Rookie Points Leader, 17-Year-Old Paul Shafer Jr., Ready For Another New Track; Columbus Motor Speedway
ARCA/CRA Super Series leading Freshman ready for another new challenge (Special from Shafer Motorsports)
June 26, 2014
Portage, Indiana (June 26, 2014) – Paul Shafer Jr., a contender for the Rookie of the Year
titles in both the ARCA/CRA Super Series Powered by JEGS and the ARCA Midwest Tour
Presented by SCAG Power Equipment knew this day would come. The first conflict of the
season between the two touring series' and the 17-year-old would then have a decision to
make. On Saturday, June 28th, both tours run on the same day in two different parts of
the country. For Shafer Jr., the choice has been made and the Portage, Indiana driver will
be heading East.
Shafer Jr., and his Shafer Motorsports Team will make the trek to the 1/3 (0.333) mile
semi-banked, circular shaped paved oval of Columbus Motor Speedway in Columbus,
Ohio. The JEGS 125 Presented by CoughlinCars.com is set for Saturday, June 28th and
like most tracks on the 2014 schedule, the Buckeye State capital speed plant will be
another new facility for the Portage, Indiana driver to try and conquer.
"From what I hear Columbus is a giant circle. I've never been there before, but we are
confident going in." Laughed the Hoosier State teenager. "The last time (Crew Chief) Chris
(Purdy) was there with Ross Kenseth they won back in 2011. So we should have a decent
place to start when we get there. Really looking forward to the race. We're leading the
rookie points now and hopefully we can carry that momentum throughout the rest of the
season." He added.
In the ARCA/CRA Super Series points chase, Shafer Jr., leads the 2014 Rookie of the Year title chase by just two points over Wes Griffith Jr., and only nine markers ahead of Brandon Watson. He's also an impressive fourth overall in the standings with three top 10 finishes. His season high of seventh came at his home track of Illiana Motor Speedway (IN) during Border Wars II - Calypso Lemonade 150 on Memorial Day Monday, May 26th.
In his last race, which was with the ARCA Midwest Tour on Friday, June 20th, the Calypso Lemonade 100 was at the 1/3 (0.333) mile semi-banked paved oval of Grundy County Speedway. The speedway, which is located west of Joliet in Morris, Illinois is a fairgrounds oval that Shafer Jr., did have experience on after a season so far of mostly new tracks. Late in the race, the water temperature got hot to the point where Shafer Jr., pulled off.
"Grundy didn't go exactly how we imagined. We struggled all day and qualified 12th. Then after leading the first two laps of the odd even race, the gas pedal linkage fell off." He explained. "So in the feature we started last and we made our way up to 10th. Then late in the race the water temp was extremely hot. We just pulled in calling it a day, not wanting to burn up another motor." He ended.
For the rest of the 2014 racing season in both the ARCA/CRA Super Series and ARCA Midwest Tour, Shafer Jr.'s popular black and purple #7 Shafer Motorsports / Chevrolet which is a Pathfinder Chassis with horsepower under the hood from Hamner Racing Engines will carry sponsorship support and decals all year long from Southlake Body as well as Maxim Powersports and M.P.H. Promotions.
For more information about Paul Shafer Jr., and the entire Shafer Motorsports Team and to inquire about sponsorship opportunities, please call Car Owner, Paul Shafer at: (219) 406-0067. A new website is under development and will be available later in the year. You can still go to the Shafer Racing Facebook Page located at: www.facebook.com and search for "Shafer Racing" as well as the Twitter page which can be found at: www.twitter.com/ShaferRacing7
