Andy Seuss to Continue with Ideal Racing; Park in #09 Entry
Seuss Enters Fourth Season with Ideal Racing
Andy Seuss of Hampstead, NH confirmed on Sunday that he will return to Ideal Racing for the 2014 NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour season. A regular on the circuit since 2008, Seuss has never finished outside the top-five in points. He has won seven races since joining Eddie Harvey’s Ideal Racing team in 2011.
Seuss drove the #11 Tammie Davis/Phoenix Pre-Owned Chevrolet to third in points last season. Three consecutive wins at Caraway and Southern National last fall surged Seuss from fifth to third in the standings. Seuss’ most recent win at Southern National was his 15th series victory, placing him second on the all-time win list.
“I think we’re on top of our game,” Seuss said. “(We) need to keep the momentum going and need a little luck”
“We are ready to roll,” car owner Eddie Harvey said. “Everything is in place to take (the) title back to Ideal Racing.” Ideal Racing won back to back Whelen Southern Modified championships with George Brunnhoelzl, III in 2011 and 2012.
“As far as Andy goes as a driver, awesome kid with huge talent,” Harvey said. “He has a ride in my #11 car as long as he wants to drive it. This is our fourth year together and (I) would hire him all over again if (I) had to do all over.”
Seuss will also drive a limited schedule on the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour. He will return for the events at Monadnock Speedway and New Hampshire Motor Speedway, where he finished seventh and fourth in 2013.
Seuss told us that he is “real excited” about the 25-lap invitational race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on July 12th. Seuss’ three victories last season would grant him an entry into the event. A fourth place finish at Loudon last July was the best finish of his Whelen Modified Tour career. Harvey is also in favor of the special event at Loudon. Harvey indicated that he is looking to enter both cars for the invitational at New Hampshire, but would not have the engine in the #09 car ready in time for Daytona.
Seuss said that he is uncertain if Ideal Racing will be Daytona on February 18th for the UNOH Battle at the Beach, citing the fact that the Whelen Southern Modified Tour season opener is only 19 days later.
Harvey told us that he plans to race Daytona with Andy Seuss.
The 2014 Whelen Southern Modified Tour schedule was announced on Saturday afternoon. The 10th season will feature 15 races, the most in series history. The Whelen Southern Modifieds will race at Caraway six times, while Langley, South Boston and Southern National all have two races. Bowman Gray, Bristol and Charlotte also have single events on the schedule.
“I like the schedule, (I’m) really excited about two Langley (races) and two South Boston (races),” Seuss said.
Harvey added, “(I’m) really digging the schedule. Six Caraway shows are in our favor, for sure.”
Ideal Racing will field a second entry (#09) with Howard Harvey as co-owner. Steve Park will drive the car for selected races. “Steve and I go back 30 years,” Harvey said. “(It’s) something we always talked about. We raced against each other in the mod days.”
Seuss called the opportunity to work with Park “pretty amazing.”
Park, of East Northport, NY, was a standout NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour driver with 16 wins between 1991 and 1996. He was the runner-up to Tony Hirschman, Jr. in 1995 and 1996. Success in New England led to the opportunity to drive for Dale Earnhardt, Inc. in the NASCAR Nationwide Series and Sprint Cup Series. He would go on to score victories in Sprint Cup, Nationwide, Camping World Truck, and K&N Pro Series East. Park was also the inaugural Modified winner of the UNOH Battle at the Beach at Daytona in 2013.
Sources: Nicholas Teto/YankeeRacer.com