With a successful Camping World West debut at the Toyota All-Star Showdown at Irwindale, MMI Racing is gearing up for the rest of what will prove to be a busy 2009 season. MMI Racing owner Steve McGowan plans to field various cars in various series throughout the year. "We will run some West, SRL and Legend cars for sure and who knows what else," said McGowan.
After seeing two of the three MMI entries earn top 10 honors in the Showdown, the team is finalizing plans for 2009. With west coast legend Ron Hornaday finishing sixth and up and comer David Mayhew finishing 10th, one would think MMI would be satisfied with the results, but that is not the case. The third MMI entry driven by Terry Henry was tapped in the rear while running in a transfer spot in the Last Chance race and both of the other two cars were in the top five together at one point with each seeing the top three. On track incidents cost both Mayhew and Hornaday a shot at the win. Mayhew battled in the top five for almost 200 laps before being caught up by a spinning lapped car just before the final break ruined his chance at the win. "My Ajndy Santerre led crew did a great job of getting me back on track with a decent car after getting caught up in someone elses mess," said Mayhew. "Its a shame because I think with the changes we were planning on the last break we could have had a chance at the win."
Hornaday had climbed to third before contact with race leader Brian Ickler sent Hornaday into the pits for repairs that cost him a lap. Hornaday would make up the lap later in the race and rally for a sixth place finish.
McGowan wants to keep the mometum going for 2009 and beyond and recintly tabbed 15 year old Dallas Montes as a developement driver for MMI. Montes, a sophomore at Frontier High in Bakersfield, will drive a Legend car at different tracks on the west coast. Montes has been racing go-karts for the past 10 years and in addition to his many victories at various tracks in both California and Nevada recently won the Willow Springs Kart Club Championship. Montes drove to 4 main event wins and 8 pole positions in the 10 race series. With just two Legend races under his belt Montes is proving a fast learner by picking up two top three finishes and a win at the oval track at Willow Springs. " I can't thank Steve enough for the chance he has given me," said Montes. " I know I have a lot to learn, but I can't wait for Irwindale to race against Ryan (Reed) and Austin (Reed). I've raced Ryan since I was 5 and I go to school and play baseball with Austin so it will be fun." McGowan has watched Dallas race for years and wanted to give him a chance. "Dallas has always ran up front in go-kart and he is a good kid. We are proud to have him driving for MMI."
Check back for fianlized schedules for all MMI drivers soon.
