Latest news with #No.07
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Jake Johnson seeks validation in JMA Motorsports' home race at Seekonk Speedway
More than a year has passed since Jake Johnson brought Ole Blue back to Victory Lane on the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour, a win that arrived at Monadnock Speedway in New Hampshire. A lot has changed for Johnson since that day, but his commitment to winning in Modifieds remains unwavering. Now part-time in the series with JMA Motorsports, Johnson is set to make his second Modified Tour appearance with the program in Saturday's J&R Precast 150 at Massachussets' Seekonk Speedway. Advertisement Johnson's first start with JMA earlier this season at Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park saw him qualify on the outside pole before he was eliminated in a wreck with nine laps to go. Despite the Thompson race ending in disappointment, Johnson said the cohesion he and JMA displayed that weekend has provided him plenty of optimism ahead of Saturday's race. 'We've had a pretty good year so far,' Johnson said. 'Everywhere we've shown up with my family car or the No. 07 car, we've had a lot of speed. I'm excited to get back in the No. 07, because [even though] Thompson was rough, we showed good speed. 'These guys are deserving of a good run, and I think we can put one together [at Seekonk].' Johnson was enjoying a career season on the Modified Tour last year before he sustained a hard crash in the second race at Thompson. After the wreck, Johnson parted ways with Boehler Racing Enterprises and did not return to the series for the rest of 2024. Jake Johnson driver of the #3 Propane Plus; Lin\ As Johnson was crafting a 2025 racing schedule with his family car, JMA co-owners Mike and Justin Albernaz reached out to him about competing in select Modified Tour events. Johnson jumped at the offer to race with JMA, which now assists his own program in other Modified events around the northeast. Advertisement The Albernaz family's involvement in motorsports extends far beyond Modified competition. Mike operated CJ Racing in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series from 1999-00, when he fielded entries for a variety of drivers like David Starr, Lonnie Rush Jr. and 2008 Modified Tour champion Ted Christopher. Mike's hands-on approach to racing was passed down to his grandson Justin, who also serves as the crew chief for the No. 07 Modified. The addition of Johnson to JMA's program has been invaluable for the younger Albernaz, who praised the determination his driver displays both on and off the track. '[Jake] is 100 percent focused on racing,' Albernaz said. 'His mind is in it, and he's not only worried about driving it, he's worried about getting the car right. He's very talented behind the wheel. He's aggressive at times, but that's what you need to get the job done sometimes.' RELATED: Career stats for Jake Johnson Advertisement One aspect of the partnership between Johnson and JMA involves the crews from both programs working on the same car. Combining resources made the duo stronger and reinforced the expectations Johnson and the Albernaz family have for the Modified Tour, which is to win a race together. Thompson showcased that Johnson and JMA could hold their own with the full-time Modified Tour operations across the board. The two sides are eager to shake off the late-race crash from Thompson and utilize their collective knowledge by putting together a complete weekend at Seekonk. Especially since this is a hometown affair for nearly everyone involved at JMA. 'Seekonk was probably the first one that got put on the list just because [JMA's] shop is about three minutes away,' Johnson said. 'Seekonk is about 10 minutes from my house, so it's a special place for us because it's our home turf. We always run good there, and [JMA] used to run good there when we did open racing at Seekonk. Advertisement 'It made a lot of sense for us to circle Seekonk.' Jake Johnson, driver of the number 07 Lin's Propane; Propane Plus; Platinum Fire Protection; Island International; Axis Wealth Partners modified, during the IceBreaker 150 for the Whelen Modified Tour at Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park on April 16, 2025 in Thompson, Connecticut. (Rob Branning/NASCAR) Countless trips to Seekonk over the years have provided Albernaz plenty of insight into all the fundamentals necessary to prevail. The facility only being 0.333 miles in length means laps will click of rapidly Saturday evening. That emphasizes the importance of obtaining solid track position in qualifying. Albernaz does not see qualifying being a problem for Johnson at Seekonk given how fast he was in the No. 07 at Thompson. The challenge for Albernaz will be designing a setup that responds well to Seekonk's unique characteristics and puts Johnson in the best position to upset the Modified Tour regulars. Advertisement '[Seekonk] is a very tough track to get around,' Albernaz said. 