15-Year-Old Grant Quinlan; 2014 Howie Lettow Memorial Rookie Of The Year In The JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour
Finishes third overall in points; Snowflake 100 to wrap up 2014 season (Special from Grant Quinlan Motorsports)
October 17, 2014
Harrison, Michigan (October 17, 2014) – When the Green Flag flew on the final race
of the 2014 racing season within the JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour Presented by
Chevrolet Performance, 15-year-old Grant Quinlan had one title already in his
possession. With the 2014 Howie Lettow Memorial Rookie of the Year honors
bestowed upon him, the Harrison, Michigan driver could focus squarely on his
outside chance at the overall JEGS/CRA championship. With nothing to lose,
Quinlan and his Downey Racing Team went all out with hopes of leaving the track
with two crowns.
The Winchester 75 Presented by JEGS.com, originally a 100-lap event, was
shortened by series and track officials due to a three hour and 45 minute rain delay,
would kick off the 43rd running of the Winchester 400 Weekend at the legendary 1/2
(0.500) mile high-banked paved oval of Winchester Speedway (IN). While running the
risk of falling back to third in the overall standings, the outside chance at becoming
the first driver in JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour history to claim both the overall and
rookie titles is something that Quinlan just couldn't pass up.
After qualifying sixth and running as high as second in the race, the power steering
line slipped out of the fitting in the power steering pump. Then three wheel studs
broke out of the hub. Both issues would sideline the tours' top freshman with 21 laps
to go ending his chance at the overall championship. Veteran Josh Nelms would end up passing Quinlan in the final standings to claim second with Quinlan third. That didn't damper the spirits of Quinlan or his Downey Racing Team after officially clinching the coveted freshman title.
"It really was a great year; we had so much fun this season racing in the JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour. To win the Howie Lettow Memorial Rookie of the Year title is the highlight of my career so far," The appreciative Great Lakes State teenager stated. "A huge thanks to Downey Racing; Brent Downey, Mark Downey, Crew Chief Derrick Griffin, everyone on this team. We really did have a great season. Got two wins and were in contention everywhere we went. Looking forward to the future and to the 2015 season." He added.
Quinlan rewrote the record book in a number of ways during his rookie season. 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.
The 2015 racing season is on the horizon and tentative plans call for Quinlan and Downey Racing to make the move up to the ARCA/CRA Super Series Powered by JEGS and compete for the series' 2015 Rookie of the Year title. 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.
The 2014 racing season actually isn't over for Quinlan and Downey Racing as the plans are to head down to the 1/2 (0.500) mile high-banked paved oval of Five Flags Speedway (FL) in Pensacola, Florida to take part in the Snowflake 100, which highlights the Saturday portion of the 47th annual Snowball Derby. The Derby runs from December 3-7th as the Pro Late Models will race in the most prestigious event in the country for the division.
For the Snowflake 100, Quinlan's #28 Downey Racing / Chevrolet will have sponsorship decals and support from Quinlan Incorporated as well as International Tool and Mold, Five Star Racecar Bodies, McGunegill Engine Performance and M.P.H. Promotions. 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 For Downey Racing, go to their Facebook Fan Page at: www.facebook.com/DowneyRacingLLC
