ASA Stars to Watch in 2012: JC Newell

He is only 15-years-old and is already a champion driver.  This season JC Newell from Stoutland, MO will have stiff competition at Lebanon I-44 Speedway, an ASA Member Track in Lebanon, MO.  That competition is very close to his heart and great mentors.

“My grandpa JC Newell and my dad Ben Newell will be competing in the Sportsman division with me,” the third generation driver said.  “I am super excited to get to race with my mentors!”

His grandfather is a member of the Ozark Area Hall of Fame and his father has been racing for 27 years.  The fans at I-44 Speedway will have the special honor of watching three generations compete every Saturday night this season.

The young driver is already making a name for himself in short track racing.  He started racing when he was five years old.  He won the Missouri State Championship in 2002.  While traveling around Missouri racing, he won over 75 go-kart races. 

At the age of 13, he started racing dirt Midwest Modifieds where he won on his very first night in the car.  That same year, he went on to win 17 features and a track championship at Midway Speedway and finished second in points at Springfield Raceway.

Last season, he took on the challenge of racing on both dirt and asphalt where he drove his Modified on the area dirt tracks and competed in the Sportsman division at I-44’s 3/8-mile high-banked asphalt oval.  At the end of the season, he won 15 features in the Midwest Modified and won the track championship at Midway Speedway.  He finished second in the Sportsman division points at I-44 Speedway with one feature win. He also tried out the Modified division at I-44 Speedway last season on a part-time basis.

“I really like the facility at Lebanon I-44 Speedway,” Newell said.  “We have a great promoter and staff.  We have the best fan base around.  I-44 is a very fan friendly, fast and a high-banked speedway.”

Along with running in the Sportsman division this season, he will also be running a limited schedule in I-44’s Modified division as well.

Racing isn’t the only thing on his mind. He also plays basketball for Stoutland (MO) High School where they recently finished their season with a 14-12 record.

“My future plan is to build a career in racing,” Newell said.  “I hope to compete in an ASA Late Model traveling series like the ASA Midwest Tour in the next couple of years and work my way up to NASCAR.”

“It is easy to say that with him having a hall of fame grandfather and a successful father as winning drivers, the acorn doesn’t fall far from the tree,” Craig Armstrong, Lebanon I-44 Speedway Promoter said.  “He is an extremely talented and mature young man.  His potential is tremendous.  It simply boils down to having a car that is set up correctly and for him to keep his focus.  As long as he finishes well and wins, his natural talent will guide him to a successful future in auto racing.”

Fans can follow JC Newell’s progress during the 2012 season by visiting Lebanon I-44 Speedway’s website at www.i44speedway.net.

ASA Racing PR