Ward replaces Gibson in New Day Motorsports ride at the Howler
New Day Motorsports owner Jeff Day announced today that veteran driver Brandon Ward will take over the #62 Yarbrough Transfer/Texas Pete Chevrolet in this weekend’s Pro All Stars Series (PASS) South regular season finale. In a one race deal, Ward will pilot the car formerly driven by Mark Gibson in Saturday night’s Howler 125 at the Greenville-Pickens Speedway.
“I’m really excited to have this opportunity to drive the Yarbrough Transfer/Texas Pete Chevy this weekend at Greenville,” said Ward. “Jeff [Day] and I have worked together this year with my Pro Cup car and I’m glad we’ve been able to put this deal together. I’ve driven a lot of different types of cars over the years, but not a Super Late Model. The PASS series is one of the most competitive in the country and I can’t wait to see what I can do with those guys.”
The relationship between Jeff Day and Brandon Ward goes back several years, but stepped up a level when Day began consulting in 2009 on Ward’s Mac Hill Motorsports ride in the USAR Pro Cup Series. Although highlighted by a second place finish in this year’s PASS National Series with Mark Gibson behind the wheel, an otherwise disappointing season led Day to make a change with his team.
“I felt like the chemistry between Mark [Gibson] and I just wasn’t there,” said Day. “We’ve worked hard the last few years and I appreciate Mark and his entire family for the effort we put forth, but I think to grow we both needed to go in a different direction. Brandon’s a heck of a talent and I think he will be a great addition to the PASS family.”
Brandon Ward’s racing career started in Go-Karts in 1989 where he won multiple championships over the next ten years. Ward then moved to the NASCAR Goody’s Dash Series finishing a career high third in points in 2004. Ward won three races in his NASCAR Goody’s Dash Series career at Bristol Motor Speedway, Motordrome Speedway, and Kentucky Speedway. From there, Ward moved on to the UARA-STARS Late Model Stock series where he won the championship in 2006. Ward currently competes in the USAR Pro Cup Series driving the #56 Mac Hill Motorsports Chevrolet. After winning Rookie-Of-The-Year honors in 2007, Ward is a championship contender with two wins so far in 2009.
New Day Motorsports has been an integral part of the PASS South Series since 2006. The team scored it’s best finish with the series last year in the Piedmont Pride 125 at the Caraway Speedway finishing fourth after leading the most laps. New Day Motorsports finished in the top ten in PASS South points in 2007 and 2008 and finished second in this year’s PASS National Series behind champion Ben Rowe.