Christian Briggs & CTM Plan Two Car Effort in 2014 with Juris Kupris
Charles Thomas Motorsports Expansion Underway
Christian Briggs of Mattapoisett, MA confirmed last Thursday that he will be competing full-time in the Northeastern Midget Association (NEMA) Lites in 2014. 2014 will be Briggs’ first full season. Briggs’ new #44 car is a former USAC Ignite Focus Midget with a Spike chassis and Focus engine.
Charles Thomas Motorsports will be expanding to two cars. Briggs’ former Hawk will sport the #42 for rookie driver Juris Kupris of Williamsburg, NY. A native of Storrs, CT, Kupris is an extreme surfer and personal trainer. Briggs described Kupris as “a lifetime friend and mentor of mine. We go back to Sugar Hill Speedway racing Karts when we were kids. … Juris will be sure to turn some heads out there, he is bad fast.” According to Briggs, Kupris will be competing ”full-time, if not very close. He is getting a great ride; I don’t think he will want to miss any.”
The new combination has already benefited Briggs’ team with additional sponsorship. “We would also like to welcome Sandbar Builders, Genuine’s Inspections and Juris Kupris Fitness as new sponsors for 2014. Also returning as primary sponsors are The Gateway Tavern, Canton Power and Electric, Seagate Motorsports, Rodney DVA, Facchetti and Facchetti, Labonte Insurance, TMF Logistics, Northgate Advisors and M.A.D. Signs. We are very lucky to have such great sponsors and they are thrilled to have a two car operation.”
“I also could not do anything without the endless work and support from The Race Depot. My cars are always well taken care of when the job is too big for us. Bobby Seymour is a major inspiration to me. If not for him I would not be involved so heavily in midget racing.”
Briggs sees championship potential in for Charles Thomas Motorsports.
“I want to win races but most importantly roll the car in the trailer every night,” Briggs said. “If we are consistent, and grab a few wins, we have championship race cars. It is really hard with the talent currently. Danny Cugini and Richie Morocco are already superstars and they just got into midgets two seasons ago! I want Juris to be the star, I think I have an eye for talent and if I get beat by him, he is not fired! Owning race cars is my passion; the driving is really coming together as well. If I can field two consistent cars week in and week out then my goals are achieved for 2014. Also, we need to get the NEMA buzz back. Both classes are putting on great thrilling shows at fast tracks all around the Northeast. Fans need to know how much we care about them, and we want them to know we have a great show!”
As an owner-driver, Briggs has made 26 starts since his debut in 2011. A second place finish at Oswego in September was his best finish since 2011 at Seekonk. Among his favorite tracks, Briggs enjoys the fast 5/8 mile oval, Oswego (NY) Speedway. “I love Oswego,” Briggs said. “I would drive 24 hours to race there if we had to. However, we have been snake bit at Seekonk and I can really fly around there. The track is perfect for a midget, so I really love it there as well. Finally Waterford on the books is my best track; again we are always so fast there but come up a little short with a top-five.”
“We had a great season, almost won at Oswego and only finished outside the top-five once in seven races,” Briggs said. Briggs set a personal best of three top-5s in a season with a pair of top-5s at Waterford. “…I am finally very comfortable in a midget race car. I had to learn how to make the car fast on the high line. I taught myself bad habits at Waterford. Now that I moved my line up a little we are really flying. Also my crew is getting really sharp. We understand cross weight and how to respond to the car and track.”
According to Briggs, he missed races last season due to rules changes with weight and horsepower. Briggs’ car was too close on weight and the car needed an additional seven gallons of fuel.
“This made the car upset. It took some long nights on the scales to position the lead on that car because we had no extra room. When we got the weight right the car was even faster. We also had some confusion on timing with the motor and some numbers not matching, but that was cleared up as well. Next season there are weight to horsepower scenarios that the car owner decides which works best for their setup. It seems to be a great rule change for all the owners.”
Although an official 2014 schedule has not been released, Evans Mills , Oxford Plains, and Wiscasset are new venues for NEMA. Evans Mills will be an inaugural race, while Oxford has not hosted a race since 2003 and Wiscasset 1972.
“I am very excited,” Briggs said. “Evans Mills is going to love the midgets! I have never been to Oxford Plains or Monadnock so those are welcomed additions for us as well. The NEMA board is really working hard to get us to great tracks in the Northeast. New York fans love winged midgets; they show so much interest it’s great. The travel is part of a touring series that makes us a big family. I can’t wait to be at Oxford Plains for the 250 this year. … I am looking forward to the aggressive travel of the new tour.”
Briggs is optomistic about the changes for 2014. NEMA Lite drivers will have an extra incentive as race winners will advance to the NEMA Midget feature. ”This is great because we are not too far off the pace and it’s a great way to learn a little bit,” Briggs said. “Also you will get paid for both races.”
With the growth of NEMA, Briggs noted an problem that local tracks are facing. “I think mainly it’s getting fans to the tracks,” Briggs said. “I don’t know where everybody went. I know the racing is really good, prices are getting better. I think 2014 will be a big year for local tracks and I hope they do very well. A touring series needs these tracks to survive. We need to bring the fans with us so that tracks feel they need us to survive as well.”
“I think that Seekonk has a great thing going with Fast Fridays,” Briggs said. “I wish we could be on the entry list for those shows. I think we have great media in New England they just need some more love from everybody. The photographers are great; they follow all the tours and have become friends with so many. Also since I am an Executive Chef I saw something recently that caught my eye, food! I read an article that if a speedway offers great food at good prices they can attract families for food and entertainment and turn a profit. I would love to be subcontracted to revamp the race track food in the Northeast.”
Sources: Nicholas Teto/YankeeRacer.com