 races in the season-long chase for the NKNPSE championship, an award HSMJM has earned the past three consecutive seasons. The race, at New Smyrna Speedway just 12 miles from Daytona International Speedway, will take place on Sunday, February 14 at 7:30 p.m., ET, and will broadcast on NBC Sports Network at a later date.
HScott Motorsports PR
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