Tim Russell Claims Florida State Super Late Model Championship
Young Driver Already A Dominate Force, Seals the Deal at Lakeland
There aren’t too many things that Tim Russell hasn’t been able to accomplish in 2007. And now, Florida State Super Late Model Champion can be added to that already impressive list of accomplishments. He proved yet again on Saturday night at USA International Speedway, from the start of the weekend until the end, just why he is the Sunbelt Series points’ leader and one of the top names in Florida Super Late Model racing.
“The whole weekend at Lakeland went really good for us,” said Russell. “We were a solid top-five car in every practice, and I felt pretty good going into the weekend.”
From the time the No. 36 showed up at USA International Speedway, the car was fast. Russell was able to secure the top starting spot, and once the race was underway, he was never a factor out of the top-five. And it wasn’t just any race; this Florida State Championship event happened to be a 200-lapper, making the feat even more impressive.
“We went out there and put it on the pole, and that was a good start. Once the race started we settled in the second spot, and we stayed there for quite awhile. I don’t think that we ever fell out of the top-three or four the entire race. We definitely had a solid car.
“We got a little tight after the pit stop, so we were just trying to hold on to what we had. Some stuff happened out in front of us and we were able to take the lead with five to go. Sometimes you just have to have luck on your side. We got it here rolling with us, and we were able to come out on top.”
The win also had some healing effects within the close knit team of Russell Racing.
“It was an important race for us to win on a personal note as well. I want to dedicate this win to the Harrelson family. Ken Harrelson, my truck driver, just lost his mother on Friday so we’re all thinking about him, and this one’s for him and his family. We had a lot of determination to go out there and win this one for them.”
All season long, Russell has stated that he hasn’t been thinking about points. His goal has been on winning the races, and with the wins, the points will fall into place. And those points may have just gotten a little more secure in their places after this latest win, which was also a Sunbelt Series points race.
“We closed up the Triple Crown points lead on Wayne (Anderson), so hopefully we can have a shot at winning that title now. We increased our points lead within the Sunbelt Series too, so we have a nice cushion going into the next event, and we won the Florida State Super Late Model Championship. There are some pretty good guys who have won this race and title before, and I feel honored to be able to be in their company.”
Luck or not, Russell has been a dominating force at the track each week, and it’s not a one-man effort. He has a solid team both at the track and off the track, who support him and make it possible for him to be out there each and every week.
“This whole team did really great this weekend,” added Russell. “We had a really awesome pit stop. I’d like to thank everybody at Rinnai, Insurance Office of America, and Tempaco for everything that they have done for us. We just got to keep the momentum on our side and finish the year out strong, and maybe we can catch the attention of the right people.”
Tim Russell’s next event will be a very special Super Late Model race on Saturday, August 25th, at Columbia Motorsports Park. Stay tuned for more on the event.
If you would like more information on Tim Russell and his future racing plans, contact Amy Hayes at (770) 855-1461 and check out TimRussellonline.com for all the latest Tim Russell racing news.
