First Career Win For 16-Year-Old Hunter Baize In A Late Model Comes At Columbus Motor Speedway

JEGS/CRA triumph vaults Blue Grass State teenager from 12th to Sixth in points (Special from Hunter Baize Racing)

May 28, 2014

Bremen, Kentucky (May 28, 2014) – When  it was announced that Hunter Baize Racing

and VanDoorn Racing Development would join forces for the 2014 racing season, racing

observers around the country knew it would only be a matter of time before 16-year-old

Hunter Baize would visit victory lane. Three races into the 2014 racing season for the

JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour Presented by Chevrolet Performance, that's exactly what the

Bremen, Kentucky teenager did at Columbus Motor Speedway in Columbus, Ohio.

The 1/3 (0.333) mile semi-banked circular shaped paved oval of Columbus Motor

Speedway in Columbus, Ohio was the site for the Agroscapes 100 Presented by

SizzleMarine.com & JEGS.com. 28 cars were on the grounds and Baize would qualify an

impressive fourth quick in the field. After an inversion draw of a nine, the Blue Grass State

teenager would start the race from the outside of the third row.

He quickly maneuvered his way to the third spot and paced himself there until lap 80.

With 20 laps to go, it was time to go and Baize quickly took over second spot from

Overall and Rookie of the Year points leader, J.J. Haley. He then set his sights on race

leader, Josh Nelms and on lap 85 would take the lead. It would be the first laps Baize has

led in his JEGS/CRA career and in his 16th career start, he would walk away with his first

career victory not only in the series, but in a Late Model as well.  It was also the first ever

win for a VanDoorn Racing Development chassis.

"Picking up my first career win and the first ever win in a VRD chassis is amazing. The guys had us a fantastic car for the entire weekend." The elated driver stated amidst the celebration with his parents, Robbie and Melinda Baize as well as three-time CRA Championship Winning Crew Chief, Butch VanDoorn as well as Driver Coach, three-time ARCA/CRA Super Series Champion, Johnny VanDoorn and the rest of the crew. "We were P1 in the only practice session, and qualified fourth. We tried to just stay patient until about 20 to go. We were able to get into the lead with 15 laps left, and held on for the win."

After three races in the JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour, Baize's win vaulted him from 12th to sixth in the season long points chase. Not only was it his first career win, it was also his first career top five finish in the series. He is now just three points outside of the coveted top five in the season long points chase and despite a slow start in the first two races, he's just 29 points back of the points lead. 

The team will now take a well deserved break in the schedule before coming back for the next JEGS/CRA points race on the 2014 calendar at Salem Speedway (IN). The historic 0.555 mile high-banked paved oval located north of Louisville, Kentucky in Salem, Indiana will be the closest event to home for the Hunter Baize Racing Team and the race is set for Saturday, June 21st.

In addition to running for the 2014 JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour championship, Baize will also look to make select appearances later in the year in the ARCA/CRA Super Series Powered by JEGS. His Driver Coach and Spotter, Johnny VanDoorn has not completely abandoned the driver's seat as the Coopersville, Michigan standout looks to make a few appearances in the ARCA/CRA Super Series later in the year.

For the remainder  of the 2014 racing season all of Baize's red and black #13 VanDoorn Racing Development / Ford Fusions will carry sponsorship decals and support throughout the season from Kawasaki as well as Threaded Fasteners, Wood-Mizer Portable Saw Mills, B&K Wood Products, Sterling Lumber Company, Team Butch Racing Shocks  and M.P.H Promotions.

For more information about Hunter Baize and Hunter Baize  Racing and to inquire about sponsorship opportunities for the rest of the 2014 campaign, go to the team website at: www.hunterbaizeracing.com You can also follow along with Baize as well as VanDoorn on Facebook at: www.facebook.com and by searching for "Hunter Baize" as well as "VanDoorn Racing Development". Finally you can also keep up with everything on Twitter at: www.twitter.com/baize13