'It's very throttle-sensitive and this race is going to be all about saving tires. That's going to be the biggest talk in the garage probably for the entire race. With Jake's laps on the track and our expertise with how many races we've run there, I think we should be pretty good.' A Modified Tour win at his family's home track would be an emotional, cathartic moment for Albernaz. Mike enjoyed numerous Seekonk victories with drivers like Eddie St. Angelo, Vinny Annarummo and Mike Christopher Sr.; now Justin wants to add to his family's legacy at the track with JMA's first win. Johnson is focused on not only helping JMA secure a Seekonk checkered flag, but also on validating his talent to the rest of the Modified Tour field. Prevailing at Monadnock in Ole Blue last year was a milestone moment, but Johnson knows he can accomplish so much more. 'I don't want to be known as the guy who just won one [Modified Tour] race as a fluke,' Johnson said. 'If I could go win two or three Tour races, I think it would solidify that [Monadnock] wasn't luck. The No. 07 is overdue for a win. They've been super strong everywhere they go, so I'd like to do that for them, as well.' With their chemistry continuing to grow every week, Johnson and JMA are ready to make a statement in their second Modified Tour race together this weekend by earning a victory in front of their hometown crowd.
NBC Sports
04-03-2025
- Automotive
- NBC Sports
Kyle Larson, William Byron add NASCAR Truck races to their schedule
Kyle Larson will run two upcoming NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series races, and William Byron will run one Truck race for Spire Motorsports, the team announced Tuesday. Larson is scheduled to compete in the No. 07 for Spire on March 21 at Homestead-Miami Speedway and April 11 at Bristol. Byron is scheduled to be in the truck March 28 at Martinsville. will sponsor the trucks in those races. Dustin Long, 'One of the coolest things of having a Craftsman Truck Series team is to have the crossover from Hendrick Motorsports and Hendrick Automotive Group,' said Spire Motorsports co-owner Jeff Dickerson in a statement from the team. 'We've had all their drivers in our trucks from time to time, and to have two guys in William (Byron) and Kyle (Larson), who have won races with us back in the seat, certainly gives the team a little more pep in our step. It also raises the bar for those races to win or bust. You don't show up with those guys to do anything else but win.' Larson last ran in the Truck Series in 2023, winning at North Wilkesboro for Spire Motorsports. Larson has three wins in 15 career Truck starts. Byron has eight career Truck wins. His most recent win came in 2022 at Martinsville with Spire Motorsports.
USA Today
30-01-2025
- Automotive
- USA Today
Spire Motorsports reveals NASCAR lineup for 2025 Truck race at Daytona
Spire Motorsports reveals NASCAR lineup for 2025 Truck race at Daytona Spire Motorsports has revealed its entire driver lineup for the 2025 NASCAR Truck Series season opener at Daytona International Speedway. On Wednesday morning, Spire Motorsports announced that Michael McDowell and Justin Haley will join full-time drivers Rajah Caruth and Andres Perez de Lara for the Truck Series race at Daytona. McDowell will drive the new No. 07 truck while Haley competes in the No. 7 truck. Meanwhile, Caruth will continue his tenure in the No. 71 truck, with Perez de Lara in the No. 77 truck. Most notably, this will be McDowell's first Truck Series race since the 2009 season, and he has yet to win at the NASCAR level. In two starts, his best finish was 11th place at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. As for Haley, he returns to a series that has provided great success in the past. In 2018, Haley won three races and finished third in the point standings. Overall, Spire Motorsports hopes that its strong driver lineup can take home the trophy at Daytona. McDowell, Haley, Caruth, and Perez de Lara are all capable of winning for Spire Motorsports at Daytona. More: Hailie Deegan provides a big update on her potential return to NASCAR
