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As I get the time, I'll be doing more stories like this on our drivers... Hope you enjoy it and don't get mad if I haven't written about you yet LOL!
PRESTON HUNT MAKING STRIDES IN HIS RACING CAREER AT NEW SMYRNA SPEEDWAY
He's young and gutsy, not afraid to mix it up with the veterans in his class
at New Smyrna Speedway, and he envisions himself racing in the NASCAR Sprint
Cup series one day. His name is Preston Hunt and he's been turning heads in
the Super Stock division this year after claiming Rookie of the Year honors in
the class for 2014.
Hunt, who lives in Deland, FL has plenty of time to get his racing career up
to the top level. At just 15 years of age, he'll start his freshman year at
Deland High School in August while continuing to race his family's Super Stock
car at the high-banked half-mile New Smyrna track on Saturday nights. His
team is a family affair attended to by his crew (and his biggest fans) that
consists of his dad Gary, mom, Grandpa Hunt, Belinda Laursen along with a host
of others who come out to the races each week that Preston participates.
His car is a Chevy Monte Carlo sponsored by Sun Belt Rentals along with
Sanford Auto Dealers Exchange that also sponsor drivers Ernie & Gino Tuminello
and Rich Clouser who have all been helping Preston get his career off on the
right foot. Hunt had never competed in any type of racing before climbing
behind the wheel of his Super Stock last year and there was definitely a big
"learning curve" that included a few spins, some wall-banging and other things
that can frustrate a young driver. But Hunt continued to learn and get the
"seat time" he needed and by season's end was becoming much more competitive
and gaining regular top-five finishes. It all culminated with a nice trophy
at the speedway banquet as the 2014 Super Stock Rookie of the Year.
This year the team added veteran driver and mechanic Jason Boyd to their group
to help make both the car and Preston faster. It's worked as Hunt has had
several good finishes although that first career feature win still eludes him.
He hasn't been afraid to rub sheet metal with veteran driver and current
track point leader Justin Reynolds of Merritt Island. A recent series of
altercations led to the pair sitting down and ironing out their differences
and Hunt feels that racing fender to fender against such top drivers in the
class as Reynolds, Shannon Kelly, Butch Herdegen, Bobby Holley, plus buddies
Ernie and Gino Tuminello is helping him learn how to drive at a better pace
than most young drivers. He finished second to Reynolds on June 20th but
found out things don't always go your way even after the race ends as his car
was disqualified in tech after coming in underweight. His last race also did
not go well as his car was clipped by another spinning machine coming off turn
two that resulted in some significant damage to Preston's immaculate #6. Hunt
has taken it all with a grain of salt though and plans to be right there in
the top three each race the rest of the year and get that first feature
victory.
When he isn't racing, Hunt likes to spend time on the water, particularly on
his jet ski plus he also enjoys fishing. As far as racing goes, Preston would
like to give the ARCA series a try first once he feels he is ready then make
the bigger step into NASCAR. Getting a shot at a Late Model ride at New
Smyrna may be first on his agenda as he can gain great experience at the fast
New Smyrna track that will help him when he eventually moves on to ARCA and
NASCAR.
Right now Preston Hunt is just looking forward to starting high school,
getting his driver's license, catching a few fish and winning Super Stock
races at New Smyrna Speedway.
PRESTON HUNT MAKING STRIDES IN HIS RACING CAREER AT NEW SMYRNA SPEEDWAY
He's young and gutsy, not afraid to mix it up with the veterans in his class
at New Smyrna Speedway, and he envisions himself racing in the NASCAR Sprint
Cup series one day. His name is Preston Hunt and he's been turning heads in
the Super Stock division this year after claiming Rookie of the Year honors in
the class for 2014.
Hunt, who lives in Deland, FL has plenty of time to get his racing career up
to the top level. At just 15 years of age, he'll start his freshman year at
Deland High School in August while continuing to race his family's Super Stock
car at the high-banked half-mile New Smyrna track on Saturday nights. His
team is a family affair attended to by his crew (and his biggest fans) that
consists of his dad Gary, mom, Grandpa Hunt, Belinda Laursen along with a host
of others who come out to the races each week that Preston participates.
His car is a Chevy Monte Carlo sponsored by Sun Belt Rentals along with
Sanford Auto Dealers Exchange that also sponsor drivers Ernie & Gino Tuminello
and Rich Clouser who have all been helping Preston get his career off on the
right foot. Hunt had never competed in any type of racing before climbing
behind the wheel of his Super Stock last year and there was definitely a big
"learning curve" that included a few spins, some wall-banging and other things
that can frustrate a young driver. But Hunt continued to learn and get the
"seat time" he needed and by season's end was becoming much more competitive
and gaining regular top-five finishes. It all culminated with a nice trophy
at the speedway banquet as the 2014 Super Stock Rookie of the Year.
This year the team added veteran driver and mechanic Jason Boyd to their group
to help make both the car and Preston faster. It's worked as Hunt has had
several good finishes although that first career feature win still eludes him.
He hasn't been afraid to rub sheet metal with veteran driver and current
track point leader Justin Reynolds of Merritt Island. A recent series of
altercations led to the pair sitting down and ironing out their differences
and Hunt feels that racing fender to fender against such top drivers in the
class as Reynolds, Shannon Kelly, Butch Herdegen, Bobby Holley, plus buddies
Ernie and Gino Tuminello is helping him learn how to drive at a better pace
than most young drivers. He finished second to Reynolds on June 20th but
found out things don't always go your way even after the race ends as his car
was disqualified in tech after coming in underweight. His last race also did
not go well as his car was clipped by another spinning machine coming off turn
two that resulted in some significant damage to Preston's immaculate #6. Hunt
has taken it all with a grain of salt though and plans to be right there in
the top three each race the rest of the year and get that first feature
victory.
When he isn't racing, Hunt likes to spend time on the water, particularly on
his jet ski plus he also enjoys fishing. As far as racing goes, Preston would
like to give the ARCA series a try first once he feels he is ready then make
the bigger step into NASCAR. Getting a shot at a Late Model ride at New
Smyrna may be first on his agenda as he can gain great experience at the fast
New Smyrna track that will help him when he eventually moves on to ARCA and
NASCAR.
Right now Preston Hunt is just looking forward to starting high school,
getting his driver's license, catching a few fish and winning Super Stock
races at New Smyrna Speedway.
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