6/6/2013
Willamette Speedway
Getting Up To Speed With…Justin Evans
Getting Up To Speed With…Justin Evans
By Ben Deatherage
(Photo Courtesy of Doc's Photos)
Coming off of a huge Strawberry Cup victory in the Street Stocks last weekend Justin Evans feels his season turning around. After a rough start to 2013 the Lebanon, Oregon driver earned his win of the season and added to his family’s legacy of Strawberry Cup triumphs following in the footsteps of both his grandfather Gene and father Dale. Evans started his racing career at ten years old in the Speedway Kart ranks and has since then moved on up to the 1/3-mile clay oval.
Driver: Justin Evans
Home Track: Willamette Speedway
Hometown: Lebanon, Oregon
Occupation: Self-employed
Age: 33
Years Racing: 23
Classification: Street Stocks
Car: #99 Mercury Cougar
Sponsors: Albie’s Medical Transport, Monty’s Racing Repair, X-Factor Race Cars
Special Thanks: Al Flora, Friends, and Family
BD: A bit of change this year you’re going from #17 to #99. Any particular reason for that?
JE: To me it’s a significant number to me. It’s the first number I ever ran but also was the same number my grandfather and father ran. Al kind of left it up to me to change it.
BD: You have driven for Al Flora for several years now. How did that partnership start?
JE: Actually what happened is Mike Miller was supposed to driver for him at Cottage Grove but Mike couldn’t make it. He knew I wasn’t driving and asked if I would hop in. I wrecked the thing in hot laps early in the night. He ended up hiring a driver but asked me to shake the car down and give input to dial it in. I got a call the next week and have been driving for ever since.
BD: For you what makes the Street Stocks so much fun?
JE: For me it’s just back to the basics. You get rid of all the technical stuff and you just go out and drive. It’s a simpler form of racing.
BD: How would you say the new Willamette is compared to the old Willamette?
JE: I like the new track layout now. It’s wider and symmetrical. There’s definitely more room to race and the facility overall is extremely nice.
BD: How would you say the 2013 season is treating you?
JE: Up until last week it’s been rough. We’ve been fighting the engine gremlins and one week had the rear end go out on us. But with this win it has turned our luck around and hopefully we can keep running good.
See the Willamette Speedway back in action this Saturday night for Knecht’s Auto Parts Fan Appreciation Night. All six classes will be in action including the DIRTcar Super Late Models, IMCA Modifieds, Super Sports, Sportsman, Street Stocks, and Mini Trucks. To find out more log on to www.trophymotorsports.com.
Submitted By: Ben Deatherage