JEFFERSON, Georgia -- Upon climbing out of his car after a practice session at Peachstate Speedway Friday, Hooters Pro Cup driver, Mike Mason sounded like a cowboy who hadn’t been on his horse in a while. When asked about the morning’s session, Mason exclaimed, “The car feels great, but it feels even better just to be back in it!”
Due to sponsorship quandaries, the 2006 Pro Cup series rookie returns to the track for the first time since last October, and judging by the tone of his voice, he’s ready. The Mason Motor Sports team recalibrated their racing interests, and Mike spent most of the past, six months learning more about race cars instead of cars racing. “Instead of lamenting about not racing, I decided to continue my education under the hood and around the chassis”, states Mason. He continues by revealing, “My time away from racing has been spent more productively than any time in my life.”
In rejoining the series at Peachstate Raceway, the spry, talented driver from California returns to the green flag at a track he feels comfortable with, as well as cautiously optimistic. “We’ve had some pretty good times in Georgia, and we felt this would be the right track at the right time”, Mason says, as he checks the car with Crew Chief, Mark Huff. The KMI/Watkins Engine Development #33(s) Ford Taurus will, once again battle with cars being handled by fellow competitors that Mason mentions by name: Clay Rogers, Dange Hanniford and Booby Gill. “These are just a few names in a series full of great drivers”, notes Mason. Clearly, Mason has missed the competitive camaraderie as well.
Mason recently returned home, to California for a two-week vacation/family wedding, and his thoughts were primarily on securing corporate partners for the Mason Motor Sports team. During a live, world-wide webcast on Realfast.TV, Mason explained his hopes in finding the “right” company to join forces with : “Being a young driver with winning experiences under my belt, I would like to build a long-term relationship with companies that we can grow with – not just on the track, but in the marketplace as well. I look forward to this part of the growth process.”
A big part of that growth process takes place Saturday night in Georgia, when Mike Mason races again.
