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Twenty Questions with Brett Moffitt, 2008 ASA Late Model North Series Rookie of the Year

Sunday December 28, 2008

 

Grimes, Iowa (December 24, 2008) – Recently we sat down with 2008 ASA Late
Model North Series “Rookie of the Year”, Brett Moffitt. Following are the
questions we asked and the answers we got from the very amiable, young
racer who is certainly on his way to a very successful career in
motorsports.

1) What does it mean to you to be the ASA Late Model North Series 2008
Rookie of the Year?
Moffitt: Going into my first season of asphalt racing, I certainly had my
eye on the “Rookie of the Year” award, but I knew I would be competing
against the best short track drivers in the nation. All in all, we ended
up the season on a strong note and did what we had to do to earn the
rookie award. It was a good first season, and I am proud of what we
accomplished. You only get one chance to be rookie of the year.

2) Were you surprised to finish 2nd in the ASA Late Model North Series
overall points as a true rookie, competing on the asphalt?
Moffitt: Yes, I was surprised. We had a pretty good hold on third place
until about the last three or four events, when Jeremy Miller began to
gain on us. I-70 was a pretty good run for us, and at La Crosse everything
had to work out just right. We had a good qualifying run, which gave us
some extra points. We were able to lead a lap for some additional points,
and we finished second. We knew we had the “Rookie of the Year”. I really
didn’t think we could pass Saunders. It was not until ASALMS made their
official points post that we found out we had moved in front of Saunders
and that it was only by two points. The week at La Crosse was a great
week, we did what we had to do during Saturday’s race and it all worked
out.

3) Will you compete for an ASA Late Model Series Championship in 2009?
Moffitt: We are still working on plans for 2009, but if everything falls
into place like we think it will, we will compete in one and possibly two
of the ASALMS divisions. I would like to get some feature wins and compete
for a championship with the ASALMS. As I mentioned earlier, the
competitors there are the best of the best in short track racing.

4) You were what I call a true Rookie in asphalt racing this year; tell us
about your previous racing experience.
Moffitt: I started racing go-karts, and we raced them for three years.
Last year we raced a B-Mod/SportMod on dirt. It was at the end of the
season last year that I decided I would like to pursue racing as a career,
so this year we moved to asphalt, racing in the ASALMS North Series, the
ASALMS Challenge Series, the ASA Midwest Tour, and some Big 8 Super Late
Model events.

5) To date, what is your most treasured racing experience?
Moffitt: I actually have a couple. The first one was winning the “Tulsa
Shoot-Out”. There were hundreds of go-karters there, and winning there was
my first major win. Of course, winning the ASALMS “Rookie of the Year” and
finishing second in the points will always be a treasured memory.

6) To date, what is your least memorable racing experience?
Moffitt: For me, that would be DNFs. We only had two this year, which I
guess is not too bad, but I still don’t like it when we can’t finish a
race. The worst DNF was the one at the Iowa Speedway. It was my first
start in the ASALMS Challenge Series and the first race with our
sponsorship from Karl Chevrolet and GM Performance Parts. Since I grew up
in Grimes, Iowa, the Iowa Speedway is my home track. We started
seventeenth in that race and had worked our way into eighth, when contact
from another competitor sent us into the turn four wall. The contact was
not that bad, but mechanical problems prevented us from restarting the
race. I would like to forget that one.

7) Tell us about your previous racing accomplishments?
Moffitt: In go-karts we won four WKA Championships and the WKA “Triple
Crown”. We also won an IKF Championship, and we won the Junior 2
Championship at the “Tulsa Shoot-Out”. Last year in the SportMod we won a
total of 26 IMCA Features, which gave us the “All Iowa SportMod” Points
Championship. We won the SportMod feature during the “Harris Clash”, which
made us the youngest driver to ever win a feature event at the Knoxville
(Iowa) Raceway. In 2008, we won the Northern SportMod Championship at the
IMCA Spring Nationals, held at Beatrice, NE. We then made the transition
to asphalt. During the 2008 season, we set five fast times, including two
new track records, and on one night at I-70 Speedway, we set fast time,
which was a new track record and won the feature. We were the youngest
person in its 29 year history to qualify for the “Slinger Nationals” for
super late models. We won the ASA Late Model North Series “Rookie of the
Year”, and finished second in the overall point standings.

8) At what age and how did you get started in racing?
Moffitt: We started racing go-karts when a co-worker of my Dad’s set us up
with a kart. I was eleven when we started. At first, I didn’t really know
if I liked racing, but it didn’t take long before I decided that I wanted
to pursue racing as a career.

9) What goals have you set for yourself in racing?
Moffitt: I really would like to make racing my career, and with that said,
my goal would be to become one of the top drivers in NASCAR. In the
immediate future, I hope to win a championship and continue to climb the
racing ladder, moving through the NASCAR series as my age will allow me.

