Meech Makes Return

Matthew Meech will make his return to the Spears Srl Southwest Tour Series presented by Lucas Oil at Irwindale Speedway, after taking time off for family and working with Craig Raudman and Dave Reed Racing in 2018. Meech will return to a track at which he has five SRL starts, and a best career finish of ninth. On March 23rd, Meech will make his 14th career start, as the SRL will kick off it’s 19th season of action.
“I am super excited to get back to racing”, Meech told the SPEARS Southwest Tour Series. “It has been a whole year since we went racing, so it will be nice just to get back into a good rhythm”. Meech is happy to make his return, at a facility at which he has had some good runs, and one at which he considers his home track.”Irwindale is about as much of a ‘home’ track as it gets for me”, Meech said. “We ran really well there in 2017, and felt like it gave us a lot of momentum going into the last few races. So I really hope we can do the same thing this year!”Meech’s 13 starts have come over the course of five seasons, beginning in 2013. In 2016, Meech made five starts in the SRL, a career high. In 2017 he scored his best finish of ninth at Irwindale. Looking ahead to 2019, Meech’s schedule will depend on his race results. Meech explained, “Our plans are to take it race by race. I know we plan to be at both Irwindale races, and both Vegas (Bullring @ Las Vegas Motor Speedway) races. Past that, it depends on how we run.”Matt is the son of El Cajon Speedway and NASCAR Southwest Tour Series star Mark Meech. The elder Meech was a veteran of the Southwest Tour. He totaled 50 starts in the series, scoring two wins at his home track, while participating in partial schedules from 1988 to 2004. Mark scored two championships at Cajon, once in a Super Stock (now Late Model) in 1984, then again in a Modified in 1993. He now serves as his son’s crew chief, and the backbone of the team. Matt is thankful for his fathers help, and for all the support he receives from sponsors and his team.”I would like to thank my dad a ton for everything, he puts a lot of time towards racing, and it means everything to me”, Matt beamed. “I’d also like to thank Bill Maropulos Racing Engines, JS Plastering, and Bryans Racing Enterprises. I would especially like to thank all of my guys on the team that take time off away from family and work, we wouldn’t be able to do any of this without their support!”Meech will arrive in the familiar Meech family number 64 at Irwindale Speedway on Friday, March 22nd for practice. Saturday March 23rd will be raceday for the SPEARS Southwest Tour, with qualifying proceeding. They will be joined by the Spears Modified Series for a double header that should not be missed.Photo Credit: Sal Sigala Jr.