Feeling blessed to have been present for so many amazing moments at the Daytona 500 this weekend .From helping out my team, Mullins Racing, during the ARCA race to standing in Victory Lane to watch Austin celebrate. Also unexpectedly running into one of my very first racing coaches on the track from back in my early karting days, Tom Prioli. Tom now heads up the Andretti Indoor Karting facility in Orlando! What a cool Place! But perhaps the most inspiring moments ; talking with Jesse Iwuji before and after his first race with his new Xfinity team, co-owned by Emmitt Smith. What a weekend !
Blake Takes to the Asphalt at Daytona for ARCA testing, clocking competitive times for Mullins Racing
Mullins Racing bringing two cars, six drivers to Daytona pre-race practice
BY
MULLINS RACING PRESS RELEASE JANUARY 12, 2022
FREDERICKSBURG, Va. — With the start of the 2022 ARCA Menards Series season right around the corner, Mullins Racing is preparing for the pilgrimage to Daytona International Speedway for the annual ARCA Menards Series pre-race practice this Friday and Saturday.
The practice serves as an opportunity for teams and drivers to prepare for the Lucas Oil 200 driven by General Tire on Feb. 19, the first race on the series schedule. It also gives many drivers the chance to turn their first laps at Daytona International Speedway, either to get approved to compete or to simply gain experience.
For Mullins Racing owner and driver Willie Mullins, the pre-race practice is the ideal time to make sure his race car is buttoned up and ready for when the green flag waves on Feb. 19 to open the ARCA Menards Series season.
“We go down there and we work on the car to make sure it is the best car we can show up with in February,” said Mullins, who has one top-five and four top-10 finishes in ARCA competition at Daytona International Speedway. “It’s always good to make sure you unload off the trailer and make sure you don’t have any leaks or anything like that. You’re trying to make sure you find speed and you don’t have any vibrations.
“When we come back we only get a 45 minute practice for the race, so this is our time to make sure this thing is right.”
Mullins Racing is bringing a full squadron of drivers to take part in the annual Daytona ARCA pre-race practice, with six drivers set to split seat time between two Mullins Racing entries. Those drivers in addition to Mullins are Blake Lothian, Brayton Laster, Bradley Perez, Cole Bruce and Logan Clark.
Nineteen-year-old Lothian comes to Mullins Racing for the Daytona ARCA pre-race practice with a long list of accomplishments. The native of Wellesley, Mass., impressed during his karting career and was selected as a member of the NASCAR Driver for Diversity Youth Team in 2019 and ’20. In 2021 he made his late model stock car debut, earning his first victory in the class at North Carolina’s Hickory Motor Speedway.
Laster heads to Daytona with experience on dirt and asphalt. The 19-year-old from Greenwood, Ind., began racing go karts when he was eight and hasn’t slowed down since. During his brief career he’s raced against some of the top stars from the World of Outlaws Late Model Series and Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series. Last year he was ranked third in the Ultimate Heart of America Super Late Model Series standings.
Perez is well known in ARCA and NASCAR garages not only as a dedicated mechanic and tire specialist, but also as a racer. The 24-year-old native of Hollywood, Fla., has raced Spec Miatas and Legend cars and in 2021 made his ARCA Menards Series debut at New York’s Watkins Glen International.
Bruce is the son of Mullins Racing Car Chief Robert Bruce. The 17-year-old resident of Fredericksburg, Va., has been racing since the age of 8 and has captured multiple feature victories at Dominion Raceway in Thornburg, Va., including his first in a late model stock car last season.
Clark is another driver local to the Mullins Racing base in Fredericksburg, Va. The 17-year-old resident of Mechanicsville, Va., has raced regularly at Dominion Raceway the last two years, earning two wins in the limited late model class in 2020 before registering his first late model stock car victory last season.
“I wish people could have given me this kind of opportunity when I first got started,” said Mullins. “That’s why we’re putting a good car together to give these kids a good experience at Daytona. Hopefully one of them will sign back up with us to go racing in February.”
For more information on Mullins Racing, please visit mullinsracing.net, like them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/mullinsracing and follow them on Twitter at @mullins_racing.
