DuroByte Motorsports Story: (May 12, 2017) – DuroByte Motorsports, with 14 year old Ortonville, Michigan teenager Michael Clancy Jr. behind the wheel, are ready to start the 2017 racing season with the JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour Presented by Chevrolet Performance in the series 2017 season opener next weekend as part of the Short Track U. S. Nationals at Bristol Motor Speedway. This will be the seventh season of competition for the crate late model touring series that ran its first event in 2011 and whose past champions include current Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Rookie of the Year competitor Erik Jones and current NASCAR Xfinity Series Rookie of the Year competitor Daniel Hemric.
The team was set to open its 2017 JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour season last weekend at Baer Field Motorsports Park, but Mother Nature had other plans as heavy rains flooded the track over the course of a week, forcing the event to be canceled.
“We are really excited to finally kick off the start of the race season,” remarked crew chief Jimmy D Smith. “My guys have been working hard in the shop. Michael and I have had a lot of time to work together in the shop and testing at the track. I really feel our whole team is prepared and excited for this coming season!”
DuroByte Motorsports will campaign Howe Racing Chassis Ford’s again in 2017 with Ford engines by Ilmor. The team recently announced that Made In Detroit and Dalton Industries would return to support Clancy Jr. and the DuroByte Motorsports Team in 2017 along with Ilmor Engineering and Nalett Trucking.
“I think this season is going to be extraordinary!” remarked Clancy Jr. “Our team already has such a great bond and works together so well. With the great support from Made In Detroit and Dalton Industries, I cannot wait to get the season started!”
The team and driver are very excited to be able to race on the high-banks of the World’s Fastest Half-Mile Bristol Motor Speedway, one of the most famous short tracks in the world.
Smith added, “”I really appreciate all of the hard work CRA and all the other series have done to make this event happen! This track is legendary and an awesome facility and it’s unbelievable to have the opportunity to race late models there! I hope the fans come out and support the event so this can continue on for years!”
Clancy Jr. added, “I feel that Bristol will be a very fun and exciting experience. I think we will do extraordinary there as a team. I appreciate all the work that went into giving us the opportunity to race at such an amazing track!”
The team has already arrived at Bristol Motor Speedway to take part in the tracks open test this Saturday, in preparation of next weekend’s JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour season opener as part of the highly anticipated Short Track U. S. Nationals at the Last Great Colosseum.
At 13 years old during the 2016 racing season, Clancy Jr. was the youngest regular competitor with the JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour. Clancy Jr. started off the 2016 season by winning the JEGS Challenge non-qualifiers feature as part of the big Masters of the Pro’s 144 event at Lebanon I-44 Speedway. Clancy Jr. went on to get three top ten finishes during the season, with a top finish of sixth twice, once on the High Banks of Salem Speedway and at the tough quarter mile of Anderson Speedway. Clancy Jr. finished 7th in final series Driver Points and was second in VanDoorn Racing Development Rookie of the Year points.
DuroByte Motorsports, owned by Murray Van Wieringen and spear headed by crew chief Jimmy D Smith, has a proud history of fielding competitive racecars with the JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour and ARCA/CRA Super Series since the 2013 season. More information on DuroByte Motorsports is available at www. durobytemotorsports.com or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/durobytemotorsports.
More information on Michael Clancy Jr. is available at www.michaelclancyracing.com or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Michael-Clancy-Racing.
