Dirty Dozen Cup: Reid Lanpher
Motor Mile Speedway Race Preview
THE STORY
MANCHESTER, Maine – Reid Lanpher of Manchester, Maine, concludes his season with JR Motorsports with a doubleheader weekend of Late Model racing, beginning with the Dirty Dozen Cup New River Bank Twin 125s at Motor Mile Speedway in Radford, Va., on Friday, August 30, and followed with the 37th annual Bobby Isaac Memorial at Hickory Motor Speedway in Hickory, N.C., on Saturday, August 31. The 15-year-old Lanpher is coming off two of his best career finishes at the respective tracks, including a Top-10 finish at Motor Mile earlier this month and an impressive ninth-place finish in his Hickory debut in early July.
THE FACTS
WHO: Reid Lanpher, Manchester, Maine
TEAM: No. 8 JR Motorsports Chevrolet
CREW CHIEF: Seth Kooika, Mooresville, N.C.
BEST CAREER MOTOR MILE SPEEDWAY FINISH: 10th (August 2013)
LAST RACE AT MOTOR MILE SPEEDWAY: 10th (August 2013)
WHAT: Dirty Dozen Cup New River Bank Twin 125s
WHERE: Motor Mile Speedway, Radford, Va. (.416-mile oval)
WHEN: Friday, August 30 – 8 a.m., practice; 6:45 p.m., qualifying; 8 p.m., race
BEST CAREER HICKORY MOTOR SPEEDWAY FINISH: 9th (July 2013)
LAST RACE AT HICKORY MOTOR SPEEDWAY: 9th (July 2013)
WHAT: 37th annual Bobby Isaac Memorial
WHERE: Hickory Motor Speedway, Hickory, N.C. (.375-mile oval)
WHEN: Saturday, August 31 – 1 p.m., practice; 5 p.m., qualifying; 8:30 p.m., race.
DID YOU KNOW?
Reid Lanpher became the youngest driver in history (14) to win an event at New Hampshire Motor Speedway when he won an Amsoil NELCAR Legends Tour race on the road course at the facility last May.
Reid Lanpher finished third in just his sixth career Late Model Stock start while driving for JR Motorsports at Southern National Motorsports Park in April.
Reid Lanpher won one of four PASS North Series qualifying races at Beech Ridge Motor Speedway on May 5 to become the youngest heat race winner (14) in series history.
Reid Lanpher will compete this weekend as a teammate at JR Motorsports to Josh Berry in both events. Berry won the 2012 NASCAR Whelen All-American Series track championship at Motor Mile Speedway in Radford, Va.
Just 15 years old, Reid Lanpher has already won Super Late Model, Modified, Legend, go-kart, Mini-Cup, motocross and snowmobile feature events in his career.
WHAT THEY ARE SAYING
REID LANPHER, Driver of the No. 8 JR Motorsports Chevrolet, On heading to Motor Mile Speedway off his best career finish at the track earlier this month: “We’re finally on our way back toward where we left off at Southern National at the beginning of the year, and we came home with the car in one piece (last time). We ran well, and we ran hard side-by-side with some really good cars for 30-40 laps. I got a lot of good racing experience, too.
“I think biggest thing was that we finally got a full two races in with the car, so now we know what to change for (this weekend). We don’t have to spend the time fixing the car, we can make it better. The car was going better than it had been, and we stayed out of trouble the whole race. Honestly, it was just nice to finish both races.”
On managing a ninth-place finish under trying circumstances at Hickory Motor Speedway in July: “I think the guys were pleased. I lost the radio (communication) early on, and then we had some rain and other stuff, so that made it tough. That whole radio thing – the crew didn’t know about it until I came in for the rain delay and we were talking about it. They couldn’t believe I’d passed the cars I did considering I couldn’t hear anybody.
“Overall, it wasn’t too bad, and we came home with a car in one piece. It’s a tough place to pass.”
On his approach to the Late Model races with JR Motorsports in the second half of the season: “After that podium finish there early on (at Southern National), we had some struggles and I’ve had plenty of time up here (in Maine) to regroup. I didn’t think about a new approach, really. I still just want go in there and work with the guys and do the best I can.
“I think one of my biggest problems is that people have started to look at me differently because we’ve struggled a little bit. My goal is to try and get myself to those guys’ level down there so they see that I can do this. Really, that’s about it. All I’m thinking to myself that it’s possible to have some success at Motor Mile, and I have done it. I just need to do it again.”