15-Year-Old J.J. Haley Ready For Columbus Motor Speedway After Adventurous Weekend In Missouri & Ohio
JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour Overall & Rookie points leader heading back to the Buckeye State for Memorial Day Weekend
(Special from J.J. Haley Racing)
May 21, 2014
Winamac, Indiana (May 21, 2014) – It was the biggest weekend of his brief career on
May 16-18th. 15-year-old J.J. Haley put some miles on over the weekend between Toledo
Speedway (OH) and Lebanon I-44 Speedway (MO) as the Winamac, Indiana teenager
competed in both the JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour Presented by Chevrolet Performance on
May 17th in the Show-Me State. Then the following day, made his ARCA Racing Series
Presented by Menards debut in the Buckeye State.
After qualifying 15th at Toledo on Saturday, May 17th, Haley boarded a plane bound for
Lebanon, Missouri and arrived just after qualifying was complete for the 2nd Annual Mercy
Masters of the Pros 144. Despite not able to time in himself, Haley would be granted a
JEGS/CRA Owners Points provisional and would start the 144-lap main from the 21st
starting spot.
"What an exciting weekend, maybe my two biggest races of the year on the same
weekend. It was a handful to handle and figure out quite how to run both races but we
figured it out." Laughed the Hoosier State teenager. "My team was very patient with my
arrival to get to the track, we had a really fast car when we came and tested Thursday
afternoon. We started in 21st place and in the first 100 laps made it into 11th place," He
added.
With the lap 100 break approaching, Haley and crew knew they had a decision to make as to whether to take tires and lose track position or take no tires to maintain their spot in the lineup. "We were working through traffic great and we had a great, stable, well handling car. We, figuring everyone would take tires put two tires on the car and, unfortunately went back to 22nd with just 44 laps to go. We had an even better car after taking two tires and made it up to 10th." He stated. With the finish, Haley not only leads the Howie Lettow Memorial Rookie of the Year title chase, he also took over the overall points lead in the chase for the 2014 JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour Championship.
The next day, a return trip back to Toledo for the Menards 200 Presented by Federated Car Care was on the agenda. After starting the race on the inside of the eighth row and officially becoming the youngest driver in ARCA Racing Series history to start a race, Motor trouble early in race took him out of contention for a great finish. He would still stay on the track and continue to get seat time and practice pit stops. "The car was fast and I learned a lot for the future. Practiced pit stops in race conditions. Even with the finish (18th) it was truly a great day." Haley offered.
"I can't thank all the fans that came out, the whole Venturini Motorsports crew and my whole family for everything. It's such an honor to be where I'm at." The appreciative driver continued. "Also I really need to thank my team, my family, and everyone who was involved that helped me pull off the whole weekend. We've had a great year so far, and are looking forward to continue the momentum at Columbus Motor speedway, another new track for me this weekend." He ended.
This Saturday, May 24th, the Memorial Day Holiday Weekend features a trip to Columbus Motor Speedway in Columbus, Ohio. The JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour Presented by Chevrolet Performance will make their yearly appearance at the 1/3 (0.333) mile semi-banked, circular shaped paved oval for the Agroscapes 100 Presented by SizzleMarine.com, the third points race of the season for the series.
In 10 total events in 2014, Haley has one win to go with two top fives and six top 10s. His season started with a fourth place finish in the JEGS/CRA non-points opener; SpeedFest 2014 at Watermelon Capital Speedway (GA) back on January 26th. He then ran in six events out of the seven during Speedweeks at New Smyrna Speedway (FL) in the Pro Late Models division. Despite missing one show due to school commitments. Haley would finish ninth in the World Series Pro Late Models final points standings.
In addition to the full JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour schedule. Haley will also make two more appearances for Venturini Motorsports in the ARCA Racing Series Presented by Menards. Later in the year, he looks to run in a few select shows in the ARCA/CRA Super Series Powered by JEGS. He will also fill the schedule with races in the Vore's Welding CRA Late Model Sportsman Series Powered by JEGS as well as in weekly competition at Toledo Speedway (OH) competing in the tracks ARCA Sportsman division whenever possible.
For the rest of the 2014 racing season in the JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour, Haley's black #99 J.J. Haley Racing Chevrolet as well as the rest of the fleet of J.J. Haley Racing entries with Crew Chief, Bobby Blount calling the shots on top of the pit box all season long, will sport sponsorship decals and support from Braun Ability as well as Braun Auto Group, Two Guys Mechanical, JMR Trucking, T.J. Racing Lubricants and M.P.H. Promotions.
For more information about the J.J. Haley Racing and to inquire about sponsorship opportunities for the remainder of the 2014 campaign, please email Nathan Dennis at: jjhmotorsports@yahoo.com For more information about Venturini Motorsports, go to their website at: www.veturinimotorsports.com The new J.J. Haley Racing website is up and running at: www.jjhaleyracing.com You can also go to the teams’ Facebook Fan Page at: www.facebook.com and search “J.J. Haley Racing” and finally on Twitter by logging on at: www.twitter.com/jjhaley_racing
