CHARLOTTE, NC :: Rising NASCAR Late Model star David Garbo Jr. will be taking his Stock Car winning talents to Martinsville Speedway on October 6th for his debut run at the famed half-mile oval.
The Virginia is for Racing Lovers 300 is the biggest, richest, most prestigious NASCAR Late Model race in the country, with the winner taking home $25,000 and the famed grandfather clock trophy.
Expecting more than a 100-car turnout at the paperclip-shaped oval which provides excitement ranging from merely breath-taking to utterly chaotic, Garbo will have his work cut out for him. But the challenge is not overly daunting to the 2013 four-time winner in the NASCAR series. His most recent win was in last month’s prestigious 150-lap Bobby Isaac Memorial at Hickory Motor Speedway where he beat many of the country’s best.
Says Garbo “Well, on the one hand you have to look at Martinsville as ‘It’s just another race.’ On the other hand, it’s a lot of money for my charity to help some needy kids, so, better look out, it’s game on. And that clock would look pretty cool in my parents house.”
Garbo’s charity reference is to his DGJR Foundation, which has so far amassed over $20,000 in scholarship funds as the result of his 2013 race earnings. The money is to be awarded to a needy student at The Forman School in Garbo’s home state of Connecticut (www.formanschool.org). The Forman School specializes in helping students who are diagnosed with language-based learning differences such as dyslexia, dysgraphia, dyscalculia, executive functioning, and ADD/ADHD. Garbo himself is currently a top-performing student at the school.
Having just turned 17 on September 29, the young phenom has already racked up some very impressive accomplishments in his short racing career, including the US Legend Car National Championship in 2012. Now driving stock cars full time on his way up the ladder towards the top level of racing, he will be making his 34th Late Model start with winning crew chief Jamie Yelton. Yelton and his FHR team bring a good history to the Martinsville race where his team is always competitive with his highest finish being third in 2009.
To add to Garbo’s chances, he’s on a run right now. His last two wins have come in his last six races, and he has competed for the win in each of the other four. His career finishing average in a stock car is equally impressive: he has finished in the top 5 in half of his Late Model starts. So, yes, it is going to be game on at Martinsville on October 6th, and there’s a good chance of seeing the black #8 Garbo Lobster-sponsored car in victory lane.
