Kaz Grala Joins Turner Scott Motorsports for K&N East Effort
Kaz Grala of Westborough, MA confirmed today that he will drive the #31 OzLINK Chevrolet for Turner Scott Motorsports in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East full-time. Ray “Ray Ray” Holm will be the crew chief. Cameron Hayley, Scott Heckert, Brandon Jones and Ben Rhodes will be his teammates.
“I’m really pumped for the season,” Grala said. “I think we have very good equipment and people behind us as well as a very fast race car. There’s going to be a lot of competition in the series this year, but I am up for the challenge and looking forward to it.”
“The team’s most important resource is its people,” Grala said after a test with the team at New Smyrna Speedway. “Each of the individual teams dialed on their cars today. The crew chiefs are going to collaborate tonight, and we’re all going to go back and try new stuff tomorrow.” Grala said that today’s test went “very well.”
Grala, who turned 15 on December 29, made his United Auto Racing Association (UARA) Late Model debut last year at Anderson, SC. When Grala won his second start, the Banjo Matthews Memorial 150 at Hickory Motor Speedway on June 22, he became the youngest winner in series history. Grala had eight top-10 finishes in nine starts this season for Falcon Racing in the #3 OzLINK, Atlantic Investments, and New England Tractor Trailer Training School Ford.
Grala also drove Late Models in the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series for Jay Hedgecock. After only one test, Grala competed in the UNOH Battle at the Beach at Daytona. Grala was the youngest driver to receive an invitation to Denny Hamlin’s Short Track Showdown at Richmond.
Grala worked with multiple teammates last season: Myatt Snider, Travis Swaim, and NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver David Ragan. “I have always been able to work with them about the on-track techniques and the car setups,” Grala said. “We always help each other get better.”
Grala has also had the help of Mike Calinoff, a championship winning NASCAR Sprint Cup Series spotter for Roush-Fenway Racing. Calinoff worked as Grala’s spotter for several races including at Myrtle Beach (SC) Speedway. By the end of the Myrtle Beach 400, Grala was the youngest driver to lead laps in event history. Grala piloted the Fat Head Racing entry to a runner-up finish behind only two-time NASCAR Whelen All-American Series champion Lee Pulliam.
“He’s an amazing spotter,” Grala said of Calinoff. “He sees everything as it’s playing out and calls it accurately. We seem to work together really well and I’m looking forward to working with him in the future.”
A second generation driver, Grala’s father Darius was the 2002 North American Ferrari Challenge champion and also raced in the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series.
Grala began his racing career at age four in go karts. Grala won two karting championships before moving on to INEX Bandoleros. Grala was the 2011 Bandolero Outlaw Summer Shootout champion at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
Grala next drove INEX Legends Cars, ultimately advancing to the Pro division. As a newcomer to the Legend Car Pro division, Grala claimed the Winter Heat championship at Charlotte with Dennis Lambert Racing.
Sources: Nicholas Teto/YankeeRacer.com