ERIC NASCIMENTO Jr. TO MAKE SRL DEBUT
Madera Speedway Junior and Pro Late Model driver Eric Nascimento Jr. will be make his first Spears Srl Southwest Tour Series start on March 24th, in the “2018 Championship Opener presented by 51 FIFTY Energy Drink”. Nascimento was a winner in both the Late Models and Junior Late Models in 2017. He finished seventh in the Junior Late Model standings, despite missing an event, during the season. He also scored an impressive top five finish in his Pacific Challenge Series debut. Bubba, as he is called, will be driving Eric Lee Nascimento prepared car, that Eric Holmes normally pilots in Super Late Model and SRL competition.
The 16 year old driver spent his first season behind the wheel of a Late Model in 2017, and will be looking to improve upon his results in 2018. The SPEARS Southwest Tour Series event, will be his second Super Late Model start. It is a start that he has been looking forward to, for a long time.
“I’m excited to be running my first SRL race, at the track where I spent all of the 2017 season learning”, Nascimento told the SPEARS Southwest Tour Series. “It is something that I have dreamed about, since I was a kid. I had two wins at Madera last year, one in the 51 Fifty Jr Late Model, and one in the RPM Mortgage Late Model, as well as a top 5 in my only PCS series start. It is a track I feel comfortable at.”
The 2018 campaign will see Nascimento looking to get out of his comfort zone, by expanding out beyond his home track, with a look towards the future, in his Panella Race Engines, David’s Racing Products, Nascimento Motorsports Chevy.
Bubba said, “In 2018, my schedule has me running several other tracks and series, so I can continue to learn, and sharpen my skills. In 2019, we plan to make a run for the SRL Rookie-of-the-Year Award.”
Nascimento will have three-time NASCAR K&N Pro Series West Champion Eric Holmes in his corner, as a driver coach for the weekend. The twelve-time Southwest Tour winner will be a valuable help, as the teenager will look for a good finish in the $5,000 to win event, thanks to the Winner’s Bonus sponsor, Hamner Racing Engines.
Qualifying and Heat Races for the local divisions will begin at 3:15pm. Opening Ceremonies are slated for 6:00pm, with qualifying for the SPEARS SRL Southwest Tour Series commencing at 6:45pm. The Feature Event for the “Tour” is scheduled for 9:00pm, with a full field of Super Late Models expected for the season opening event, at the one-third mile oval.
