Rookie Manages to Hold the Lead
For Immediate Release
(Bristol, TN, August 20, 2003)
By: Sandra Vorse, Public Relations Representative
Rookie of the Year point’s leader, TJ Majors was able to keep his lead by only 3 points after the disappointing finish of 31st at Bristol Motor Speedway. Majors qualified 10th and was ready to come on strong but after only 9 laps the Rookie Leader lost the engine. His call to the pits said only, “I’ve lost all oil pressure. The engine is gone.”
The engine troubles weren’t evident before the race but the #26 Moss Motorsports Goody’s Dash Pontiac chose to stay in at final practice. “It’s risky” Majors stated “If we practiced it may have blown and we’d change the engine but we also could wreck.” In fact three cars suffered damage during practice; Jr. Miller, Brandon Ward and another Rookie of the Year Contender Jay Godley. Godley even enlisted Busch Series Driver and the 2001 NASCAR Goody’s Dash Series Rookie of the Year, Shane Hmiel to help put the car back together. Hmiel’s brother is a pit crew member of the #18 MRD Motorsports Pontiac.
“I hated it for all the people who helped us to get here”, said Majors. His family, friends and fans donated money to get the team to Bristol. Clark’s Studio in New Castle, Pennsylvania picked up an Associate Sponsorship position to help the young driver. Dale Earnhardt Jr., Majors’ online racing buddy, mentor and owner of Majors NASCAR Weekly Touring Series Late Model flew in just to watch the Rookie race. “I wanted to do well for the boss man today. I was ready the car ran well then it was gone”.
Majors dropped from 7th to 10th after the August 20th Bristol race. Majors and the Moss Motorsports Goody’s Dash Series Pontiac hope to be at Atlanta Motor Speedway on October 23rd if Sponsorship is found. Majors’ needs a good finish at the final race in Atlanta to advance his standing in overall points as well as cinch the 2003 Rookie of the Year Title.