10) Tell us about your family and how they have supported your racing
efforts.
Moffitt: My entire family has been very supportive. While my Mom (Becky)
keeps me grounded and takes care of things around home, my Dad (Dick) has
been with me every step of the way. He has driven me thousands of miles
allowing me to compete on the asphalt this year. My Mom and Dad both have
sacrificed a lot, including their own interests, to support and allow me
to pursue racing. My sister (Alle) has also been very supportive. As a
matter of fact, when we first started in the go-karts, we raced together
as a team. Alle was actually pretty good, and along with Mom and Dad, she
has always encouraged me to set goals, go out and achieve them, and always
be the best I can be.

11) Tell us about your race crew and your sponsors.
Moffitt: My number one crew member is my Dad. Last year when we moved to
the modified, we got hooked up with Bob Harris. Bob is a shock specialist
and also helped us with setting up the chassis. This year, Bob continued
to help us when we raced dirt, but he was also there during our transition
to asphalt, serving as a drivers coach. On the asphalt, I drove this year
for 5K Motorsports, a team based out of Slinger, WI. Ken Wills is the
owner, along with his Dad, Larry. Paul Christman was a key crew member,
sometimes serving as my crew chief. About mid-season Deon Deneau came on
board, serving as crew chief and shop manager. There were several other
team members, and I want to thank them all for all the hard work they did
during the season. Racing truly is a team sport. One of our first sponsors
to come on board was DuPont Tyvek, they have been on our ASALMS cars from
the beginning. Just before the race at the Iowa Speedway; Karl Chevrolet
came on board, helping with sponsorship on our ASALMS cars, along with the
our SportMod racing when we found time to run on dirt. In association with
Karl Chevrolet, GM Performance Parts also became a sponsor on the ASALMS
cars and the SportMod. I want to thank all of our sponsors. They came on
board when we really needed the help, and we would not have had the
results we had this year without them.

12) What are your other hobbies and interests?
Moffitt: While I have really concentrated on racing – in 2007 we raced on
the dirt over eighty times, and in 2008 we competed in over forty asphalt
events, plus a hand full of dirt races – I do enjoy a couple of teenage
hobbies. I like to go paintballing and in general, just hanging out with
my friends.

13) What is your favorite food and beverage?
Moffitt: I really like to eat at Applebee’s, and my favorite menu item
there is the chicken strips; however, I like chicken strips from just
about everywhere. My favorite beverage is Gatorade. Maybe one of these
days, I can get them as a sponsor.

14) Who is your favorite NASCAR driver and why?
Moffitt: My favorite NASCAR driver is Jimmy Johnson, and why would you
even ask why? He is the man. He has won two NASCAR Championships in a row,
and by the looks of things, he is headed to number three. I admire his
driving style, ability and his overall cool demeanor. I believe he is a
great role model to look up to.

15) What is your favorite TV show to watch?
Moffitt: I like to watch almost everything that is on SPEED, but my
favorite show is Wind Tunnel with Dave DeSpain. I wish it was on year
round.

16) What is your favorite movie?
Moffitt: Right now it is “Shooter”, starring Mark Wahlberg. It really had
a lot of twists, it is a great movie.

17) What is your favorite type of music and what CD is in your CD player now?
Moffitt: I mostly listen to alternative rock. I don’t have a CD in; I
listen to my iPod and the radio mostly.

18) Do you think you will continue to race dirt when your schedule allows,
and at what tracks or
events?
Moffitt: Yes, as time permits. We are focusing on a career, and as you
know, to have a successful career in racing now, you have to get to
NASCAR, and the only way to do that is to race on the asphalt. We do have
a new SpotMod, and as our 2009 schedule allows, we will try to race some
at Marshalltown (Iowa) and in some special events like the “Harris Clash”.

19) Of all the tracks you have now raced on, which one is your favorite
and why?
Moffitt: Of course, I would have to answer that with the Iowa Speedway. It
is my home track, and it is a very fast, fun track to race on. The ASALMS
cars are real fast there, because of their weight. They are light and a
handful to drive at Iowa Speedway, but they are a lot of fun. A close
second choice would be the Milwaukee Mile.

20) Tell us about your plans for 2009.
Moffitt: We are still working on the details for 2009. If everything falls
into place, we would like to compete in one, and possibly two, of the ASA
Late Model Series divisions. We would like to follow up our rookie year
with some feature wins and put ourselves in a position to bring home a
championship. In the short term, we are going to celebrate our “Rookie of
the Year” honors and the high note we ended the season on. In addition to
the possible ASALMS racing, we recently signed on with Andy Santerre
Motorsports, with the plan of competing in the thirteen Camping World East
Series events. We are secure to compete in the first seven events but we
are seeking sponsorship for the last half of the season.

Thanks to Brett Moffitt for sitting down and answering our twenty
questions. To follow his racing career and to keep up with his news during
the off season, log on to his web site at: www.brettmoffitt.com

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This report was provided by an outside PR source and posted by Kim DeHaven.

 

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