Ray Love Jr. feels pretty good about his rookie year in the USAR Hooters Pro Cup Series, especially since it was his first full season on pavement.
“We pretty much had to play catch up all year long, ” said the 21-year-old from Faulkner, Md., driver of the Love Concrete & Masonry/Junior Johnson Hams/D&G Kustom Specialties Chevrolet Monte Carlo No. 08n. “We didn’t decide to do this until a month-and-a-half before the season started; we’ve already got our program started for next year. ”
Although the team’s preparing for the 2008 season, the former dirt Late Model star can look back on 2007 with pride. The season’s highlights are surely an indication of good things to come.
“Qualifying fifth at Lake Erie was a big accomplishment, ” Love said. “At Iowa we borrowed Benny Gordon’s back up car and qualified 16th with no practice. I think qualifying for all the championship races was a big deal, especially given the level of competition. ”
The highlight of the season came at South Georgia Motorsports Park, where he grabbed the lead on lap 36 and led for 13 circuits.
“It felt good to race my way to the front and lead, ” Love said. “Unfortunately the motor laid down on us. It felt good while it lasted, though.
“I have to thank our sponsors, because without them we couldn’t do this. And I have to thank the team for all their hard work. Now that I’ve got a year under my belt and we’re already getting prepared for next season, you can expect to see us be very competitive in 2008. ”
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