Patrick
Lawson to Make NASCAR Debut at IRP With MB Motorsports
NASCAR has been built on the backs of new
drivers who come out of nowhere to take the
racing world by storm. Patrick Lawson hopes
to be one of those drivers. The Edwardsville
Illinois native will make his NASCAR Craftsman
Truck Series (NCTS) debut Friday night at the
Indianapolis Raceway Park (IRP) for the Power
Stroke Diesel 200. Lawson will be driving a
second entry for MB Motorsports, based out
of Foristell, Mo.
“Man, I’m looking forward to this,” said
Lawson. “I’ve known Mike Mittler
(MB Motorsports owner/crew chief) for a long
time and I appreciate him giving me this opportunity.
We’ve been working our butts off in the
shop getting this second truck ready and come
Friday night, I’m going to do my best
to make the show and not let my team down.”
Lawson, a veteran of the Sunoco Super Series
and of short tracks around the Midwest such
as I-70 Speedway, could very well be the next
of a long line of racing prodigies discovered
by Mittler. The list includes 1998 NASCAR Cup
Series Rookie of the Year Kenny Irwin, Jr.,
2003 NASCAR Cup Series Rookie of the Year,
Jamie McMurray, 2003 NCTS Rookie of the Year,
Carl Edwards, and his current driver, Chris
Wimmer.
Mittler said despite his ties with Lawson,
he is not fielding the second team solely because
of that relationship. “I’ve known
Patrick since he was a kid,” said Mittler, “but
he has earned this opportunity. I like lots
of people; but I’m not going to let them
potentially tear up several thousands of dollars
worth of equipment because I like them. I’ve
seen Patrick race and I think he has potential
and that’s why he’s getting his
shot. I don’t know how many races he’ll
do with us this year, but we’ll head
to IRP and see what happens there.”
Lawson will be driving the #26 MB Motorsports
Ford Friday night, reviving a number that has
special meaning for Lawson and his crew. “This
was Tony (Roper’s) number,” he
said. “Tony and I were good friends and
it’s an honor for me to be the first
person to drive that number in the Craftsman
Truck Series since we lost him. I’m going
to do my best to honor his memory Friday night.”
Also looking forward to the second team is
Chris Wimmer, who is the driver for MB Motorsports’ #63
Ford primary team. “It’s going
to be fun teaming up with Patrick this weekend,” said
Wimmer. “He works next to us in the shop
everyday and he’s a great guy to have
around. It’s his first NASCAR start so
he’s excited and we’re all excited
for him. It’s going to be a great weekend
for MB Motorsports.”
The NCTS Power Stroke Diesel 200 will be broadcast
live on SPEED Channel at 8 p.m. local time
and on MRN Radio at 7:30 p.m. local time.
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