Clancy Jr. Ready for the Masters of the Pros 144 at Lebanon I-44 Speedway
Durobyte Motorsports Story – (June 29, 2017) – DuroByte Motorsports and 14 year old driver Michael Clancy Jr. have had a rough start to their 2017 racing season with the JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour Presented by Chevrolet Performance, their results have not shown how good the team and Clancy Jr. have been. In the series last event on June 17th at Salem Speedway, Clancy Jr. was in a heated battle with the top five running cars, when a late caution set up a run to the finish, unfortunately contact from another car on a restart sent Clancy Jr. spinning into the outside wall in turn one on the High Banked half-mile, then coming down the track with hard impact into the guardrail at the bottom of turn one. The car suffered heavy damage, but thanks to the safety precautions taken by the team and the car manufacturer, Clancy Jr. was fine, but his night ended without him getting to race the final four laps, but the team still came away with a solid sixth place finish.
The 5th Annual Masters of the Pro’s 144 at Lebanon I-44 Speedway, located in Lebanon, Missouri is the next event for the team, this Monday, July 3rd. That event will pay $8000 to win plus bonuses, making it one of the highest paying crate late model events in the country, plus the winner will be awarded a signature green jacket, similar to the one that is known for adorning the champion of golf’s Masters event. Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series competitor Chase Elliott won the inaugural Masters of the Pro’s 144 in 2013. Georgia teenager Anderson Bowen got the win in 2014, while NASCAR Camping World Truck Series competitor John Hunter Nemechek won the 2015 and 2016 events.
The 2016 Masters of the Pro’s 144 was Clancy Jr.’s first ever race with the JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour and was the series 2016 season opener that attracted 46 entries. Clancy Jr. did not qualify for the Mercy Masters of the Pros 144 event, but still got to race in the JEGS Challenge 30. Clancy Jr. grabbed the lead at the drop of the green flag of the JEGS Challenge 30 and fought off all challengers to lead all 30 laps and get the win in his first ever JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour race. Clancy Jr. looks to go back and not only make the race, but compete for the win!
“The Masters of the Pro’s race at I-44 always has tough competition,” remarked Clancy Jr. “I think our team is well prepared and we will have a fast car this weekend!”
“Our team is coming off a good run at Salem Speedway,” remarked crew chief Jimmy D Smith. “Our finish doesn’t reflect how strong we were as Michael was collected in that late race incident. The whole team is really starting to come together, every time we go out we continue to improve!”
DuroByte Motorsports will campaign Howe Racing Chassis Ford’s again in 2017 with Ford engines by Ilmor. The team announced that Made In Detroit and Dalton Industries would return to support Clancy Jr. and the DuroByte Motorsports Team in 2017 along with Ilmor Engineering and Nalett Trucking..
At 13 years old during the 2016 racing season, Clancy Jr. was the youngest regular competitor with the JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour. Clancy Jr. went on to get three top ten finishes during the season, with a top finish of sixth twice, once on the High Banks of Salem Speedway and at the tough quarter mile of Anderson Speedway. Clancy Jr. finished 7th in final series Driver Points and was second in VanDoorn Racing Development Rookie of the Year points.
DuroByte Motorsports, owned by Murray Van Wieringen and spear headed by crew chief Jimmy D Smith, has a proud history of fielding competitive racecars with the JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour and ARCA/CRA Super Series since the 2013 season. More information on DuroByte Motorsports is available at www. durobytemotorsports.com or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/durobytemotorsports.
More information on Michael Clancy Jr. is available at www.michaelclancyracing.com or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Michael-Clancy-Racing.
