Saturday, October 12, 2013

Jared Irvan hoping to follow in dad's NASCAR footsteps




   Jared Irvan, the 15-year-old son of former NASCAR standout Ernie Irvan, will make his fulltime debut in racing next season driving in the Pro All-Star Series South, a late-model series.


   Jared is currently a sophomore at cfa Academy in Concord and has driven go-karts, Midgets and Legends cars. 

   "It’s an honor to be able to follow in my dad’s footsteps," Jared said. "He is not only my dad, but also my coach, and he brings so much knowledges from his years in racing against the best in the sport."  

   Irvan, named in 1998 as one of NASCAR's 50 greatest drivers, retired in 1999 after several accidents that him with prolonged effects from head injury. He won the 1991 Daytona 500 and 14 other races in what is now the Sprint Cup Series. His last victory came at Michigan in 1997.  

   "I'm thrilled to be able to be back at the track and supporting my son Jared," Ernie said, "We all know that competing in racing is not easy, not matter who you are."