While most young drivers experience an intimidation factor upon their first visit to the Monster Mile in Dover, Del., Boston native Kaz Grala welcomed the challenge and rose to the occasion in his 2014 debut. Grala started the Drive Sober 150 in fifth position and netted his season-best finish of second. With another season of NASCAR K&N Pro Series East competition under his belt, the 16-year-old is eager to make his return to the high-banked concrete speedway.
“The Monster Mile has been the track I’ve been waiting for all year,” said Grala. “Last year, I had my best qualifying effort and best finish of the year there, and after that it was by far my favorite track on the circuit. I feel like I have a pretty good idea of what the car needs to feel like for this year’s race, and I know Mike Fritts knows exactly what to do to make the car go fast at Dover, so we’re going into the event very optimistic and excited.”
The one-mile concrete oval produces the highest speeds for the NASCAR K&N Pro Series competitors all season. Veteran competitors liken Dover’s Turn 1 experience to that of riding a roller coaster; for Grala, the speed and g-force are just a couple of the reasons he loves competing at Dover.
“I’m a racecar driver, so I just love raw speed,” said Grala. “Dover has plenty of it! It’s the fastest track the K&N Pro Series goes to, so naturally I’ll love it. But on top on that, the high banking and “drop” down into the corners make Dover a really unique one-mile track, which only adds to the excitement of driving there.”
For the Drive Sober 125, Grala will be representing the New England Tractor Trailer Training School (NETTTS). NETTTS has been an industry leader in commercial driver training programs for over forty-five years. The school prepares students for immediate hire as a professionally trained truck driver or trained HVACR service technician.
Grala, who will be finishing his second NASCAR K&N Pro Series East season, the first with Ben Kennedy Racing, his competition in the No. 3 Toyota Camry won’t be complete when the checkered flag falls in Dover.
“The best part about the last race of the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East for us is that the fun doesn’t stop there. Ben Kennedy Racing will be heading west for the Phoenix race in November to close off the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West season.”
“We are currently fifth in the championship, after quite a bit of bad luck earlier in the season, so l couldn’t be more proud of the Ben Kennedy Racing guys for continuing to dig and bring a fast racecar each and every weekend. We’ve finished the year with some very strong runs, and I am confident that Dover will be no exception.”
The Drive Sober 125 won’t be the only race the 16-year-old will compete in during the weekend. Grala’s need for speed will take him south from Delaware to Virginia to compete in the ValleyStar Credit Union 300 at historic Martinsville Speedway.
Last season, Grala put on a clinic during the first half of the 200 lap main event, leading the race and lapping almost half the field. After the mandatory inversion at the halfway break, Grala restarted ninth, quickly moving back to the top-3 before a parts failure ended his run at the prized grandfather clock early.
“I am going to race at Dover on Friday, October 2nd, which is going to be a busy, one-day event,” said Grala. “From there, I will be driving overnight down to Martinsville, VA to compete in the prestigious Late Model event with Garret Campbell Motorsports. Practice and qualifying will be held on Saturday down there, and heat races and the feature race will be on Sunday.”
Ben Kennedy Racing PR
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