Asheboro, NC(April 25, 2012) — Not many College Football Players get to suit up and go head to head with NFL Players while their still in college, but in racing sometimes the opportunity to go door to door with the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series racers will arise.
Thursday, April 26th, Garrett Campbell, a Sophomore at the University of North Carolina Charlotte will get the chance to do just that. In the tight confines of the 3/4 mile Richmond International Raceway in Richmond, VA, Campbell and a select few drivers, who were invited to compete in the Denny Hamlin Short Track Showdown will get the chance to race alongside the likes of NASCAR Sprint Cup Series reigning champion, Tony Stewart, Kyle Busch and winner of the most recent race, Denny Hamlin.
It’s an opportunity that doesn’t come that often for racers like Campbell, who hopes to one day be one of 43 starters in a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race, but today races on the tracks throughout the region that helped spawn the careers of drivers like Hamlin, Stewart, Busch and Jeff Burton. Campbell relishes the opportunity to race in the prestigious race, but hopes he’ll be the one to keep the “stars” from taking home the trophy.
“This is a great opportunity for us Late Model guys,” said Campbell. “We race each other all year, but to get the chance to race against the guys that everyone watches on Sunday is an honor. Those guys used to be just like us and they got a chance to make it and we’re all looking for the same opportunity. But, I’m not coming just to run in this race, I’m going to be going for the win. I’m not pulling over for Denny(Hamlin) or anyone else.”
Campbell has some experience racing on bigger tracks unlike some of the other Late Model Stock Car regulars entered in the race as he’s competed on Rockingham Speedway, a one-mile high banked track. He’s hoping that despite his inexperience at Richmond, his Rockingham experience will help him adapt faster.
“Going to Richmond and getting to race is going to be a whole lot of fun. I’ve never raced at Richmond, in fact last week was the first time I’d even been to the track when we tested. I like the track it’s a lot like Rockingham in these cars, so I’m hoping my experience there will help us come race time.”
Denny Hamlin, whose charity the Denny Hamlin Foundation puts this race on, was the winner of the race last year after a last lap pass of Kyle Busch. Campbell knows that beating the “stars” will take a good car and lot of luck, but he’s ready to give it everything he has.
“I know that Denny(Hamlin) and Kyle(Busch) and even Tony Stewart are going to be the favorites going into the race. Those guys have way more experience than us Late Model guys, but we’re all going to be fighting hard for the win too. I’m just looking to survive the first 50-lap segment and then have something to race with them in the last segment. If we can do that, I think we’ll have a chance to win this thing.”
Winning this race would mean a lot to any Late Model regular, not only to beat out some of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series’ best drivers, but to do it on live television in front of a huge audience.
“With this race being carried live on SPEED tv, there’s no telling how many people will be watching,” continued Campbell. “This is a big deal for us, if we can win this thing or even run up front we might catch the eye of a car owner and a sponsor looking to get into the sport. This race could help launch your career if everything went right, so we’re all going to be looking to make a good impression.”
Campbell will first have to qualify in the show on Thursday at 5:30pm before being able to strap in for 75-laps against some of the best drivers in the country. You can catch Campbell and the rest of the field live on SPEED tv beginning at 8:30pm. You can also follow along to live updates throughout the day via www.RACE22.com to keep up with everything that happens before SPEED goes live on the air.
