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_________________________________________________________ Crabtree Family Looking to Build on
Positive Results from 2012
Jim,
who started racing at 17 years old in Mini Stocks, drove his #63 for
Don Gnatt Motorsports to no worse than a fourth place finish
throughout the 2012 season. Despite
the stellar results the team ended up ten points shy of the
championship in the end, the difference mainly due to the lack of a
victory. However, their
sights are set on the championship this year and the plan is not to
settle for anything less. He
has been winless since his second career Super Cup appearance in
2008, but has not finished outside the top five in any of his starts
since race number five of that same year.
That consistency, a continuation of a two-race fast qualifier
streak and perhaps some wins has the team hoping they can move their
way to the top of the points leaderboard at season's end.
The team has been hard at work repairing the damage from the
last race at Motordrome Speedway and preparing their second car #36
for Derrick Layne, who plans to make his Super Cup driving debut in
2013. Eyes
are also focused on 18 year old J.P. Crabtree III, who had an
accomplished first season as a part of the series claiming two top
five finishes and a fifth place finish in the final standings.
However, he expects bigger and better things in the new
season. "My
mindset has changed from 2012. 2012
was all about seat time and getting a good feel of the car and
getting a good base setup. I
feel like now it’s time to turn it up and start going for it.
I know my team will do their job and it’s just up to me to
do the work on the track." J.P.
has set goals to be a contender for the championship and end the
year with a win and a pole. In
preparation, the team has not made any major changes for the new
year but has put a new left side on J.P.'s car as well as performing
regular service and maintenance.
The main focus, J.P. says is "getting all the equipment
ready to rock and roll, and getting my mind set 110% on driving the
car hard lap after lap." J.P.
would also like to give special thanks to many for the effort:
"my grandpa Jim and grandma Judy for letting me have the
opportunity to drive their race car for the 2013 session, my dad for
helping me and teaching me all I need to know about racing and to
all my crew: Jaren
Crabtree, Shelbie Crabtree, Maggie Crabtree, Robert Waters, Eric
Morrow, Derrick
Layne, Wendell Layne and Don Gnatt and to my family for all of
their support, thank you now let’s go get’em'." Sponsors
for the teams include Jim’s Automotive Sales and Service, McCreary
County Funeral Home Inc. G&G Oil, Judy’s Apartments, Advanced
Signs and Graphics, and D&D Body. Follow
along with J.P.'s endeavors on Twitter at https://www.twitter.com/Jcrabtree83
and on Facebook at the J.P.
Crabtree- Driver Fan Page. The
2013 season kicks off in less than a month at Shenandoah Speedway,
so stick to http://www.supercupstockcarseries.com/
for more preseason previews and information. _________________________________________________________
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