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| JC Newell won five times en route to the Lebanon I-44 track championship in the Pro Late Model division and the Missouri title. |
Teen Wins I-44 Late Model Title & Missouri Crown
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Two years ago, then-rookie J.C. Newell said he had to prove himself as a Late Model driver.
Fast forward to current day and he thinks he’s accomplished that feat – having captured both a state and track championship title in the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series.
Newell, 2015 Missouri champion and Lebanon I-44 Speedway's O'Reilly Auto Parts Pro Late Model division champion, said winning in one of short track racing’s most competitive divisions is the biggest challenge yet in his career. He won the track’s 2012 Sportsman division championship with five wins, and his accomplishments opened up the door to Late Model racing the following season.
The 19-year-old from Camdenton, Mo., said he loves racing at the .375-mile banked paved oval in Lebanon, Mo., and for more than just the smoothness of the track.
“For me, it’s one of the nicest facilities you’ll find,” he said. “All the people are very welcoming and it’s just a great environment to be in.”
In what has been called the most exciting and competitive Pro Late Model feature in the history of the speedway, Newell took the lead from Brian Brown on the 29th lap of the 30-lap race to grab his fourth feature win of the season on Sept. 5.
“I never had to work so hard for a win in my life,” he said. “That was a tough race because we were a tight pack – you could have thrown a blanket over us. There was no breathing space and anyone had a chance at winning. You really had to work for it, and I got lucky.”
Newell finished with five wins, 13 top fives and 15 top 10s in 15 races. He edged defending track champion Kaleb Allison for the state title (391-327) and track title (1643-1514). U.S. state and Canadian province titles are determined by the best 18 finishes within the respective state or province, using the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series point system.
Newell is known as “Little” JC Newell on the track, sharing the pavement alongside his grandfather and Late Model driver, “Big” JC Newell. With also a father and brother in the sport, racing is a family affair in the Newell family.
“They were all really excited,” he said of his family’s reaction to his two Late Model championship titles. “It’s a great feeling of accomplishment to go against the veterans and pull it off in our third season.”
Newell said they plan to travel to more tracks in 2016, gaining racing experience in other states.
He will be honored for his Lebanon I-44 Speedway crown on Nov. 21 at University Plaza in Springfield, Mo., and then again along with other track and state/province champions from across North America as part of the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Awards on Dec. 11 at the Charlotte Convention Center and NASCAR Hall of Fame in Charlotte, N.C.
Established in 1982, the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series is NASCAR’s national championship program for weekly short track auto racing. Competitors at 58 paved and dirt tracks throughout North America vied for track, state and province, and overall series championships in Divisions I-V throughout the 2015 season.
The series’ title sponsor – Connecticut-based Whelen Engineering – is a leading manufacturer of automotive, aviation, industrial and emergency vehicle lighting. NASCAR tracks and pace cars are among the many showcases for Whelen products.
- Credit to NASCAR Home Tracks for this article.
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