Early ARCA/CRA Super Series Overall & Rookie points leader heading to Anderson Speedway
Harrison, Michigan (Tuesday, April 14, 2015): For 16-year-old Grant Quinlan, the big move up from the JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour Presented by Chevrolet Performance to the ARCA/CRA Super Series Powered by JEGS may have been a bold step, in the eyes of many onlookers after only one season in Pro Late Models. The career path chosen by Quinlan is on a fast track towards success and the young Michigan driver proved his worth in only his second career start behind the wheel of a high powered Super Late Model.
The 7-UP 100 Presented by Royal Truck & Trailer Sales was at the fast 1/2 (0.500) mile high-banked paved oval of Toledo Speedway in Toledo, Ohio on April 11th. Quinlan opened plenty of eyes by timing in second quick out of a stout 26-car field. After the inversion draw, he would start the 100-lap main from the outside of the second row surrounded by talented and established competitors. Two-Time Defending Series Champion, Travis Braden flanked his inside with Chicagoland veteran, Eddie Hoffman just ahead of him with Fast Qualifier, Boris Jurkovic and Joey Miller behind him.
In the first race in the series’ 19-year history that would go caution free, Quinlan never left the top five while getting to as high as second place at one point before eventual winner and runner-up, Brian Campbell and Terry Senneker Jr., slipped past him in the first quarter of the race. Quinlan worked his way up to third past early race leader, Cody Coughlin and that’s where he stayed the rest of the way holding off Braden and Jurkovic to post a podium finish of a third.
“Great way to start the year that’s for sure. We were basically just riding, trying to save tires, kind playing a conservation strategy, waiting on a caution,” The Harrison, Michigan teenager offered after reflecting on the 2015 ARCA/CRA Super Series opener. “We decided as a team to just let (Brian) Campbell and (Terry) Senneker (Jr.) go and conserve our equipment. Well a caution never came out and by the time we decided to go, they were too far gone. It just didn’t work out but the car was really good and the tires were still like new at the end of the race.” He added.
The next race will be at a track that Quinlan has raced at before: The fast 1/4 (0.250) mile high-banked paved oval of Anderson Speedway in Anderson, Indiana on Saturday, April 25th. The Madison County Community Health Center 125 will be the second race of the 2015 racing season within the ARCA/CRA Super Series. In Quinlan’s lone appearance at the tight facility, he came away with a second place showing behind race winner, Steve Dorer in the JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour race there back on July 26th. “We’ll go to Anderson (Speedway) and try again. Feels pretty good to be leading the rookie points and the overall points too. Never would’ve expected that,” Ended the Great Lakes State driver. ”
Quinlan was awarded the 2014 Howie Lettow Memorial Rookie of the Year title in the JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour Presented by Chevrolet Performance during the 2014 racing season. He rewrote the record books in a number of ways during his freshman campaign in JEGS/CRA. In addition to finishing third in points, just two markers behind 2014 Runner-Up, Josh Nelms, he also collected two victories, the most of any rookie driver in JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour history. Those wins came at Salem Speedway (IN) on June 21st and at Springport Motor Speedway (MI) on September 20th.
He also registered six top five finishes and seven top 10 showings as well as two Boyne Machine Company Fast Qualifier Awards, also the most by a freshman in series history. Those top qualifier awards came at Angola Motorsport Speedway (IN) on July 5th and at Springport on September 20th. In the rookie battle, Quinlan beat fellow freshman, Dalton Armstrong by 37 points in the overall standings, the closest margin in the tours’ four-year history.
For the rest of the 2015 racing season, Quinlan will make a run at the Rookie of the Year title and the overall championship in the ARCA/CRA Super Series. The team will also make select appearances back in the JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour as well as other Super Late Model events around the country in what looks to be a busy year behind the wheel for the 16-year-old.
Quinlan’s #28 Downey Racing / Chevrolet will have sponsorship decals and support from International Tool and Mold as well as Quinlan Incorporated, Five Star Racecar Bodies, McGunegill Engine Performance, M.P.H. Promotions and Grant Quinlan Motorsports. For more information about Grant Quinlan and Grant Quinlan Motorsports, go to the Facebook Fan Page located at: www.facebook.com/GrantQuinlanMotorsport and on Twitter at: www.twitter.com/QuinlanGrant
