Winning a championship is no easy task today in any racing division.
Blood, sweat, tears, and a little bit of pocket change are some of the
ingredients a driver needs to achieve that perfect season. For
22-year-old Jonathan Martin claiming the 2011 USA Modified Series
Championship was not his intention going into the season but luckily
for him it was the outcome.
"The
season ended a lot different than we could have planned at the
beginning of the year," stated Martin. "The original plans were to run
a limited schedule in the CRA Super Series for Welch and
Wilson
Motorsports and run in the USA Modified Series on the off weekends.
After running the first three races in the modified tour we found
ourselves leading the points and our priorities changed and we decided
to run for the championship. I am so thankful for all the
opportunities I had this year and I am proud of my team for helping me
win this championship."
Early in the season Martin proved to be quite a contender with fenders
on his car as well. He was backed by Welch and Wilson Motorsports for
a few races with the CRA Super Series and the CRA/JEGS All-Star Tour.
"My
CRA Super Series debut was at my home track Baer Field Speedway
located in Ft. Wayne, Indiana," stated Martin. "We qualified 12th out
of 33 cars which made us the best crate late model in the field. For
me to be that competitive the first time out was a really big
confidence booster. We then backed it up at Columbus Speedway in the
JEGS-All Stars Tour by qualifying second followed by qualifying ninth
at M-40 in the Super Series later in the year."
During the off season Martin hopes to solidify his plans for the 2012
racing season. With the USA Modified Series championship the young man
can add his fourth championship to his racing resume. With over 79
event wins from Karting to Street Stocks to Modifieds he hopes to
bring some sponsors on board for 2012 and really start propelling his
racing career and be a full time CRA competitor.
"CRA
is a great sanctioning body with awesome people," added Martin. "With
Welch and Wilson Motorsports closing the doors it gives me the chance
to seek out better opportunities for the 2012 season. CRA has some of
the toughest competition in the country traveling with it and I feel
like being a part of the series is the next step I need to take in my
career."
For
more information on Martin be sure to check out his website at
