15-year-old ASALMS Northern Division Rookie of the Year title contender, Alex Kennedy wins in Pro Legends at Infineon (CA) Raceway.
Posted June 26th, 2007
Alex Kennedy went to the Infineon (CA) Raceway for a special
“Invitation Only” Legends Car event during NASCAR Nextel Cup Weekend.
The 15-year-old Won amongst the Pro Division drivers and finished Third
overall in the 27-car field. (Alex Kennedy Racing Photo)
By 5K Motorsports/Dennis Michelsen
Aztec, New Mexico (06/26/2007): 15-year-old ASA Late Model Series
driver Alex Kennedy from Aztec, New Mexico was back in his Legends car
this past weekend for an invitation only race at Infineon (CA) Raceway.
Part of the warm up acts for the NASCAR Nextel Cup weekend, Alex was
impressive in his return to road course racing finishing first among
the Pro Division drivers and third overall in the twenty-seven car
field.
Only Masters Division racers Steve Fensler Jr and Robert Gayton were able to beat Alex on Saturday! “The three of us broke away from the pack,” said Alex. “Our cars were pretty even but those guys were tough to catch and even harder to get around!” Fensler Jr and Gayton are world road course champions in Legends cars. Robert Gayton is also Alex Kennedy’s driving coach!
“I was a little surprised that I was able to stay with those guys,” said Alex. “They both have so many more laps than I do at Infineon. The cool thing is that we got to race the same course as the Nextel Cup drivers. Our lines through the corners are similar but their braking points are vastly different.” Alex will be back in his ASA Late Model Series car on Saturday July 7, 2007 for the Mad Summer Meltdown 100 at Madison International Speedway.
Meet Alex Kennedy: Aztec, New Mexico’s Alex Kennedy had an adventurous 2006 season. Starting the year in Legends cars at the Las Vegas Road Course in January, he would have never guessed that he would end the season making his debut in the ASA Late Model Series in Nashville.
ESPN’s
“Outside the Lines” show would even feature Alex during a special about
young drivers! Nicknamed the “New Mexico Rising Star” at his home track
of Sandia Motorsports Park, Alex lived up to that moniker with more
firsts last season. Alex was named a National Ambassador for Dream
Factory Inc in the off-season and will be racing in the ASA Late Model
Series Northern division for 5K Motorsports in 2007.
Alex qualified 15th out of 46 cars at O’Reilly Raceway Park in the
season opener. At I-70 Speedway, Alex posted the fast time in final
practice, qualified Eighth, and was running in the Top Five when his
power steering failed. Alex will be back in action in the ASA Late
Model Series Northern Division at Madison Speedway on July 7, 2007 for
the Mad Summer Meltdown 100.
About Dream Factory INC.: The Dream Factory, Inc. (a 501(c)(3) organization) was founded in 1980 in Hopkinsville, Kentucky, by Charles Henault, a South Central Bell employee, who wanted to create a volunteer organization dedicated to granting the dreams of children with critical or chronic illnesses.
Currently, there are more than 30 chapters across the United States with over 5,000 volunteers who work to produce and deliver dreams, visit children and their families in the hospital and their homes, arrange special celebrations and conduct fundraising events for individual children.
This volunteer support ensures that the maximum percentage of donations are used for the procurement and distribution of dreams. “I feel so proud to represent Dream Factory Inc and bring racing to these kids that don’t get to do the fun stuff I get to do,” said Alex Kennedy.
Alex Kennedy hosted youngsters from the Central Missouri Chapter of Dream Factory INC while at I-70 Speedway. Josh Baysinger, Joey Lindsey and Cameron McGeorge and their families gave Alex his own personal cheering section!
“We put the kids to work this weekend,” joked Alex. “Josh, Joey, and Cameron were fun to hang out with and we also put Sally to work waving the green flag. It was cool seeing her up there on the last lap before we went green.”
“Josh is the boy that was presented the trophy by NASCAR driver Carl Edwards, another Dream Factory INC racing ambassador, after Carl’s win in the Craftsman Truck series at Daytona a few years ago. Josh was put to work helping to push Alex’s car to the starting grid and also gave the command for the drivers to start their engines.
For more information on Dream Factory Inc please check out their official website at: Dream Factory Inc.
License to Read 2006: When he is not busy testing or racing his Late Model stock car you can find Alex giving back to his community. The 2006 License to Read Summer Reading Program was a huge success! Alex enjoyed being on the receiving end for this event, getting the kid’s autographs and pictures of the kids in the driver’s seat of his racecar.
Alex also encouraged the kids to use the library as a tool in life just as his crew uses tools to make his car go faster! This story would even make the pages of Dick Berggren’s Speedway Illustrated last year.
ESPN’s Behind the Lines: Last summer ESPN’s Mike Massaro interviewed Alex and his parents for a special “Outside the Lines” special about young drivers. “I can’t drive to Sonic to get a cheeseburger but I can drive a racecar,” said Alex. Copies of the “Outside the Lines” show are available on request and can be viewed on Alex Kennedy’s website.
For more information on Alex Kennedy please check out his official website at: Alex Kennedy Racing
PR Contact: Dennis Michelsen - Cell Phone: 1 (847) 421-7571
E-mail: dennis@stockcarpitpass.com
This entry was posted on Tuesday, June 26th, 2007 at 7:33 am.
