Rookie-of-the-Year Contender – Eric Nascimento Jr.

Over the next two weeks we will be concentrating on this season’s Rookie-of-the-Year Contenders, as well as several drivers participating in their rookie campaigns in the Spears Srl Southwest Tour Series. As the series heads to Madera Speedway on June 8th, for the “SPEARS Southwest Tour Series 125 presented by 51 FIFTY LTM”, several of those drivers call the “Fastest One-Third Mile in the West” their home track. One of those drivers would be Lathrop, CA teenager Eric Nascimento Jr.

Bubba, as he is known by friends, has been piloting the families Nascimento Motorsports Toyota Camry in the SRL, and currently sits 17th in the championship standings, fourth in Rookie-of-the-Year competition. Their new FURY Race Cars Super Late Model has shown speed, despite finishes of 13th, 19th and 27th. In two of the first three events, Bubba had driven the car into the top-10, but is still looking to better his 10th place finish from Madera, in 2018.

“With very minor changes, our new Fury Race Car has been on rails all year long, and we have got the car where it needs to be, to race with the best”, Nascimento told the SPEARS Southwest Tour Series. “This year has been a very good learning experience, with all of these very fast drivers. We haven’t had the results that we were looking for at the start of the season, but we still have lots of races to get back in the points.”

The Nascimento Motorsports Team is well-known throughout the Central Valley of California. They have competed in the SRL with drivers such as Eric Holmes, Cody Hodgson, Colby Potts and Greg Potts. In 2019, drivers such as Sammy Solari, Jacob Gomes, Eric Holmes and Colby Potts will compete in their Late Models at the New Stockton 99 Speedway, ALL AMERICAN SPEEDWAY – ROSEVILLE CA and Madera Speedway. Drivers such as Hodgson, Hunter Corbitt, Luis Tyrell, Nick Grossi and Payton Lanphear have come through their Driver Development Program.

Bubba will be behind the wheel of the Super Late Model for the majority of events in 2019, and all the SRL schedule. Eric knows those events will be difficult, as the competition in the series is very tough.

“The competition in the SRL is second to none”, Nascimento explained. “With some of the best Super Late Model drivers in the country competing with us, it is a very tight field.”

Nascimento is excited to head back to his home track in Madera. It is a track that the high school football star has won in both the Late Model and Junior Late Model Division. With his experience there, a top five finish is the goal.

“To finally race at my home track takes a little pressure off of me, being that I have been to Madera quite a bit, and I have a lot of laps there”, the 17-year-old driver stated. “My team and I have high hopes for June 8th at Madera Speedway. We are shooting for a top five, which won’t be easy with all of the stout competition.”

Nascimento is thankful for his team and the sponsors that make his effort possible.

I would like to thank the entire Nascimento Motorsports race team (too many to name all but they know who they are)”, Bubba began, “I would like to give a big shout-out to my Dad Eric Lee Nascimento and Uncle Mike Nascimento, for giving me the opportunity to live my dream every weekend. Also, a big shout out to all my sponsors; Jetsetter Express, Skip Co Welding and Industrial Supply, RJ’s Paint Shop, David’s Racing Products, BRE, Scott Conway Racing, PanellaRaceEngines, Boys and Girls Club and Nut Up, for also giving me the opportunity to live my dream every weekend.

This year’s rookie winner will receive a ROTY package that includes a 55-gallon drum of race fuel from Sunoco Racing, a set of tires from Hoosier Tire West, a $1,500 certificate from VDL Fuel Systems a 3/4 Wrap from Wrapped Graphix and a FLUIDYNE High Performance Cooling Module. The estimated value of this year’s package is in excess of $4,000. Thank you to Sunoco Fuels, Hoosier Tire West, VDL Fuel Systems, Wrapped Graphics and FLUIDYNE for your support of the SPEARS Southwest Tour and the Rookie-of-the-Year program.