Special from Speed51.com – One year after competing and finishing third in the CRA Street Stock portion of the Short Track U.S. Nationals, Indiana driver Colby Lane will make his Pro Late Model debut at Bristol Motor Speedway (TN) on Friday, May 18.
Following a string of successful seasons in the CRA Street Stock Series, culminating with the 2017 series championship, Lane is ready for his big jump to the JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour.
In a deal that came together quick with the sale of an old Street Stock, Lane and his team have been scrambling to get ready to race in less than two weeks. But at the same time, the prolonged winter does have them chomping to get going.
“It’s pretty exciting, but also we’re pretty anxious, ready to get on the race track,” Lane told Speed51.com. “It’s going to be quite the learning experience. This all kind of happened within a few days. We have been talking about it for a long time. Finally, I had an offer on the Street Stock and I figured I’d let it go and try it. My dad’s always been real supportive of the idea once I got slightly successful in the Street Stocks.”
Did we mention that this first Pro Late Model outing will be at the one and only Last Great Colosseum? While it is a bold choice to make his debut at one of the toughest tracks in America, it is the first track that the team could be ready for that they have prior experience at.
The team will also get some prior track time at the test session this Saturday.
“I would have never thought that’s where we’re going to launch. But seeing that I’ve been around Bristol before, we kind of figured that it would be better than going to Birch Run which is a track I’ve never seen,” Lane explained. “We’ll see how the test session goes, hopefully well. Then we can have a decent run. Totally new deal for me; it’s not for my dad, thank goodness.”
The Last Great Coliseum will be sure to provide quite the bonding experience for Lane and his new ride.
“Seat time is going to be the crucial factor and what better place than Bristol get some seat time. To some people it might sound crazy, but we’ll do whatever it takes.”
Riding the coattails of the Street Stock championship and a podium finish in the Street Stock at Bristol in 2017, Lane has confidence going into his Late Model debut.
“Typically it makes it more of a confidence booster I guess. I’m going to miss it, but they’ll be a few opportunities this season to run a Street Stock a time or two.”
The calendar is currently open for Lane beyond Bristol, but if he comes away with the car in one piece, fans can expect to see him throughout the rest of 2018.
“We plan on doing a minimum of five to six races for the rest of the year. Depending on how the year goes we may update in the winter and do a full season next year. Hopefully we can be competitive; the Tour is extremely competitive with a lot of good drivers and talent. If we can run well, we will be ecstatic.”
Race fans unable to make it to Bristol, TN for the second Short Track U.S. Nationals will be able to watch a live pay-per-view broadcast on Speed51.com. Video tickets can be purchased at an early-bird discount today by visiting www.speed51.com/bristol.
-By: Connor Sullivan, Speed51.com Northeast Editor
-Photo credit: Speed51.com / MoJo Photos
