Cole Bruce, son of Late Model Stock Car veteran Robert Bruce, has had success in Bandolero racing and has since made the leap to Limited Late Model racing.
This year, the 14-year-old from Fredericksburg, Virginia will be competing in the Dominion Racer division, Dominion Raceway’s Limited Late Model class, as well as at Shenandoah Speedway during weeks he’s not running at Dominion. He’s hoping to gain experience in Limited Late Model racing and possibly contend for wins.
“Our expectations for this year, probably just try to run top-three every weekend, get as many wins as we can, get our name out there, and get as many sponsors as we can,” Bruce said. “Hopefully we can contend. We haven’t tested at Shenandoah yet. I think we’ll be a competitive car, most likely a top-five.”
Bruce has had seat time in a Limited Late Model. He has competed at Dominion Raceway and Shenandoah Speedway and has logged laps at Southern National Motorsports Park at a race that was eventually rained out. The seat time has helped Bruce learn how to drive the car and the differences between a Late Model and a Bandolero.
“Overall, I learned a lot about the steering and horsepower differences, as well as the different competition levels with different drivers,” Bruce remarked. “Racing-wise, tighter closer racing with the other drivers. Horsepower is the biggest difference and probably just more throttle and brake control than in the Bandoleros. We are running wide open with a restrictor plate in Bandoleros.”
Bruce hopes for bigger and better things in his future. Whether it’s Late Model success or ARCA, he races with an eye toward the future but remains focused on the present.
“Three or five years from now, I hope to accomplish a Rookie of the Year in a Late Model class in Virginia and be able to run more races in the future and just get a track championship or a few somewhere,” Bruce stated. “I would also like to test and get into an ARCA car. Mullins racing helps us out a lot and hopefully, we can work something out in the future.”
Cole Bruce is supported by Papa John’s, Matco Tools by Mark Breeden, Shepard’s Heating and Air, Mullins Racing and Dinah Marie Photography.
He will be back at Dominion Raceway on Sunday, April 22nd when the Dominion Racer class competes again.
