Pre-Race Notes: Matt Mead // New Smyrna Spedway – NASCAR Whelen All-American Series

Driver: Matt Mead

Car: Unsponsored No. 81 Pro Late Model Toyota

Sanction: NASCAR Whelen All-American Series

Race: Pro Late Model 50

Track: New Smyrna Speedway – New Smyrna Beach, Fla.

Track Description: .500-mile high-banked oval

Date/Time: Saturday, October 7

Race Length: 50 laps

TV Coverage: None

Radio Coverage: None

Last Race Recap: Matt claimed his first win in a late model at New Smyrna Speedway two weeks ago after starting second and holding off a veteran driver who was latched to his bumper for the entire race distance. The win came after nearly two months off for Mead due to weather delays in his racing schedule, a very welcome return to the seat before the fall stretch where he will be racing much more consistently through November.

Doubling Up: While the race last week was only 25 laps in length, this week’s feature is an extended-lap event, doubly as long at 50 laps. Because of the extended laps, more cars and more competition are expected which will make Matt’s job of winning two in a row that much more difficult. In each of the previous two instances a 50-lapper has been scheduled, Mead has prepared for the extra distance through debriefs and strategy with his crew, but Mother Nature washed out each of the attempts at what would have been the longest races of his career.

Two To Tango: For the first time since his Legend car days, Matt is scheduled to have a teammate this weekend at Anthony Campi Racing. With a teammate, Matt will be able to discuss things with a fellow Legend car graduate as the pair attempt to sort the 50-lap feature out amongst themselves. With teammates to help drive him and bounce ideas off of, Matt won three races in the 2016 Bojangles’ Summer Shootout at Charlotte Motor Speedway, so to say Matt performs better with teammates may be an accurate statement.

Matt’s Thoughts: “It’s twice as long as the last race, and there will likely be more competitive cars, so I think a top three would be a great weekend for us. I look forward to working with my teammate. In fact, we were actually teammates for a few races in our Legend car days and he’s a good driver who is focused and I know will race me clean. It certainly feels good to have the first win down, but of course the bar has now been raised. I know the field will be more competitive, thus why I think a top three is a realistic goal, but if we can go back-to-back, I’ll take that, too!”

The Skinny: For more information and the latest updates about Matt, find him on social media such as Facebook (@MeadRacingTeam), Twitter (@mead_24) and Instagram (@mattmead24).