There’s something in the air at JD Motorsports besides elbows and hoods while the team has been working away on race cars lately.
Team owner Johnny Davis is borderline “kid at Christmas” ready for the 2012 NASCAR Nationwide Series than he has been in years. Driver Mike Wallace has an air of optimism to go along with Davis’ sentiments. And, rounding out the package is Newt Moore, their new crew chief, on the No. 01 G&K Services Chevrolet which everyone feeling good about what been going on at the shop.
Put it all together and the team that finished 13th in Driver’s Points last year, already has their sights set on bigger results for this season. Wallace, a three-time winner at Daytona International Speedway, knows how to run the restrictor-plate races and is looking to remind everyone of that ability come this weekend.
As previously announced, country artist Chris Cagle is going to be on the decklid featuring his new album. However, since then, he has been added to the actual race activities and will sing the National Anthem prior to Saturday’s season opener at the World Center of Speed.
Mike Wallace Notes
· The St. Louis native will be making his 417th career NNS start and 24th one at DIS.
· Through those previous 23 races, his best start was sixth (’98) and his best finish was his 2004 July win on the 2.5-mile track
· He’s also achieved two top-fives, four top-10s and earned an average finish of 19.5
· Wallace has led 36 laps while completing 2,305, of 2,596, laps of competition
· During his overall DIS career, he has won in ARCA car, NASCAR Craftsman Truck race and the aforementioned NNS victory
· He’s pulling double duty this weekend and attempting to make the Daytona 500 with another team
Tune in for the Win: ESPN TV, MRN Radio and Sirius XM NASCAR Radio Ch. 90 will carry the live action on Saturday starting at 1 p.m. ET.
Mike Wallace Quotes
“I know everyone comes to Daytona thinking they are going to have a great season. And, that’s the way you really need to feel when racing at place like this and starting a new NASCAR season.
“But, there really is something going on at JD Motorsports this year that has Johnny, Newt, myself and the guys on the team charged up more than before. I don’t know if it’s because we went through a lot of good changes during the off-season, or Newt has the team working together that much better. All I know is I like it – a lot.
“My confidence at this track is very good. I know how to run the plate races, when to make a move, when not to and how to keep myself patient until it’s time to make that right move. I just want all the work Johnny, Newt and the rest of the team put in to get ready for this race to pay off on Saturday.”
JD Motorsports PR
