ANTELOPE, California -- Bill McAnally Racing (BMR) has signed Johnathan Hale for the 2006 race season driving the #15 BMR/NAPA AUTO CARE Center Chevrolet in the WSRA/MMRA (Miniature Motorsports Racing Association) Baby Grand racing series.
Hale, a 15-year-old high school honor student at Rio Linda Senior High School has been racing for eight years on the local tracks in the Sacramento, California area. For the last two seasons, he drove Mini Cups. In 2002, he drove capital quarter midgets and went to Winner’s Circle 27 of the 32 races he competed in.
“I am thrilled to be a member of BMR,” said Hale. “To be a part of a racing organization such as BMR is a dream come true. With their support, hopefully I will continue to gain needed experience that will lead me into the next levels of stock car racing.”
Hale is a fourth generation local racer. His great-grandfather raced for the checkered flag back in 1949. His father, Lyn Hale, is a former pit crew member for BMR in the NASCAR Grand Nation Division, West Series.
Hale will be piloting a Baby Grand race car. These cars are 2/3 scale replicas of NASCAR NEXTEL Cup stock cars. They use a Yamaha XJR1300 engine which produces around 140 hp. At 1250 pounds, these are quick little race cars. A notable driver that came from this series is NASCAR Nextel Cup driver, Carl Edwards who was the 2002 MMRA Pro Series Champion.
The 2006 race season kicks off on April 15th at the historic Stockton 99 Speedway in Stockton, California. For ticket information for the event, visit www.stockton99speedway.com.
BMR is known as an organization that helps develop young drivers. Past alumni include NASCAR Craftsman Series driver Kerry Earnhardt and Brendan Gaughan. Also gaining valuable seat time with BMR was NASCAR Nextel Cup driver, Clint Bowyer. Last season, BMR driver Andrew Lewis took home the NGND, West Series Sunoco Rookie of the Year honors and at 18-years old, he is the youngest driver to earn the title. For more information on BMR and our race partners, please visit our website at www.billmcanallyracing.com.
