Huntersville, North Carolina (Tuesday, July 21, 2015): The Redbud 300, for years, has been one of the most prestigious Super Late Model races in the country. The 2015 edition of the event did not disappoint and neither did 17-year-old driver Hunter Baize. Baize, in the biggest race of his career so far, finished third.
The Stoops Freightliner Redbud 300 at the historic (0.250) 1/4-mile Anderson Speedway located in Anderson, Indiana took place on Saturday, July 18th. A 24-car field took the green flag, led by Champion Racing Association (CRA) veteran Rick Turner. Baize qualified 14th. A consistent top-five car on the speed charts in practice, he and his No. 13 Hunter Baize Racing team, led by Van Doorn Racing Development knew they had a much better car than qualifying showed. Baize worked his way through the field, and by halfway he was up to second. During the final 150 laps the Bremen, Kentucky teenager battled within the top-five with some of the country’s best drivers. His fifth top-10 in six races in the ARCA/CRA Super Series Powered by JEGS did not come easy. He went on to finish third, after a fierce battle with the eventual winner and NASCAR Xfinity Series winner Erik Jones and runner-up, former NASCAR driver Jack Smith. He held off NASCAR Camping World Truck Series regular Daniel Hemric and 2014 Southern Super Series Champion Bubba Pollard as well, who finished fourth and fifth respectively.
“That was a long race,” Baize said. “We had a very good car and the guys at Van Doorn Racing Development did a great job all weekend. It was fun to race with Erik (Jones), Jack (Smith), (Daniel) Hemric, and all the front runners. It was also a great points night for us. I am really looking forward to heading to Lucas Oil Raceway (Ind.)next Friday. Not only do I expect our No. 13 car to be fast but it will be fun to hang out with the guys from Ken Schrader Racing during the ARCA (Racing Series) race.”
Baize’s busy mid-summer stretch continues this coming Friday, July 24, 2015, when he and his Hunter Baize Racing team travel to Brownsburg, Ind., and the Lucas Oil Raceway. The 0.686-mile track is one the biggest venues that the ARCA/CRA Super Series visits. Baize enters race No. 7 of the ARCA/CRA Super Series season, the Circle City 100 Presented by Greg Hubler Chevrolet, second in both overall and rookie points. The ARCA Racing Series Presented by Menards will headline Fridaynight’s events with the running of the Sioux Chief PowerPEX 200 Presented by Federated Car Care. The No. 52 Ken Schrader Racing team, the team Baize will drive for next month at Berlin Raceway (Mich.), will for sure be a contender in the event.
This season Baize’s Van Doorn Racing Development Pro and Super Late Model race cars will carry sponsorship from Mountaineer All-Natural Firewood, B&K Wood Products, Kawasaki, Wood-Mizer, and Steel City Bolt.
