The Dirt Track at Charlotte
Notes: Fuller aims to finish strong at Charlotte
By Joshua Joiner
DirtonDirt.com staff writer
The Dirt Track at Charlotte is prepped for Thursday's action. (DirtonDirt.com)
CONCORD, N.C. (Nov. 1) — As he prepares to close out the season during this weekend’s Peak Motor Oil World Finals presented by NAPA at The Dirt Track at Charlotte, Tim Fuller of Watertown, N.Y., is more confident in his racing program than he’s ever been.
Coming from a driver who once posted seven World of Outlaws Late Model Series victories in a 11-race stretch just a few years ago, that could mean trouble for the rest of the competition as the World of Outlaws close out there season with a pair of $10,000-to-win events at Charlotte’s 4/10-mile oval.
“This is by far the best situation I’ve ever been in my career,” said Fuller, who joined Kennedy Motorsports late this summer to race as a teammate to Shane Clanton of Fayetteville, Ga. “We’re still getting everything going with this deal, but I couldn’t be happier with where we’re at. I’ve never been this excited to race.”
After struggling to fund a self-owned program for the first half of the season, Fuller, a former big-block modified standout who first went full-time Super Late Model racing in 2007, has picked up his performance since teaming up with Kennedy Motorsports and switching to the team’s Capital Race Cars built by Clanton and former driver Marshall Green.
The new program produced Fuller’s first Super Late Model victory in more than two seasons when he picked up a $10,000 victory in Oct. 13’s Ultimate event at Hesston (Pa.) Speedway.
As he eyes a return to full-time competition on the World of Outlaws series in 2013, Fuller would like to turn his recent momentum into a pair of solid performances this weekend at Charlotte. But with more than 70 Late Models signed in for the three-day event, he knows that will be difficult.
“I feel good about it, but this is one of the toughest fields you’ll see all season,” said Fuller, who will also drive a big-block modified in Super DIRTcar Series action this weekend. “It’d be great to pick up some more (momentum) heading into the off season, but we’ll just do the best we can. You can’t really put a lot merit into with all these guys here … if it doesn’t go good.”
Hubbard’s hopes
As he’s struggled to transition back to his family-owned team, the 2012 season has been up-and-down season at best for Austin Hubbard. But the 20-year-old from Seaford, Del., can turn it all around with a pair of strong performances this weekend.
“I’d really just like to end it,” Hubbard said of his frustrating season that included a host of mechanical issues that forced him to drop of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series early in the season. “But yeah, it would be nice to run good hear and end up strong. We’ve could definitely use a good run.”
Much like his 2012 season, Hubbard’s past results at Charlotte have been up-and-down. He’s either really good or really bad.
“I’d like to be on the good side of that if we can,” said Hubbard, who has a best Charlotte finish of third. “We’re looking at trying to get back on a nation tour next year, so it would be nice to have some good runs this weekend.”
Hawkins' weekend ride
Jacob Hawkins of Fairmont, W.Va., will make his second appearance at Charlotte this weekend, but it promises to be completely different than his first trip. The 22-year-old driver will compete for the first time in a Warrior Race Cars house car thanks to a one-race deal put together with help from his brother Jared’s former car owner Bobby Lake.
“It’ll be different, but I’m excited about,” Hawkins said. “I’m just glad to be back at Charlotte. It always a great place to come race.”
While Hawkins will be among the more than 70 cars in action this weekend, his older brother Jared will not. With Lake cutting back his racing endeavors, Jared Hawkins is taking the weekend off to get an early start regrouping for a return to running a family-owned team next season.
Ferguson aims for turnaround
Like most regional drivers from the Carolinas, Chris Ferguson of Mount Holly, N.C., would like to have a strong showing against the national touring stars as they invade his home state this weekend. He’d also like a strong run to turnaround a second half of the season that’s been well below his expectations.
“We always try to run good (at Charlotte) because it’s kinda my home area,” said Ferguson, who’s been on a downhill slide since he qualified third for Eldora Speedway’s Dream in June. “But it’s hard to say I’m very excited about it. We just haven’t been clicking lately.”
Ferguson has had plenty of success this season in his part-time Crate Late Model ride with seven victories, but he’d feel much better if he could pick up his performance in his Super Late Model.
“We’ve had a great year in the Crate, but it’s still disappointing we can’t get (the Super Late Model) going,” Ferguson said. “We’ve just had so much bad luck here lately. I just hope maybe we can get some things going our way.”
