2016 NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Rookie of the Year Chase Purdy and David Gilliland Racing announced their 2017 plans today which include a full season in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East with the goal of attaining Rookie of the Year honors in addition to an aggressive super late model schedule. DGR has fielded or maintained winning cars in both disciplines over the last two seasons.
Despite his young age, Purdy has been successful behind the wheel of nearly everything he has driven. A year ago, he earned the title of national champion racing US Legend Cars in the Young Lions division for competitors 12-16 years of age. This season, he visited victory lane ten times during the opening half of the year in the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series before jumping exclusively to super late model competition with David Gilliland Racing.
NASCAR Next driver Todd Gilliland, the 2016 NASCAR K&N Pro Series West Champion, started his career in cars prepared by David Gilliland Racing in the CARS Tour for late model stock cars and super late models, along with his initial K&N Pro Series starts. After winning the inaugural CARS Tour event, the DGR team has continued to excel, winning four events in the CARS Super Late Model Tour this season with two different drivers and sitting on the verge of their first series title.
“I’m so excited for next season that the wait is killing me,” joked Purdy. “I’m ready to see what happens and how things go. With DGR handling everything on the cars, I’m confident our cars will be fast and competitive. I am really going to have to lean on Todd (Gilliland) to learn a lot of things, but I’m beyond blessed to have this opportunity.”
Performance Marketing Group of Huntersville, N.C., first turned David Gilliland and his staff onto the rising Purdy. In August, PMG and Purdy’s sponsor, Bama Buggies, met with DGR about racing their super late models on a trial basis. Today, the organization has put together the program where Purdy will be piloting DGR’s super late model and K&N machines for the duration of the 2017 season.
“Chase has shown a lot of raw speed and desire in the short time we have worked with him,” said team owner David Gilliland. “We are definitely thankful J.R. and the staff at PMG turned us onto him and we have the opportunity to mold him and guide his career as he ascends up the ranks. He has a lot of talent and I’m thrilled about the possibilities of what we can accomplish next season.”
Chase will be celebrating this new chapter in his racing career by doing what he does best, racing this weekend in the CSX Play It Safe 250 presented by MMIA at Southern National Motorsports Park. The race is the final event of the CARS Tour season.
For more information on Chase Purdy, visit his website at ChasePurdyRacing.com and follow him on Twitter (@ChasePurdy12) and Instagram (@chase_purdy).
PMG PR
- Penske Flexes Muscle on ‘Fast Friday’ as Qualifying Looms - May 17, 2024
- Pit Note 1: A Wedding At North Wilkesboro - May 17, 2024
- CHEVROLET INDYCAR AT INDIANAPOLIS: Team Chevy Friday Practice Report - May 17, 2024