Center Harbor, N.H. (June 18, 2009): Two-time NASCAR Camping World Series East Champion Brad Leighton will make his season debut at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on June 26th behind the wheel of the No. 55 Irving Oil Chevrolet. Leighton, who secured the first invitation to the track’s ACT Invitational scheduled for later this year, is anxious to get back to his home state track and attempt to win a fifth track championship.
“New Hampshire (Motor Speedway) is my home away from home,” said Leighton. “I don’t know what it is, but I run really good at New Hampshire. Nevertheless, I’ve been shut out of victory lane the last few times, and we’re hoping to change that this year!”
Although this will mark Leighton’s first start this year in the Camping World Series East, he has been quite busy running a limited schedule in the American-Canadian Tour. Leighton’s win at the New Hampshire Governor’s Cup at Lee USA Speedway solidified an invitation to the highly anticipated ACT Invitational in September. He also gained a podium finish at Airborne Speedway last month, and led every lap at Waterford Speedbowl last week before rain halted the event and forced a rescheduling to June 20th.
Leighton’s 2008 season in the NASCAR Camping World Series East yielded one top-five and two top-10 finishes in only three starts. He led 44 laps of the Heluva Good Fall 125 before a fuel issue sent him to the pits three laps before the race conclusion.
“We were so close!” Leighton recalled. “We were in contention at both NHMS races last year. It was so frustrating to be so good and not put these guys into victory lane.”
Leighton has won four track championships at New Hampshire Motor Speedway and would like to add another to his resume.
“Those track championships are some of the biggest highlights of my career,” said Leighton. “I’m really proud to say that I’ve won that. When you compete at a track as prestigious as New Hampshire Motor Speedway, you’re drawing the best of the best as far as drivers and crews are concerned. When you win that championship, it’s a validation of sorts to say, ‘hey, we’ve beaten the best’.”
The Heluva Good Summer 125 is slated for Friday, June 26th at 5 p.m. eastern daylight time.