Follow this link to see what Racing Pro Media has to say about Blake:
https://www.racingpromedia.com/post/will-blake-lothian-be-the-next-big-star-of-nascar-arca-test-this-weekend-at-daytona-may-be-a-sign
LOOK FOR BIG NEWS SOON AND MORE TO COME IN 2022
MDR Racing Brings All It's Drivers to Victory Lane in 2021
A big thank you to Mike Darne Racing, it’s drivers and staff for getting all of it’s racers to victory lane in 2021. I am beyond blessed to be part of this team with Mason Diaz, Andrew Grady and Conner Jones. A special thanks to owner Mike Darne for mentoring us all to be true champions.
TRACK OR TREAT SEASON WRAP
Had a great time wrapping up my season at Tri-County Speedway with a top 5 finish and Track or Treat with fans. Can’t thank my sponsors and Mike Darne Racing for supporting me during my rookie late model season. From that first race at Southern National where we got P4 to my pole award and first late model win in the NASCAR weekly series at Hickory Motor Speedway on 9/11. What an amazing season ! Thank you Venture Wipes, POTUS ABC Kids, Texas Lawbook and Smith Lawncare. Can’t wait for 2022
HELPING THE NEXT GEN OF RACERS
Can you guess what I'm saying to this little guy? Answer:" I think you're out of gas buddy. Let me push you back into the pit. "
Anyone who knows me, knows that my favorite place to be on a weekend is the track. But if I am not racing, then I love helping out and mentoring the next generation of racers coming up. This past month I got to do just that several times at the NHKA Outdoor Karting Series in New Hampshire. This is where I learned how to race, thanks to my mentor, NHKA Director Mike Camarra. Places like this are so important for young drivers coming up and I love working with these little guys, showing them how to navigate turns so they don't chuck a chain or in some cases, giving them a reassuring pat on the back and a push back to the pits when they're tank is empty. For more info on karting in New England go to nhka.net
A Winning Day
This weekend I shared the details of my NASCAR Advance Auto Parts winning day at Hickory With Arun Rath of NPR'S All Things Considered. #wgbh.org
What's It Like Behind The Wheel ?
Last night I got the chance to chat on-air with Jim Braude of WGBH-TV’s Greater Boston program. He asked me what it’s really like to be buckled in behind the wheel during a race. For me, it’s definitely my comfort zone. I’m just thankful every day that I get to do a job I love. And I wouldn’t be there without sponsors like #TexasLawbook, #Venturewipe, #POTUSABCKids and #Smithlawncare #grateful #thankful #racinglife #racingTo see my entire interview go to wgbh.org
Racing For A Cure
RACE FOR THE CURE
Support your favorite driver and help stamp out a terrible disease at the same time. October is “Breast Cancer Awareness Month”. Now through October, when you purchase a Blake Lothian Racing t-shirt that sports the pink ribbon on the back, 10% of your purchase price will go directly to the NBCF in their fight against breast cancer. Go to Blake’s Merch page to place your order. Already have a Blake Lothian Racing T-shirt? Then go to Blake’s Race for the Cure page on this website and make a donation directly to NBCF and find out why Blake’s fight against this disease is personal.
BIG FIRST WIN FOR LATE MODEL ROOKIE BLAKE LOTHIAN IN THE NASCAR ADVANCE AUTO PARTS WEEKLY SERIES
“It feels like a dream “ Words from Blake after winning the NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series at Hickory Motor Speedway this past weekend. Blake was a man on a mission as he made a daring move in turn 4, taking it 3-wide and edging out his competitors for the lead. Track announcers called it “tell you what he is on a mission for his first win”, and he was. As if that was not enough, Blake also won a pole award beating out all other competitors to take the fastest qualifying time of the day. In the first twin 40 of the day Blake exchanged the lead a few times, but came in P2, just missing the win due to damage to the car’s toe after some competitive bumping and banging with another driver. And all of this in his rookie late model season with this being only his 4th race event. It sure did not take this rookie very long to make it to victory lane! Well done Blake. One of Blake’s main sponsors, Venture Wipes owner Thomas Fromm was at the track to join in the victory lane celebrations. A big thank you to the crew at Mike Darne Racing for giving Blake a rocket! as well as Blake’s sponsors Venture Wipes, Texas Lawbook, POTUS ABC and Smithlawncarenc
